Your questions

Yellow Renault SUV parked in a lot with other cars and trees behind it.

What happens to a car lease in France if the leaseholder dies?

Insurance policies can cover payments

What costs and taxes are involved in selling our second home in France?

Several fees affect the final bill when you sell a French second home

Tax declaration form, calculator and euro banknotes on a desk.

Is all pension pay declared ‘private’ in France?

Reader has a query about foreign retirement income

questions

Why there are more flies in France this summer - and how to get rid of them

Hot weather and human activity responsible for explosion of flies

Can you pick fruit for free in France?

What to keep in mind before filling your basket with nature’s bounty this autumn

Why are we seeing so many food recalls in France?

We review whether recall notices are really increasing

Are you responsible if your dog bites a burglar in France?

Home insurance policies often cover damage from pets

A view of a mother and her schoolgirl child

Why are school children’s bags so heavy in France?

The problem persists despite official weight recommendations

What is the average number of pupils in a French state school class – and how does it compare with the UK and US?

France’s declining population is helping to reduce average class sizes

Who is responsible for repairing the electrical system in a new house in France?

The seller must provide a dossier de diagnostic technique, including a diagnostic électricité for installations older than fifteen years

Woman opening a cardboard parcel on a wooden table at home.

What are rules for sending or receiving small parcels between France and the UK or US?

Parcels can be subject to additional taxes or rules

A view of an unfinished window with a thick layer of insulation around it

Renovating a house in France: what help is available for foreigners?

Aids for both main and second homes are available

Are SCI property owners affected by France’s new e-billing rules?

E-billing changes impact millions across France, including many property owners

Do taxe foncière exemptions extend to second homes in France?

Principal residences are exempt from France’s main property tax under certain conditions

I was victim of crypto scam, but recovered my assets: will any gains be taxable in France?

A reader wonders about consequences of exchange into euros

Travellers wait in a queue with luggage inside a Paris airport terminal.

Can I enter France before my visa starts and if so must I register for EES?

Nationals of certain countries benefit from visa-free access to France

Why is tap water in France not treated with fluoride?

Americans in France may be surprised to find this nationwide rule. Here is how you can protect your teeth instead

Can I get French plates for a UK caravan without a certificate of conformity?

Not all such vehicles sold in the UK were built to EU type-approval standards, even before Brexit

Undertaker in dark clothing holding a metal urn beside a brick wall.

Do ‘cremation only’ options exist for funerals in France

Funeral costs can vary significantly from one part of the country to another

Gloved hands wiping and spraying disinfectant on a surface.

Cleaner of French home says I should have paid into a pension for her: is she right?

At home help should be declared through the Cesu system

Veterinarian in blue scrubs gently examining a worried-looking dog in a clinic

Can I bring a dog adopted in France to the UK?

Pets being brought from France to Great Britain must fulfil a number of requirements

French driving licence document beside a car key on a table.

Can I switch from pink paper driving licence to French plastic one?

All licences must be converted to modern format by 2033

A graphic of someone calculating savings and interest

Can I reinvest lump sum to avoid French tax?

A reader worries about falling into the higher banding

Middle-aged man holding a mobile looking stressed with hand over his head

New cold-calling laws in France: what if I have a foreign number?

Cold-callers still dodge new laws

How many high-vis vests are you required to keep in your car in France?

Confusion remains over the road rules for yellow jackets

Can I reuse shower or washing-up water in my French garden during drought?

Recent rule changes look to improve water recycling but systems face strict rules

Yellow La Poste mailbox on a Paris pavement next to a stone wall.

How will proposed changes to La Poste affect people in France?

Slower letters, fewer postboxes are included under suggested reforms

Two movers in uniform carry a grey sofa in a bright room.

Can we donate furniture to French charity shop before move?

Websites help residents find local collection services

Can I travel between France and UK with national ID card and not French passport?

EU and UK both have electronic border systems in place

Roadside radar speed camera warning sign against trees and blue sky.

What happens if a speed camera flashes two cars at once in France?

Some modern speed cameras have lane-distinguishing technology

What happens if I fail to renew my carte de séjour?

Why keeping your residency card valid matters if you are a foreigner in France

Solar panels mounted on a terracotta-tiled roof with trees in the background.

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Changes to system applies to sales subject to VAT

French VLS-T visa explained: can you leave and re-enter France?

A common question from second-home owners planning longer stays in France

What is the best way to find weather alerts in my department in France?

State forecaster issues official alerts for many weather disturbances

Does free legal help exist in France?

Some insurance policies include coverage of legal fees

Why am I getting so many ‘consent’ emails from French newsletters?

The emails are linked to a new guidance from France’s data protection authority

Charred residential buildings stand amid scorched ground after a wildfire in Lege, France.

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

Since most wildfires are caused by human activity, this affects insurance claims

What are criteria to apply for France's electric car leasing scheme?

Third year of popular programme sees 50,000 contracts available

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

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

More than 200,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in recent days following as blazes have spread

Converted French barn with tiled roof, shutters and grassy garden under leafy trees.

Can we save tax by stopping renting out French gîtes before selling property?

Reader has been advised that they could have to pay additional amounts on parts of the property available to holidaymakers

Flying to France from UK or US? How carry-on liquid rules vary by airport

Who sets the limits, why they were introduced, and what passengers should check before going through airport security

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

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

How can I know if the speed limit is 80 or 90km/h on French roads?

An interactive map shows which departments have restored the higher limit and how many kilometres of roads are affected

What income level allows access to France’s free or low-cost top-up insurance?

A recent change has simplified access for certain benefit recipients

Which areas of France are most prone to tornadoes?

Official observatory tracks violent storms

Horse grazing in a grassy fenced pasture with trees behind.

Is it complicated in France to rent one of my fields to neighbours for their horses?

Rural land contracts provide tenants with many rights

Green pharmacy cross sign on a sunny street in Nice, France, between tall buildings.

What restrictions are introduced when France faces a heatwave?

Local authorities can implement several temporary rules during hot weather

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

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

Why can car washes in France remain open despite drought restrictions?

Professional car washes often include water recycling systems

If I leave my window open during heatwave am I still insured against burglary in France?

Not all home insurance policies include theft coverage

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Who can I complain to over French Brexit card renewal issues?

Authorities asked for cards to be renewed two months before expiry date

Living in France: Five common questions readers ask

Queries range from healthcare and pensions to home renovations and citizenship

What are penalties for overstaying 90-day allowance in France?

People who overstay their authorised time in the Schengen area risk penalties.

3D illustration of an air source heat pump beside a modern house.

What are different heat pump types and what is best for my French home?

Two main pumps exist, with different costs and benefits

Shop owner writing an order at a counter in a plant shop with a laptop and potted plants.

Who in France must switch to electronic billing and when?

Reform aims to reduce VAT fraud

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How can I find accredited gas expert to run checks in France?

Technicians can be certified as both installation and maintenance experts

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Do I need to make declarations for tax in France during temporary move to UK?

Situation is variable depending on where you are considered to be a tax resident

How can I get a suitable photograph in France for my carte de séjour renewal?

Licenced photographers can take shots for official French documents

How to persuade my mairie to act over dog mess in France?

Several French communes have started to take tough stance against this

Who determines if I need to live in a care home in France?

Autonomy needs are an important part of the assessment process

I am 75 now - do I still need to pay property tax in France?

Exemptions depend on income and household situation

Small dog watching a woman leave home with an orange suitcase

Have rules changed on bringing pets from UK to France?

Pet travel in the UK to France direction has become more complicated since Brexit

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

Hundreds of trees have protected status in France

Two travellers with luggage pass through an airport security Parafe gate marked 12.

What are French PARAFE gates and how do they relate to EES and ETIAS?

Many nationalities can make use of these to speed up their journeys

Man in suit with notepad, pen and calculator pointing at a mini house

Do I need to declare loan interest paid to me to French tax authorities?

Reader received payment back on original amount of €7,000 from friend

Why is my French tip no longer taking green waste?

Several communes including major cities have recently changed rules

How many people in France do not have a top-up mutuelle?

Rising costs push people out of healthcare accessibility

Can French police suspend foreign driving licences?

Departments are cracking down on mobile phone usage behind the wheel

How can I find local tradespeople in France?

Hiring qualified professionals is best for bigger jobs

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

These convenient systems can offer better security than traditional shutters

Screenshot of the French public finance website login page with help links and a tax payment section.

What should you do if you have missed France's tax declaration deadline?

Late declarants face financial penalties

Is France’s buzzard population at risk?

All native birds of prey are protected in the country