Practical property

Fines over missing Biens immobiliers French property declarations to start in 2026

Property owners must still declare any 2024 changes to property by July 1 this year

Property watch: See what €50,000, €180,000 and over €1million buys in Pyréneés-Orientales

Pyréneés-Orientales is one of the few departments in France where residents can go to ski resorts as well as the seaside

Is any financial aid available to pay for installing a septic tank for our French property?

Homeowners installing a tank must work closely with local authorities

practical

Who is liable for repair costs after the sale of a property in France?

Sellers can be liable for repairs in the case of hidden defects

French wealth tax: Six ways to reduce what you have to pay

The property valuation threshold for France's impôt sur la fortune immobilière (IFI) in 2025 is €1.3million per tax household

New natural disaster zones declared in south-east France

Property owners have 30 days to make a claim due to damage by landslides, mudslides, or flooding

List: The French departments where property notaire fees have risen (or will soon)

Only nine have declined to increase them

Do roof repairs need to be declared to French tax authorities?

Repairs do not usually require planning authorisation to be issued

French energy vouchers: 2025 date confirmed – and it is much later than usual

Five million people are eligible for the physical voucher, which can be up to €277

How to value a property for France's wealth tax

Here is how to check if you have to pay the impôt sur la fortune immobilière (IFI) – and how much it will be

New rules lower aid for home solar panels in France

Installation bonuses have also been cut as government looks to promote ‘self-consumption’ of power

Can neighbour force us to put fence up in French garden?

Rules on undergrowth clearance and habitat protection come into play

French ‘property use’ declarations: who has to do this in 2025 and by when?

Declarations have been required since 2023

Gale warnings: how to limit damage to your home in France and errors to avoid

Securing outdoors furniture is a key step to help avoid serious damage

Water leak leaves home owner in France facing €35,000 bill

Expert report states broken pipes were result of earthworks by local mairie, but they refuse to pay

What is the best way to deal with ‘stink bugs’ in our French home?

The bugs arrived from Asia and are considered an invasive species

What are the rules for burning garden waste in France in 2025?

Spring is a popular time to clean up in garden

Is it necessary to sign up to a local déchetterie in France before using it?

Rules are changing in several areas to cut down on excessive waste

Can we gift French property to our daughter?

Gift taxes will be levied if certain thresholds are passed

French property owners and tenants: what are rules for obligatory undergrowth clearance?

Land in many areas must be cleared to reduce risk of forest fires

French home energy cheque aid will be sent later in 2025 - who gets this?

Changes mean vouchers can no longer be used for eco-renovations

Department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to increase property purchase fees

Local councils have been given ability to raise fees in new budget

Are there any ways to reduce notaire fees when buying a property in France?

We look at some less well-known possibilities as tax hike looms

Is extra insurance for French garden pool required?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Is it possible to find French cadastral plans online?

Certain plans go back to the 1800s

Map: Sale prices of flats across France and how they rose or fell in 2024

Areas including Corsica and Poitiers saw prices rise, but significant falls of nearly -8% elsewhere were recorded

How can renovations on French second home reduce capital gains tax?

Reductions related to length of ownership start after five years

Must chimney in French home be swept annually even if it is not used?

Some areas require chimneys to be swept multiple times per year

Can French forced heirship rules be bypassed?

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal, answers a reader query

Will my daughter have to pay tax on inherited property in France?

The value of a property can often be above tax-free sums on inheritance

When will ‘notaire fees’ for property purchases increase in France?

All departments are likely to vote in favour of raising fees

Five ways the latest 2025 budget will impact property owners in France

Changes include increasing notaire fees, tax exemption from property gifts and the extension of the Loc'Avantages rental scheme

Buying a property in France may cost more from April as ‘notaire fees’ allowed to rise

Departments can opt to increase fees by 0.5% under 2025 budget

Is property declaration form required for French second homes this year?

The Biens immobiliers form was introduced in 2023

Is there an official complaints process against notaires in France?

Notaires are legally responsible for their own practices

Is French property slump ending? : Key points in latest notaire review

The post-Covid slowdown is close to its end, but warning factors remain

French house prices 2024: how did your area fare in new notaire data?

Cities including Reims and Dijon recorded sales price falls of over -10% - however the slump is said to be over

Auction website now shows French properties for sale from estate agents and notaires

Site aims for quick and transparent property sales

Does being an EU citizen affect rate of French property taxes?

Two main property taxes may be due each year

France's ‘garden shed tax’ sees 2025 rise, find new rates below

Completed property extensions and new constructions have to be declared to your mairie within 90 days

Is it right time to renegotiate mortgage on French home?

Falling interest rates prompt many homeowners to consider new deals

Legal: French court rules against using neighbour's land for parking

A droit de servitude (right of way) is not for mere convenience, rules France's highest court

French landlord faces questions over near 300% increase in heating costs

Tenants face eviction after increase in bills leaves them facing heavy debts

France's heat pump market drops as second home owners opt for alternatives

Despite government support, declining sales and high costs hinder heat pump adoption, especially in second homes

Little-known Linky meter trick can help people in France save on energy bills

Information transmitters plugged into meter give real-time information about electricity consumption

Over-60s can now unlock capital from their home in France

Mortgage solutions to tap into a niche market remain available after the closure one scheme

MAP: French property price variations in 2024 by region

Only one region saw house prices increase last year

French towns selling off land cheaply benefit from population growth

Land sold for as little as €1/m² helps rejuvenate rural areas and increase commercial activity

What is cost of septic tank diagnostic when selling a French second home?

Tests are mandatory before selling your property

Is there a register of certified local chimney sweeps in France to use?

Only professional sweeps can provide certificate that chimney has been swept

French authorities use AI to help recoup €200 million in unpaid tax from one department alone

Undeclared swimming pools and property extensions can be captured by AI imagery

Is taxe d’habitation required for flats let in French farmhouse?

Taxes due depend on the status of the property

Landlords in France can now increase rent for some tenants: when and by how much?

The government has previously implemented a rental ‘shield’ to restrict increases

Confirmed: Electricity bills to drop by 15% from February for most French households

Savings of up to €650 a year are expected for a family of four

Is it possible to apply for compensation after power cut at French home?

Compensation is sometimes given automatically

What is the role of an estate agent when buying a property in France?

Some properties are advertised with multiple agencies

Can a mobile home remain parked in French home garden?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Is it possible to transfer property share of French home?

Transfer may be subject to gift tax

Could France follow Spain’s plan for 100% tax on non-EU buyers of second homes?

Spanish prime minister says country must act to combat rising housing shortage

How should garden waste be disposed of in France if bonfires are not allowed?

Some areas have also banned disposing of green waste at waste centres

MAP: How much can you negotiate off a property purchase in France in 2025?

Chances of a successful offer vary considerably depending on the region

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

Insurance companies have their own requirements

French court orders withdrawal of Linky smart meter in home after health complaints

Homeowners who do not install a meter now face annual surcharge on electricity bill

French property owners and tenants: the rules for obligatory overgrowth clearance

The new regulations also apply to those who let a property

Is it possible to leave French second home to nephews and not spouse?

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

Five things they don't tell you about wood fires in France

There are various types of logs you can purchase, but you must be careful about sourcing your own from woodlands

Buying property in France: Two key steps

Property lawyer Ronald Sokol explains the practical steps, taxes and rules of purchasing a home

Commune to use drones to enforce planning rules in south of France

The drones will be able to assess expansions to private properties as well as larger constructions by companies

15 changes in France from January 1, 2025

Pensions, gardens, boilers, registering cars and postal costs are just some of the areas which change

The trees in your French garden have a worth - here is how to value them online

Owners of properties can see values rise thanks to trees, similarly to garages or barns

Revaluation of property data used to set local taxes delayed in France but concerns continue

A reform of the valeurs locatives cadastrales, a theoretical annual rental value assigned to every property, has been planned for several years

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

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