Practical property

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

Largest cities saw little change but other areas vary considerably in fortunes

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

Notaire data shows strong growth in north but big cities such as Paris and Bordeaux see prices drop

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

44 departments now have at least one commune at ‘crisis’ level

practical

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Millions of homes at risk with early prevention and corrections now encouraged

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

Unit installation requires wider approval from co-owners

Close-up of water dripping from a metal tap against a blurred background.

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

All but 13 departments have at least some restrictions in place

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

Tiger mosquitoes transmit several tropical diseases and are now present across all French regions

Close-up views of water pouring from taps and a hose into a pool.

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

We review rules for rainwater, wells, filling swimming pools, and penalties for infractions

Blueprint,,Design,And,Hands,Of,Architects,Planning,Construction,,Strategy

What to do if your French property has a hidden defect

Hidden problems are called vices cachés and covered by Article 1641 of the French Civil Code

Electricity bills: French government announces 2.5% rise for regulated bills

Over 19 million households impacted, with the average bill rising €26 per year

Person wearing blue surgical gloves about to open a septic tank cover

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Properties with sub-standard sewerage systems can be sold with an official certificate of non-conformity

A view of a private swimming pool at a home

Are we responsible if we let neighbours use our French pool when away?

Pool ‘squatting’ is an increasingly worrying problem for owners

France facing ‘exceptional’ early drought, almost all departments on drought alert

Waterways and aquifers affected by intense heat despite strong spring rainfall

A model of a house with construction items, a calculator, and DPE rating on a table

Do French renovation grants need to be repaid?

Payments are typically made directly to tradespeople rather than homeowners

France to merge vacant home taxes from 2027

Two taxes levied on vacant homes to be replaced by a single tax

How to compare and switch home insurance in France

You can change your provider after the first 12 months

Map: 79 French departments now on water restriction rules or alerts

Central departments already at highest restriction level

French property law: who pays for and maintains boundary fences?

Different rules apply to owners and tenants

Electric vehicle leasing, gas bill rises: what changes in France in July 2026

Card payments are also set to begin on Parisian public transport

A view of a beautiful old house in Brittany, France

French tax authorities now have more time to update incorrect second home tax bills

Deadline for officials to levy taxes missed due to calculation errors or owner omissions has been extended

Can I cut down tree in my French garden without permission?

Hundreds of trees have protected status in France

Homeowners must prove they took steps to stop drought cracking, French court rules

Landmark ruling in €40,000 compensation case may embolden insurance companies to deny claims

Ornate corner building with balconies and decorative façade against a lavender sky in Nice, France.

France heatwave: Minister unveils plan to help homes and cities cope

Measures include support for reversible heat pumps and easing flat renovation rules as France prepares for hotter summers

A view of outdoor wheelie bins on a street in Paris, France

Residents in France face fines of up to €450 if sorting rubbish incorrectly

‘Bin police’ can search waste to ensure recycling is properly carried out

Are French electricity bills set to increase in August?

Increased usage charges will affect bills, but changes elsewhere may lessen impact

Residents of village in south-west France told to evacuate due to cracks in homes

Landslides risk tearing down most properties

Close-up of a gas stove burner with blue flames around the ring.

France gas prices: all contracts to increase in July

Millions of households on variable-rate gas deals face the biggest rise as France's benchmark gas price increases.

Why is my French tip no longer taking green waste?

Several communes including major cities have recently changed rules

What are the rules about fitting electric shutters at my home in France?

These convenient systems can offer better security than traditional shutters

More options now available for home equity release in France

Prêt viager hypothécaire being offered more widely as well as other similar schemes

French ‘super off-peak’ contracts offer up to 60% discount on electricity

Households which can match consumption to special hours can see significant savings

Map: tap water restrictions and warnings by department as of June 2

Find information on restrictions in your commune

Key points and rules to consider if want a pool at your French home

Taxes, safety measures, running costs are all things you should factor in

Young man with arm cast in sling sitting in a wheelchair indoors

What to do if someone is injured on your property in France

Costs of such an accident can quickly accumulate

Worker using a power drill to demolish an interior wall seen through a hole

Renovating a house in France: the key mistakes to avoid

British architect based in France shares his tips for restoring homes

Map: Which departments paid the most property tax in 2025?

Average increase of 2.4% but wide variation in total cost

Buyer disappears after signing property deal in France - should estate agents be liable?

Buyer paid a €10,000 deposit before vanishing

Most homeowners in France to be spared property declaration fine

Authorities instead target ‘large property owners’ of more than 200 units

Electricity bills: homes to be selected in France to trial new tariffs

New off-peak hours based on renewable consumption may lead to cheaper bills

Crackdown on undeclared second homes in south-west France

Owners who falsely declare properties as main homes risk fines and backdated tax payments

A view of a rubbish truck collecting waste in France

As renters, do we have to pay the local rubbish collection tax in France?

Two main types of bin tax exist in France

Bag with pellets and firewood in the living room

French consumer group launches bulk-buy wood pellet scheme

Scheme looks to bring down cost of pellets via bulk buying

Rises of +9.9%, drops of -5.6%: see how French flat prices have changed near you

Majority of cities recording price increases as property slump ends

Most French cities see house prices rise: latest notaire data

Tours (8%) and Metz (6%) see highest rises Oct-Dec 2024 - 2025 whilst south-east remains most expensive region outside of Paris

Property owners in France reminded of June ‘property-use’ deadline

Updates must be filed via the biens immobiliers system or fines may apply

Water restrictions begin in south-west France: who is affected?

Residents can check restrictions near them using government website

France to end eco-renovation funding for homes with a gas boiler

Properties must not have gas boiler by end of works to access grant scheme

France chases ‘one million annual heat pump’ goal, but is it feasible?

Sector leaders cite need for more aid and say ‘leasing scheme’ may be limited in effect

French tax authorities expand AI checks for undeclared property expansions

Verandas, pagodas, and sheds targeted in new €100 million campaign

Selling a home in France: what should I tell the utility companies?

The transfer of utilities is a separate task from the notarial sale process

How do landlords register an Airbnb let with French commune?

New system requires all mairies to give tourist rentals a number

French ‘swimming pool’ tax falls for first time in nearly a decade

New pool installations must be correctly declared

Air heat pump in a garden by a modern house

France’s heat pump leasing plan explained

Homeowners will pay back installation costs over three years, with payments cheaper than current bills

Five questions about plans to raise French property tax on millions of homes

Mairies will be able to assume that homes contain basic features omitted from official information, raising taxes

EDF to provide €240m in grants to help home-owners and firms switch to electric

Money will be available for installing heat pumps and buying electric vehicles

Who can benefit from new €1,000 grant for a heat pump in France?

First-come-first-served basis for 80,000 grants to boost switch to electric

When do you really need to clean your roof in France?

Columnist Nick Inman is in two minds about this particular job

Gas prices in France set to shoot up: Tips to reduce costs

A 15% rise is already expected from May 1, 2026

What are the recycling rules in France?

We are all encouraged to go greener, but making sense of what can and cannot be recycled is not always obvious. We cover what objects can and cannot go in yellow French recycling bins

How do I get an evaluation for inherited property in France?

It is important to get a fair and accurate valuation at the date of death

More homes in south of France must clear undergrowth or face fine

Homeowners reminded of obligatory land clearance rules prior to forest fire season

Farmers' hedge-trimming deadlines extended in France after winter rainfall

Homeowners are recommended – in most cases – not to trim hedges on their land between March 15 - August 15

Attractive,Handy,Man,Using,A,Drill,To,Put,Up,Pictures

How to find a handyman online in France

Two thirds of people polled in online survey say it is difficult to find a tradesperson - leaving many odd jobs undone

French gas prices: should you switch to a fixed deal before May rise?

Bills may increase by €200 per year due to increase in global gas prices

A view of someone looking at paperwork with a calculator and house model in the foreground

French residential tax debits have not been taken - what should I do?

Many opt for monthly payments from January to October

Chimney sweeping rules in France: Can you do this yourself - and how often is required by law?

Insurance companies have their own requirements

Image of a piggy bank next to a water tap to show the cost of water

Water bills rise by up to 40% in parts of Normandy

It follows the installation of remotely-read meters to homes around Caen in Calvados. Authorities claim previous readings were incorrect

New rules to define heat pumps eligible for energy grants in France

List set to be published in September 2026 as bodies call for more available aid

Why almost a million French households risk higher electricity bill in March

EDF must implement ‘red day’ tariffs before end of month

Unpaid bills led to a million electricity and gas ‘cut-offs’ in France in 2025

The number of accounts affected has risen by 79% since 2019

Is there a ‘bedroom tax’ in France for additional rooms?

The surface area of rooms is used to calculate property taxes

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

Major changes for drivers, hospital patients, and property owners

A view of houses on piles of coins to show increasing costs

How much is second home insurance in France?

There is no legal obligation to insure a second home if it is a fully independent property

Group,Of,Chickens,On,A,Farm,Yard,Chicken,Eco,Farm

Can I install chicken coop for my own eggs during shortage?

Coops are subject to taxes if over a certain size

What do you risk if you hire someone for work on your home and pay cash-in-hand?

Undisclosed payments cost French economy billions each year

Practical property

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

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New green charge hits Channel ferries to France - are more routes at risk?

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

Why is France’s fourth heatwave set to be different from the others?

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

France's free citizens' handbook triples in size to help candidates prepare for new tests

French wildfires: how are people told to evacuate? We do not have a French phone for texts

Man held after burning garden waste sparks Dordogne fire

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

What to do if your French property has a hidden defect

Electricity bills: French government announces 2.5% rise for regulated bills

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Are we responsible if we let neighbours use our French pool when away?

France facing ‘exceptional’ early drought, almost all departments on drought alert

Do French renovation grants need to be repaid?

‘Never seen this in 54 years’: French property market warning

Drought map: tap water restrictions tighten in France

Is France heading for a severe drought this summer?

France to merge vacant home taxes from 2027

Replacing water filter in French home became a two-month DIY nightmare

France set to end funding for most single-project renovations under MaPrimeRénov’

See what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Tarn

Check this before buying French property in a flood zone

How usufruit works in France: inheritance, property and tax benefits explained

How to compare and switch home insurance in France

Map: 79 French departments now on water restriction rules or alerts

French property law: who pays for and maintains boundary fences?

Electric vehicle leasing, gas bill rises: what changes in France in July 2026

French tax authorities now have more time to update incorrect second home tax bills

Can I cut down tree in my French garden without permission?

Homeowners must prove they took steps to stop drought cracking, French court rules

France heatwave: Minister unveils plan to help homes and cities cope

Residents in France face fines of up to €450 if sorting rubbish incorrectly

Are French electricity bills set to increase in August?

Residents of village in south-west France told to evacuate due to cracks in homes

France gas prices: all contracts to increase in July

Why is my French tip no longer taking green waste?

What are the rules about fitting electric shutters at my home in France?

More options now available for home equity release in France

French ‘super off-peak’ contracts offer up to 60% discount on electricity

Map: tap water restrictions and warnings by department as of June 2

Key points and rules to consider if want a pool at your French home

What to do if someone is injured on your property in France

Renovating a house in France: the key mistakes to avoid

Map: Which departments paid the most property tax in 2025?

Buyer disappears after signing property deal in France - should estate agents be liable?

Most homeowners in France to be spared property declaration fine

Electricity bills: homes to be selected in France to trial new tariffs

Crackdown on undeclared second homes in south-west France

As renters, do we have to pay the local rubbish collection tax in France?

French consumer group launches bulk-buy wood pellet scheme

Rises of +9.9%, drops of -5.6%: see how French flat prices have changed near you

Most French cities see house prices rise: latest notaire data

Property owners in France reminded of June ‘property-use’ deadline

Water restrictions begin in south-west France: who is affected?

France to end eco-renovation funding for homes with a gas boiler

France chases ‘one million annual heat pump’ goal, but is it feasible?

French tax authorities expand AI checks for undeclared property expansions

Selling a home in France: what should I tell the utility companies?

How do landlords register an Airbnb let with French commune?

French ‘swimming pool’ tax falls for first time in nearly a decade

France’s heat pump leasing plan explained

Five questions about plans to raise French property tax on millions of homes

EDF to provide €240m in grants to help home-owners and firms switch to electric

Who can benefit from new €1,000 grant for a heat pump in France?

When do you really need to clean your roof in France?

Gas prices in France set to shoot up: Tips to reduce costs

What are the recycling rules in France?

How do I get an evaluation for inherited property in France?

More homes in south of France must clear undergrowth or face fine

Farmers' hedge-trimming deadlines extended in France after winter rainfall

How to find a handyman online in France