Practical property

Are French tax charges on foreign property rental income correct?

France should award tax credits in some situations

Must I continue paying French property tax for second home sold in January?

Property taxes can be split into ten monthly payments

French property: Share of foreign buyers increases for houses - which areas are popular?

Non-French buyers make up more than 10% of purchases of non-new build houses in some departments

practical

Property sales plummet in France but did any areas resist price drops?

Values have increased in the last ten years across the board despite post-Covid slump in sales

How to get retrospective approval for building works on French home after completion

Unauthorised home improvements potentially lead to problems when selling

Is my information safe with French estate agents?

Using major national estate agencies is an option if you need to have more confidence

French grants for home renovations are changing

Act now if you want to fit a wood stove before the MaPrimeRénov grants are reduced in 2025

This will be the minimum property tax increase in 2025 in France

Communes are likely to add further charges to final bills

Weighing up costs of renting a home versus buying in France

Rent increases and property price drops make it better to purchase in some areas but significant regional differences persist

Is Capital Gains Tax levied on land in France?

Additional taxes apply in the case of certain sales

Off peak hours, Linky meters: electricity and gas bills are set to change in France

Hours for cheaper electricity set to differ depending on season under new rules

New tough tax rules apply on French holiday rentals from 2025

Short-term holiday lets are the target of a new law

Notaire fees expected to rise for home purchases in France

Local authorities set to increase fees to combat budget cuts

Must you remove snow in front of home in France? Rules to respect

Icicles must be removed from roofs in some cases

How a builder's creative tip helped me in my farmhouse renovation

Nick Inman continues with his project to restore an old farmhouse

French fire service asks people to check for empty or unused gas bottles at home

Canisters can be returned to points of sale, reducing fire risk

Are drain unblockers for septic tanks commercially available in France?

Supermarkets offer a variety of standard unblockers

400 French communes declared natural disaster zones after October floods

Property owners have 30 days to make insurance claim

How much does a house cost in ‘the healthiest department’ in France?

This area scored well in a national study on air pollution, green spaces, healthy shops, and hiking trails

French property market: Six key points from latest notaire data

Signs of recovery in view from post-Covid slump although sales numbers and prices remain low

MAP: house price falls in France - see how your area fares in new notaire data

Only a handful of cities avoided a fall in price at the start of 2024

What are the rules for domestic wind turbine installation in France?

Turbines of all sizes can be purchased

Why home insurance costs are expected to rise in France next year

Properties in the south face higher costs as natural disasters and droughts hit hard

Further crackdown on tourist rentals under debate in France

Communes would be given more autonomy to manage tourist rental market as tax allowances drop

Some main homes in France targeted for capital gains tax under new plan

The length of ownership would be an important factor

Is it illegal to fit a boiling water tap in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

How to identify and destroy toxic plants that grow in French gardens

Some can cause illness or even be fatal if eaten

Widow loses right to live in French property due to lack of maintenance

‘Total and long-standing failure’ to maintain home means it requires complete renovation

Why have we not been paying taxe d’habitation on our French second home?

Exemptions exist but only apply in a very limited number of scenarios

What is the procedure if septic tank is classed as non-conforme?

Rules are different when buying a new home

17 new and recent changes in France

Many of the recently-announced measures will come into effect from January 2025

Home buyers given wrong French bank details and must now pay again

Cooperative gave them IBAN of a tradesperson it employed in error. Court has ordered that couple must pay a second €70,000 payment for the property

Explained: rent increase limits in France as latest inflation figures published

Many renters will face price increase in January

More second homes in France face higher tax under new proposal

Far-left proposal would see all communes able to levy additional surcharges on second-home tax

Oise: Properties you can buy from €39,000 to €1.9m in the north of France

The department is just north of Paris so buyers may have to look hard for a bargain

How I revived the rusty railings at our old French farmhouse

Columnist Nick Inman explains how an inventive use of copper tubing gave his garden wall a new lease of life

French property and tax: 7 common questions

Rob Kay, Senior Partner at Blevins Franks, reviews costs, taxes, and estate planning for UK nationals

What are the rules on building a fence at French property?

Everyone has the right to build one on their own land but local planning regulations may apply

What is the ‘soil survey’ required before fitting a septic tank in France?

Local authorities may ask for an étude de sol before you install a new sanitation system that is not connected to sewers

Obligatory garden clearance in France: New campaign clarifies who is impacted

New residents will be told of rules from January onwards

French second home tax notices to be sent in November - who pays it?

Taxe d’habitation was formerly charged on all properties but is now only levied on second-homes

How to see the sale price of property in France near you

A government online tool includes data from the last five years

What do French estate agents mean by a maison de caractère?

These large and distinctive properties were once prized by the middle class

How is surplus energy sold to EDF declared on French tax form?

Understanding the declaration process for income, including deadlines and exemptions

Flooding: why it is important to check your French property damage policy

Severe storms recently hit the country

How to prepare your swimming pool in France for the upcoming winter

The practice can be a way of saving water say swimming pool trade bodies

Natural disaster zones declared near Nice: insurance deadline looms

Declaration relates to landslides in March 2024

What exactly does maison secondaire mean in France?

Property descriptions are related to where you live 'habitually' and have the most links

Are the shutters on my French house essential for insurance?

Insurers recommend them, but the law is clear

What gift tax is liable on property in France for UK residents?

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query

What are the rules for wood-burning stoves in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Change to timeline of energy efficiency rules for French homes announced by PM

More than 600,000 properties may be affected by rule change, allowing them to remain on rental market

Can I cancel French property tax payments in advance if I will be 75 next year?

There are exemptions from paying taxe foncière for some

Why are there strict rules around façades on France's streets?

A range of regulations govern the exteriors of buildings in French towns and villages

Must solar panels installed at home be insured in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader question

Court jails large-scale solar panel scammer, 800 victims in France

Over 1,000 people worldwide paid for panels that were never delivered

How to settle neighbourhood disputes in France

Exploring your rights and what action to take if an agreement cannot be reached

MAP: which French cities resisted house price drops of 2023?

Several major cities saw prices fall by over 10% year on year

PHOTOS: See inside our 13th-Century watermill home in the south of France

Giles and Fi Stonor restored the ancient Moulin De Latreille to create an idyllic retreat in rural France

What does the 'pool squat' case mean for property owners in France?

Squatters rights have been called into question in recent laws and court cases

Millions of property owners in France still risk fine

Homeowners who did not declare property changes may be penalised by tax authorities as period of tolerance ends

PHOTOS: Four chateaux for sale for under $1 million in Dordogne

These historic buildings are full of character and charm - and not all need extensive repairs

Is a second home subject to gift tax in France?

Notaires are required to confirm the transaction

Are French property owners set for some good tax news?

Lower year-on-year inflation means that next year’s tax increase should be lower - but not all owners will be affected equally

MAP: Which areas in France are most popular with second-home owners?

Hundreds of communes are dominated by second homes, with 70% or more of all properties only being used ocassionally

Households in France without a Linky meter to suffer additional costs

Things set to change for those who submit manual readings

2024 French property tax: which areas are seeing the highest rises?

We review how the taxe foncière is calculated, and which areas have seen the largest increase

Over 1,000 more French towns to levy higher tax on second homes

Around 1,500 communes now intend to charge the levy including popular second-home destinations such as St Tropez, St Malo and Chamonix

Is it possible to buy my ex-partner's share in French home?

Wanting to purchase an ex-partner's share of a property is not unusal

Are €1 home insulation offers in France a scam?

The cost of insulation renovations can be partially covered by a number of schemes

What will happen to our holiday home in France when we die?

John Kitching, a director of French Law Consultancy Limited, answers a reader query

Bordeaux down 6.8%, Nice up 1% - current price data for flats in France

Our chart shows changes over a year and the average price per square metre

French property prices: which areas show rises and which falls?

September will be a critical month for the market, say notaires

Are French estate agents’ property valuations reliable?

There are a variety of options to get a realistic idea of a home’s value

What repairing our French farmhouse taught me about tiling

Tuile canal can be seen across the rooftops of central France, but can be notoriously tricky to repair