House home

Which items are included in the French electronic goods repair scheme?

It is not only for handheld electrical devices such as phones

Radon gas in France: where is this and how dangerous is it?

Produced from the natural decay of uranium, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer

How does France’s new home renovation scheme for the over-70s work?

New MaPrimeAdapt’ scheme will partly finance projects to help people stay independent for longer

practical

Do I have to update my carte de séjour if French street name changes?

Changes are mandatory if you move for those with certain permits

Tips to help avoid chimney fires as numbers increase in France

Correct wood, regular upkeep; we look at what you can do to reduce the risk

Couple in court for homeschooling son without permission in France

‘We are not separatists, we are not dangerous,’ say the couple, who have been supported by homeschooling associations

Tourist lets, ‘cheap’ chateaux, gutter rules: French property round-up

Our recap of recent property articles that you might have missed

Can I keep partner's ashes at home with me in France?

There are laws in place which set out how ashes must be treated

Price changes, rental strife, tax explainer: French property round-up

Our pick of recent property articles that you might have missed

Seven key trends in new French property market data

Property ‘euphoria’ is at an end in France, reveals notaires’ report

Couple land French tax bill after developers’ ‘completion date error’

In addition, they should have been exempt as their property was a new-build

How do I change my carte de séjour address when moving in France?

The application involves the declaration of a ‘change of situation’ and is not seen as a card renewal

Plumbers, locksmiths: how to avoid scams with urgent repairs in France

Tradespeople are highly regulated - even in emergency situations

What is the cost of getting rid of a bedbug infestation in France?

We look at the options as infestations are on the rise in homes - and allegedly trains and cinemas

How much has home insurance gone up in your part of France?

Plus we share tips on how to keep your premiums down

Village in west France halves housing land prices to attract newcomers

The building plots are being sold at just €7.50 in the remote village, after the Mairie has struggled to attract newcomers for the past 10 years

Broken lawnmower: can I drive to get new one?

Reader question: Our lawnmower has broken. Can I drive to the nearest town (35kms away) which has a dealer selling machines to choose which to buy?

France lockdown: Can I visit from the UK to help my parents?

Helping elderly parents is considered a valid reason for travel in France.

Home exchange bookings in France are back at pre-Covid levels

Paris is still the most popular destination but Lyon and Strasbourg are moving up and exceeding pre-Covid figures

France to simplify squatter eviction for second home owners

Evicting illegal squatters from your property is set to become easier in France as the government works to simplify and speed up the process for both main and second homes.

Homesharing schemes in France bridge divide between the generations

Schemes offering students cheap, or even free, rooms in the homes of elderly people or families in return for companionship or help in the house are growing in popularity

Hotel bed linen gets a second life in novel French recycling company

Edwige Ciria travelled the world staying in luxury hotels on business trips spotted a gap in the market for the linen they use in their bedrooms and bathrooms and on tables

House buyers in France warned over notaire money transfer scam

Criminals are hacking the email accounts of notaires and then sending out emails to clients asking for money to be transferred

French tax office begins to use aerial shots to find undeclared pools

The measure is also targeting home extensions in nine departments before being used throughout France in 2022

Taxe foncière property tax in France: What exemptions exist?

This tax is payable by property owners but individuals can benefit from an exemption or reduction depending on their situation and the nature of the building or land

Half price home insurance scheme expands to Paris

The capital will be following the example set by Nantes but what should you be paying for your ‘assurance habitation’ and is it obligatory?

Landowner in France left with €40,000 costs after squatters evicted

Multiple families occupied the site in Nantes for more than a year before leaving in August. We look at new laws around squatting in France and what to do if it happens to you

Who still has to pay taxe d’habitation in France and until when?

Payments for main homes now relate to income but the tax may have risen for second homes depending on where the property is located

Family transform 13th century French chapel into quirky holiday rental

Artist has spent seven years renovating Chapelle Saint-Jean in the Eure-et-Loir - you won’t get wifi, but there will be some very special stained glass

Working from home: France’s new employer rules

Since June 9, companies have only been allowed to ask staff to come in for a ‘minimal number of days per week’, but now companies will have the freedom to set their own requirements

MaPrimeRénov’: Over 170,000 homes benefit from green renovation grant

The scheme can be used to finance insulation, heating, ventilation or energy auditing work

France’s first low-cost 'flat pack' wooden house under construction

The eco-friendly home can be assembled in less than two weeks and is put together piece by piece, much like historical timber-frame homes in Alsace

A guide to how to arrange home help in France

How to get help in the home from daily tasks such as ironing and gardening to assistance with household members and more

Underground world: Explore the oldest troglodyte site in France

In the 18th century, half the inhabitants of the small town of Doué-la-Fontaine in the Loire lived underground

How to change your address in France

An online French government form informs multiple bodies at once - social security offices, EDF and Engie, the tax office and more - of your change of address

Why your address in France may change

Only communes with more than 2,000 residents in France currently have to create a list of addresses with street names and numbers, but this is set to change

How to get financial help to purchase a stairlift in France

Tax credits for 25% of the cost are available with a ceiling of €5,000 for a single person and €10,000 for a couple

France lockdown: What form is required to go out?

Attestation forms for leaving the house return as France goes back into confinement tonight. This time there are three different forms

Introducing Le Collectionist, the luxury rental home company

Le Collectionist: It’s not an ‘Airbnb for the rich’ but a luxury home experience...

Brittany: Homebuyers sign contracts accepting country life

A new clause in contracts for homebuyers in Morbihan confirms they will accept the sights, sounds and smells of country life

Must I inform the mairie when I buy a home in France?

We explain whether registering at the mairie is a legal obligation, or just a good idea, when you move into a new commune in France

Understanding electricity in French homes: DIY tips

Nick Inman charts the ups and downs of renovating an old French farmhouse. In the September print edition, he talks about how you can get to grips with French electricity.

Videos: One missing as flash floods batter south of France

One person is missing and cars and vehicles have been dragged away after flash flooding and torrential rain hit the south of France last night (Saturday September 19).

France: Law against phone cold calling in place from today

From today (September 1) companies and individuals can no longer make telephone cold calls offering eco-friendly home renovation services in France. Those who do face sanctions.

Covid restrictions stopping Britons buying French property

More Britons are inquiring about property in France this year compared to last – but Covid-19 travel restrictions are stopping them travelling across to buy.

Property in France post-Covid: Outdoor space a priority

House buyers in France are still prioritising urban centres despite predictions that countryside homes would become more popular after confinement - although balconies and terraces are becoming more sought after.

Linky smart electricity meters loses in court ruling

Appeal court backs Linky’s opponents.

France confinement: Are DIY goods ‘necessary items’?

Since confinement was imposed in France on March 17, and all “non-essential” shops were closed, there have been further questions about what police consider “essential”. We answer a question on DIY goods.

Covid-19 in France: The shops and brands still trading

A number of brands in France - including Nicolas, Interflora, and Castorama - are finding creative ways to continue serving customers in safety despite the government-ordered shutdown.

French couple look to Europe in fight for treetop home

A couple living in a tree house plan to go to the European Court of Justice to defend their right to continue living in their cabin.

French MPs suggest public service to combat bed bugs

There could soon be a public service in France dedicated to helping people get rid of bed bugs, after two cross-party MPs suggested the idea.

France warned over rise of costly building scams

Scams by emergency builders, plumbers and locksmiths are on the rise in France - with the average scam bill reaching as much as €3,000 - the national fraud office has warned.

Homeowners in France warned over €1 insulation offers

Homeowners in France have been warned again about the risks of having housing insulation done for just €1, as the offer continues to circulate.

Paris mayor warns Olympics of Airbnb sponsor ‘risks’

The mayor of Paris has warned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of the “risks” of short-term rental firm Airbnb, after the company was announced as a new sponsor of the Olympics Games.

French nun refused retirement home space due to habit

A Catholic nun in France has been stopped from taking up her place in a retirement home after she refused to stop wearing her religious habit as a condition for living there.

We beat Brexit deadline to move to France

A YOUNG couple from Yorkshire have realised their dream of buying a barn to convert – completing the purchase in France just a month before the October 31 Brexit deadline.

Famous French countryside cockerel gathers support

Maurice, the most famous cockerel in France - who has become a symbol of the struggle between rural and urban living - will be supported by several other cockerels during his trial this Thursday (July 4).

Finding your interiors entente cordiale

Lucy Haywood reveals how her passion for ‘Country Brocante’ style draws on vintage inspiration from both France and the UK, and also explores a cross-Channel interiors amalgam

Simplicity is key to this spiritual retreat

In her new book, Henrietta Heald looks at the elegant art of living in the French style. Here she explains her creative inspiration and presents one of the featured homes, located in the Luberon

European white goods reclassified on new energy scale

White goods sold in France (and the EU) from March 2021 are to feature an updated “energy rating” sticker, with the current classifications of “A+”, “A++” and “A+++” replaced by a new scale from A to G.

What changes in France in March 2019

Changes for March include a shift in the kind of eco-friendly home improvement works eligible for an interest-free loan, a rise in cigarette prices, and new rules on scooter licences and workplace equality.

Why do Parisian doors lock themselves?

Two events all Parisians dread: receiving a Registered Letter Return Receipt Requested, and locking themselves out of their apartments.

Couture chic of Dior’s country retreat

Maureen Footer reveals how the Provençal hideaway of fashion designer Christian Dior inspired his work

Unauthorised work can be approved in France

Those long-ago home improvements could come back to bite you when you decide to sell if you did not get planning permission.

Deal, no deal, no Brexit? 2019 will be a big year

This will be a significant year for Britons in France – from the start of a new tax system to (it is hoped) the long-awaited end of the 15-year voting rule for British elections, and a fast-approaching Brexit day (assuming it is not all called off). We look at some of the changes in store for France this year