How to get free help with your tax declaration in France We have also updated our 2024 Income Tax guide, which answers specific questions for non-French declarants
Make sense of… boating in France Make sure you have your paperwork in order before taking to the waterways
Advice for the newly bereaved in France and English-speaking help When the worst happens, how do you cope in France? Planning to replace your boiler at home in France? Now is a good time Life expectancy – simple changes to benefit from France’s good stats Address change deadline looms for one million French homes
Museums, mothers and muguet: key dates to note in May in France Dates of interest to put in your calendar for the next month
Medical fees, eco-grants, gas prices: 5 changes this May in France We also include the French income tax declaration deadlines for residents and second-home owners and other dates coming up
Phone scams, gardening, insurance claims: 5 French practical updates Our roundup of recent practical articles you may have missed
House ruined by wood-rotting fungus - ‘French insurance will not pay’ Fungus can be swept in through windows and vents and lead to extensive damage. Insurers consider it homeowners’ fault
Heat pump insurance cover downgraded for many home owners in France Wood-burning stoves are also affected following a court ruling
Grass clippings: what to do if the tip does not accept them in France Rennes metropole is the first to bring in a ban - and has ended door-to-door pick ups - but other areas have followed
Should I include appliances in a French house insurance estimate? When taking out a home cover policy, you are asked to calculate the approximate value of the property
What is cost of average funeral in France? Prices are reported to be similar in France to those in the UK
How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers
Does everyone in France need to complete an income tax return? Deadlines to complete declaration fall in May or June this year Must children help to pay for elderly parents in French care homes? What dental work is covered with the 100% Santé scheme in France? What items can I take to local tip in France? Are any banned?
How do people change when they move to France? From embracing a sportier lifestyle to keeping their brains sharp Stay up-to-date: 20 recent and upcoming changes in France READER FEEDBACK: What you wish you had known before moving to France Call for pharmacists to strike over medicine shortages in France Change for foreign residents and eligibility to family benefit in France How France is trying to combat people’s feeling of loneliness
French AI system can see inside bin bags: what is it being used for? The technology uses a camera to detect anomalies, and is already used by 45 communes
Doctor raises alert on sepsis in France, which kills 80,000 a year ‘It is vital to inform people’, said the leading professor, who believes it is less well-known in France than in the UK or US
Who has to complete the new French property form? Helen Fullerton of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query
Can I change my name to one that is more ‘French’? There must be a ‘legitimate reason’ for a name change
Car damaged in France: Can I claim without having the driver’s details? It is not obligatory for a driver to sign a constat amiable (accident form)
Telecom firms, utilities: which offer English language services in France? We checked out any advertised dedicated helplines
Where in France are people now negotiating most off a property? Some towns are seeing price drops of 9%
Ways to avoid queues at motorway tolls in France You can make travel easier by anticipating the 133 payment barriers
Can I burn trimmings from my French garden in spring? Regular upkeep of your garden can result in a lot of déchets verts
Do US citizens need documents notarised at embassy in France? Some real estate procedures for US property sales require a notary
Is it possible to opt out of organ donation in France? A 2017 law changed the rules on the default stance of people who die in the country
Can I be certain I am insured against flooding at French second home? A number of heavy floods have recently hit the country
How to check for leaks in your French home without a smart water meter Homeowners should do regular checks to monitor their water consumption
Woman wins local tax fight over French home invaded by squatters A court has ordered that she is refunded four years of the tax. It was her fourth attempt to be exonerated
Nine things people often overlook when they move to France From different plug sockets to the differences in healthcare, we look at some of the typical points people forget
More everyday French supermarket products accused of ‘shrinkflation’ Cordon-bleu, yoghurts, and ham are in the firing line, with prices up to 25% higher for lower quality items
Strepsils, Olbas Oil, TCP: Find French equivalents to common remedies Moving to France means navigating pharmacies and hunting down alternatives to treat everyday ailments
What is average salary in France? How does it compare with US or UK? We also look at the average disposable income per capita in OECD countries
Interest rates for loans to buy property in France continue to fall The drop may help kickstart the market as banks and politicians explore new ways to boost home sales
Patients to pay more for doctor visits in France from May 15 The participation forfaitaire will double in most cases
Obligatory property declaration in France: paper forms now available Missing declarations must be made by June 30, 2024. Up to one in six property owners did not complete this new declaration last year
Emergency cash, care advice: Nine ways a French social worker can help We look at the role of social workers in France and the support they offer to those in need
Workers in France to pay €100 towards previously free training Reforms to the compte personnel de formation are expected to result in 20% of trainees abandoning their courses
Driving in France: why are the roads more deadly than in the UK? The number of fatal accidents is high despite good infrastructure
What changes require you to make new property declaration in France? Tax officials have sent out an email reminding people of the rules
Preserving tradition in every drop: The travelling French distiller Meet the fourth-generation mobile Armagnac distiller and his 110-year-old copper still called Marie-Jeanne
Five things they don’t tell you about the President of France A humorous look at the position and pomp of the Président de la République
Explained: Why you might need a certificat d’urbanisme in France How to get the document and what information it reveals about plots of land and planning issues
‘Tiny swimming pools’ catch on in France as easier and cheaper option Smaller pools are not subject to same regulations as larger conventional ones
Next Covid vaccination campaign to begin in France Vulnerable people are advised to get booster shot before influx of visitors for Olympics
What is the difference between a town and village in France? The difference is sometimes based on population, but this is not necessarily the most important factor
I have S1 but French bank is taking full social charges from interest Social charges can vary depending on which country covers your healthcare costs
How can we cut off utilities at French second home from abroad? Meter reading need to be taken to close most accounts
Can apps such as Waze show location of speed cameras on French roads? Some countries in Europe have banned such applications
How do I replace my stolen UK driving licence? I am French resident Stolen licences must be reported to the police
How do I renew my UK passport in France? Do I need an appointment? Many may need to renew their passports to make sure they are valid for travel in the EU
Do train staff in France really get commission from fines they give out? Fines can be handed out for not having a valid ticket, using an out of date railcard, or even having your feet on the seat opposite
MAP: Where do diners tip the most in France - and how much is usual? It is more widespread in some regions, but nowhere is it as common as in America
No state payout for requisitioned homes built illegally in France Properties built without permission do ‘not retain right’ to expropriation compensation, states new court ruling
Succession planning in France can highlight cultural differences Partner article: Robert Kent of Kentingtons explains why some expatriates are surprised by the French approach to inheritance
Landowner in France fined for theft committed by squatters Court claims he was aware of squatters stealing electricity but did not respond to energy supplier letters
Health insurance in France: what you should expect to pay per age Region and gender also plays a part in the total cost of top-ups. Policies are forecast to rise significantly this year
How much can property buyers in France negotiate down prices in 2024? An explosion in the number of homes on sale coupled with a drop in values - and looming new energy efficiency rules - is opening up opportunities
Millions to get email from French tax officials: be sure to read it If the information contained is wrong and you do not take action you could be fined
Avoid the crowds: Calmer alternatives to popular French sites to visit Swap queues and traffic for peace and quiet at these close-but-calmer options
Where do we pay house inheritance tax in France? John Kitching, a director of French Law Consultancy Limited, answers a reader query
Are there restrictions on building garden walls in France? Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query
How do I see if any drought rules are affecting my French home? Restrictions can greatly impact the use of water
What is the procedure if my car breaks down on a French motorway? Unlike in the UK you should not call your own breakdown cover provider
Can I travel freely in the EU with a French 'Brexit' residency card? Holders of ten-year ‘permanent stay’ Brexit cards are considered resident in France
Eight reasons to be cheerful about French income tax in 2024 New tax credits and a ‘super’ allowance for some furnished rentals are among the plus points
How to contest increased or ‘catch up’ energy bills in France There are several options which may result in a partial refund or a recalculation of a bill
Why are more young people in France getting cancer? Cancer may grow faster and recur more in younger people, but this group is also better at spotting symptoms, one specialist says
8 false friends from my French students that we can learn from False friends in French can cause lots of confusion for language learners
Key financial steps to take after the death of family member in France Unlocking bank accounts, cancelling contracts, we look what you need to do in the months following the death
France revamps energy renovation grants scheme to boost take-up MaPrimeRénov’ rules for homeowners and tradespeople to become simpler after applications plummet
What are the immediate steps to take after a death in France? Rules in France may vary from those of other countries
Health strike, foreigners’ tax errors, scams: French practical updates Our round-up of recent practical articles you may have missed
Second-home owners in France could soon face insurance surcharge Government report recommends creating a prevention fund with insurance sector at risk of collapse over natural disaster payouts