House purchases are now more expensive after most departments voted to increase ‘notaire fees’ to boost local revenues.
Several departmental councils had yet to vote on the increase (as of writing), however, only nine outright said they intended to decline the opportunity, namely: Ain, Oise, Eure, Alpes-Maritimes, Indre, Saône-et-Loire, Lozère, Ardèche and Hautes-Pyrénées.
One part of the notaire fees, Les droits de mutation à titre onéreux (DMTO), is collected by local authorities and used as a source of local funding. The 2025 budget authorised departments to increase DMTO rates to 5%, up from a current ceiling of 4.5%. This will be the new maximum limit until January 2028, where they will be revised again. In real terms, an increase from 4.5% to 5% relates to roughly €500 in extra DMTO fees for every €100,000 spent on a property. An official simulator for notaire fees can be found here.
First-time buyers are exempt from increases, provided they meet certain conditions.
An online tool to help track and predict daily pollen levels across the country has been launched by Atmo - a national air quality monitoring association.
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This tool (available at atmo-france.org) offers interactive maps for atmospheric pollutants and six pollen species, including ragweed, birch, and grasses, allowing allergy sufferers to monitor the levels in their area. The tool provides a three-day forecast and daily updates for major cities.
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Atmo’s "pollen index" replaces the RNSA allergy risk maps, which were discontinued due to financial and data-quality issues.
The government has cut several schemes related to solar panel installations, including slashing rates for selling surplus electricity. The changes focus on encouraging ‘self-consumption’ rather than selling back to the grid.
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Rates for selling surplus electricity to EDF are dropping by more than 60%, from €0.127 per kWh to €0.04. Payouts for installation bonuses and self-consumption incentives are also being reduced. However, VAT on installations will fall to 5.5% from October 1.
Industry critics warn the cuts could harm smaller installers and delay projects.
France’s annual income tax declarations are now in full swing.
Around 11 million households should have received a legitimate email alerting them to ‘automatic declaration’– a system in place since 2020 for those with straightforward income, such as salaries or pensions taxed at source. If no changes are needed, recipients need only verify the pre-filled data online. However, new income types, addresses or family changes must be declared manually.
Paper forms remain available for those without internet access.
Authorities urge vigilance, as scammers often exploit tax season with fraudulent emails.
Tax officials can now demand extra proof from taxpayers suspected of inflating expenses for tax credits. If taxpayers fail to provide sufficient evidence, their bill will be adjusted accordingly.
Incorrect declarations may incur fines of 10%, and deliberate fraud could lead to criminal charges.
Gas prices in France have increased by around 2.27%, marking the seventh consecutive rise.
The new rates, as of April, are €0.1241 per kWh for heating and €0.1531 per kWh for cooking. Those on fixed-price contracts remain unaffected.
The price hike, set by La Commission de Régulation de l’Energie (CRE), is attributed to market instability, driven by geopolitical tensions. Some households report their bills doubling in recent years. Energy experts predict that VAT on energy subscriptions will rise from 5.5% to 20% by August 2025.
BNP Paribas has announced plans to close up to a third of its branches across France by 2030, with up to 500 branches potentially affected.
This decision comes in response to increased digital banking usage and a decline in foot traffic at physical branches. The closures could accelerate to 100 per year, leaving around 1,000 branches by the end of the decade.
The bank emphasised that this was not a restructuring plan but a strategic review aimed at improving customer services both online and in branches. BNP Paribas is also investing in upskilling staff and enhancing technology to better meet customer expectations.
Local authorities are stepping up efforts to tackle tiger mosquitoes, which can carry diseases such as dengue fever.
Councils, including Valence (Drôme) and Belleville-en-Beaujolais (Rhône), are offering financial assistance for residents to purchase mosquito traps. Strasbourg has also increased its budget for anti-mosquito measures, including awareness campaigns and larval treatments.
Experts advise homeowners to eliminate stagnant water and use traps in conjunction with repellents to reduce mosquito numbers. Popular traps available online include the Biogents BG-GAT Reflect-tech outdoor tiger mosquito trap (€69 for a two-pack) targeting mosquitoes looking for a place to lay eggs, or the Biogents BG-Mosquitaire outdoor trap, 'specifically effective against tiger mosquitoes' and promising 87% fewer bites (€156.40).
Carrefour is continuing its expansion with plans to convert more than 100 former Casino-affiliated stores in the south of France.
The deal gives shops in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions the choice to join Carrefour’s City, Express, or Proxi banners – or remain independent. This mirrors a recent move in Occitanie, where nearly 100 Casino stores were rebranded under Carrefour’s banner.
With this acquisition, Carrefour now operates more than 5,100 outlets nationwide and plans to open 400 more in 2025.
While pricing will remain store-specific, most products will be supplied centrally, and some owners may face higher delivery costs.
France’s spring 2025 Covid vaccination campaign has launched with a focus on preventing a spread of cases among elderly and vulnerable people in light of an expected spike of summer cases.
It will run until June 15 and targets several key groups including people aged 80-plus, the immunocompromised, and people living in Ehpads. However, anyone who wishes to get a booster can make an appointment if they wish.
There is no cost. It can be given by GPs, nurses, pharmacists, and at hospitals. Use the government search tool here to find vaccination locations near you.
The UK is expanding its use of facial recognition technology at border entry points, aiming to streamline the arrival process for Britons and other travellers.
The system, currently being trialled at UK ports, uses high-powered cameras to scan travellers’ faces and match them with their passport information, reducing the need for manual passport checks.
The technology also extends to vehicles, allowing drivers to remain in ‘contactless corridors’ without needing to exit their vehicle. Passengers will still need to carry their passport in case of issues, as manual checks are still possible.
The facial recognition system could eventually be used for international travellers entering the UK, depending on its success with British nationals.
Further details on the wider rollout and specific scenarios, such as if both British and non-British travellers are in the same vehicle, have not yet been released.
Mandatory garden undergrowth clearance rules are being extended to all communes in Hérault, Occitanie, in order to reduce wildfire risk.
A decree is expected before summer, making it necessary for property owners and, in some cases, renters to clear undergrowth within a 50m radius of homes and other buildings.
Currently, 280 out of 341 communes are subject to the rules, with areas around Béziers and the northern border with Gard exempt. Penalties for non-compliance will be severe, especially if negligence leads to a fire.
More cars are being affected by the Takata airbag issue with 20 models of Toyota and Mercedes vehicles ordered off the road by the transport ministry in April.
The new recall comprises models sold between 2001 and 2018, including the Toyota Yaris (2001-2017), Toyota Corolla (2001-2010), Mercedes A-Class II (2004-2016) and Mercedes C-Class II and III (2004-2016). The ministry also said that certain models of Chevrolet are “under special surveillance”, although these vehicles are less common in France.
At least 29 accidents related to these airbags have been recorded in France, including 17 deaths since 2016, both on the mainland and in the overseas territories.
The government confirmed in February that more than 2.3 million vehicles in France still needed to have their defective airbags replaced. A full list of the models concerned by brand and year, and the details of their recalls, can be found here
A rise in tree thefts from private forests in France, particularly targeting valuable oak trees, has led to the launch of a new helpline and website by Fransylva, a syndicate for private forest owners.
Thieves, often selling the stolen wood to factories in China, have been cutting down trees quickly and recklessly.
With up to 75% of France’s forests privately owned, combating these thefts is challenging. The helpline (01 47 20 90 58) allows affected owners to report thefts and seek guidance.
Fransylva is also working with customs staff to track stolen logs and calling for a special task force to tackle this growing crime.
Starting in September, pupils in France entering 6ème (ages 11-12) will undergo fitness tests as part of a new initiative to assess and improve their physical health.
The tests, which are voluntary but encouraged, will include endurance, muscular strength, and speed assessments.
This follows a trial conducted on 4,000 pupils that showed correlations between physical fitness and academic performance in subjects such as French and mathematics.
