Mairie

New scam over household bins in France: how to avoid being caught out

The scam relates to your council-issued bin

Man buys Toulouse flat - then told it is uninhabitable few years later

The owner of the €300,000 property had carried out all relevant checks before buying

PHOTOS: French town uses horses to collect old Christmas trees

A horse-drawn carriage picks up the trees which are then recycled and turned into mulch to use as protection from weeds

practical

What are the rules on having a chimney fire in France?

Location can impact the use of chimneys in a home

Can I install a grey water recycling system in French home?

Partner article: We look at the rules for wastewater systems in your home.

Explainer: Rights and obligations for shared garden walls in France

What work can you do on your side and what are the shared costs and responsibilities?

‘Mairie to rescue when no engineers found for my dodgy French boiler’

Writer Samantha David left with problem when her regular repair man was off sick

What documents are needed by non-residents to marry in France?

Foreign nationals may be asked to provide more documents than French people such as a certificat de célibat

UK life certificates: British readers in France pass on their tips

Dealing effectively with this official document is important as state pension payments can otherwise be stopped

If I order a sofa in France does firm have to take away my old one?

We review the regulations to which certain but not all retailers are subject

French mairie changes process for UK pensioner’s ‘life certificate’

Staff there had previously signed the document that enables the retiree to continue receiving a UK state pension but has now drafted its own version in French

Pensioners’ life certificates: French version created by mairie

One reader was surprised to find that her mairie insisted on translating her ‘life certificate’ from the UK’s pension authority

Heatwave alerts rise in France, will they continue over the weekend?

Now there are 14 departments on a tier-three orange warning, as forecasts now predict temperatures could remain in place for days

How much are village mayors paid in France?

Theoretically mayors do not receive a salary but they do have an allowance, which can be generous

Walking bare-chested and in swimwear in this French town risks a fine

‘It’s a question of respect’, says the mayor, who has increased the fine from €38 to €150

MPs vote to water down law to make all French mairies fly EU flag

It will now only be mandatory with mairies that have more than 1,500 inhabitants

‘Superb’, ‘nonsense’: Your views on making French mairies fly EU flag

MPs from Emmanuel Macron’s party want to make displaying the flag mandatory

Make flying of EU flag mandatory on all French town halls, say MPs

But critics of the draft law say the French parliament has got more important matters to discuss

A chateau for just €100? French mairie buys fairytale ruin

The mayor in central France has said that renovating it will be long but, if successful, it would be ‘the most beautiful thing that I will do during my term’

French woman married to two husbands for 17 years due to mairie error

While the correct name of her husband shows on the marriage certificate, the mayor was also listed as her husband on official papers

Leave mairies alone: their role is fundamental to democracy in France

Nick Inman argues that taking responsibility away from the commune and passing it higher up the food chain risks alienating voters

Why did I not obtain property tax exemption for new-build French home?

It is often said that new French houses are free from taxe foncière in the first two years; this is true, but it does not apply in all cases

Shutters, apartment prices: Five updates for property owners in France

We also look at government intentions to extend energy efficiency-related rental bans to holiday lets, the demolition of an illegal house and more

Wedding cancelled in France due to rowdy guests on way to ceremony

Three guests were arrested in connection with guns allegedly firing blanks during the party procession as well as speeding charges

Two French mayors explain why they refuse to lower flag for Queen

They feel it is not something which the 35,000 mairies of France should be involved in. ‘We built our history against a monarchy,’ said one

French MP calls on local authorities to stop paying electricity bills

The head of the French communist party says drastic action is needed as towns struggle to pay for swimming pools, theatres, schools and other public facilities

Helpful, social, active, fun: Why we like France’s ‘third age clubs’

Readers share their experiences of being members of local clubs for retirees, of which there are hundreds in France, and tell how they manage the language barrier

Mairie accidentally marries French woman to fiancé’s twin brother

‘Now it's about to be settled, we’re just having a laugh about it,” said (real) husband

French mayor gifts centenarian a bench halfway between shops and home

Much-loved resident, Giselle Bisson, 101, can now rest and chat on a seat that literally has her name on it

Why some French towns are switching off their street lights at night

Reasons include the high – and still rising cost of energy – and the negative effects of light pollution on biodiversity

Who can I tell about illegal car business in France?

The mairie is, usually, the first port of call for these issues

Mairie changed the name of my street in France: What must I do?

As street names occasionally change - we look at whom you need to inform (or not) if this happens

Mairies could decide where to put local speed cameras under new bill

The so-called ‘3Ds bill’ came out of the national consultation process which was launched following gilets jaunes protests in winter 2018-2019

Do new residents have to register at the mairie?

When we move to France do we need to visit the mairie and be registered? D.H.

What can we do about our neighbour's deafening woodcutter?

When a neighbour situation goes above and beyond 'normal' behaviour, it is best to make contact informally but legal steps can be taken

Is mairie responsible in France for removing hornets’ nest?

Maires are the first port of call for many issues - like the removal of hornets' nests - and are especially important in rural areas

French mayor requires wedding couples to pay €1,000 ‘damage deposit’

The move is a bid to deter wedding parties from degenerating out of control after three major incidents in recent weeks. The mayor also wants armed police present at ceremonies

Attestation d’accueil for UK visitors to France: Is it needed or not?

There is still confusion among Britons in France as to whether their British visitors need a special document from the mairie – we recap the rules and share readers’ experiences

€650,000 of gold found in jam jars in junk-filled French house

The latest find is the second set of gold coins the mairie has discovered at the property

Paris mairie fined for appointing too many women to top jobs

The issue dates back to 2018 when 11 women and five men were appointed in senior roles. It has resulted in a €90,000 fine

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

No room for disputes at France’s smallest mairie

When the local council of one village in northern France meets in the mairie, everyone gets... close.

Fairytale La Rochelle Hôtel de Ville reopens

The Hôtel de Ville in La Rochelle has always been a focal point of the town; its beautiful, fairytale battlements and circular towers must surely have inspired a million Disney movies.

Barrister seeks Britons refused for local elections

A French barrister known for fighting for Britons’ rights in the EU is seeking testimonies from Britons in France who had hoped to stand in the local mairie elections in March.

Bowled over by French mayor’s generosity

A lawn bowls club has got its own home thanks to the generosity of the local mayor.

Should French council pay for lamp on my wall?

There are two street lights and two spotlights for the church attached to my house. Although they obviously pay for the electricity, should the commune be paying me rent? A.W.

Paris plans remembrance garden for terrorism victims

A “remembrance garden” in honour of the 130 victims of the November 13 2015 terrorist attack is to be created in Paris, after the city’s Mairie voted in favour of the plan this week.

French Mairies can soon request Airbnb property list

French Mairies in local towns and cities will soon be able to request a list of all properties listed on online rental websites - such as Airbnb - in new rules designed to monitor the practice.

French town dumps parking meters to boost local shops

Old parking meters mysteriously dumped on roundabouts in central France have prompted some residents to complain of vandalism - but the act has now been revealed as the work of the local council.

Open 1,000 cafés and kick-start rural life in France

Mayors of France’s 32,221 small communes are being challenged to join a €200million bid to open 1,000 rural cafés and revive village life.

Make sense of… your local French Mairie

In a survey of more than 15,000 people for the Association des Maires de France, three out of four people said they believed their mayor does a good job. We explain more about this key community role and also what a mairie does

What will happen to circus animals?

What happens to the animals if circuses with animal acts are banned? And what about those who work with them? Is there any compensation? T.K.

French have ‘good opinion’ of local mayors, poll shows

Most French people have “a good opinion” of their local mayor, even as confidence in MPs and politicians in general is low, a new survey has found.

Why mairies' flags may fly at half-mast on Friday

Tribute to one long-time mayor who died after being run over by a van after he stopped its occupants dumping rubble

The French village where everyone is maire

Vandoncourt has been called “the village with 600 mayors”... only now there are more like 800 of them.

France homeowners warned on forest fire land clearing

Homeowners in France are reminded that in some regions and for certain properties, it is a legal requirement to carry out a “brush clearing” of surrounding countryside land, to help prevent forest fires.

Commune complaint in France

Connexion’s interview with Cédric Szabo of the Association des maires ruraux de France (January edition) reads like so many PR pieces allowing lobbies to present their arguments without challenge.

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.

Few pupils wearing new school uniforms

Only about one in 10 pupils in primary schools in Provins, Seine-et-Marne, is wearing the uniforms the mairie suggested could help community spirit.

Leaves are falling – so get busy now

Autumn means leaf fall and it can quickly lead to a problem with a neighbour if leaves from your trees are ending up in their garden or in their gutters and you do nothing about it.

Rural France to ring bells for historic WWI Armistice

Rural mairies across France are being invited to ring all the bells in their village at 11h today (Sunday November 11) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1918 First World War Armistice.

€700 to add colour to Brest

Residents in Brest have taken up the chance to brighten up the town after the mairie announced it would pay them for giving their houses or facades a coat of paint – as long as it was bright.

Mayors quit as many have responsibility but no power

Up to 30 mayors in France are resigning before the end of their mandate with many citing the transfer of their powers to the communauté de communes plus cuts in government grants.

Inquiry into French homosexuality plaque vandalisation

The Paris Mairie has opened an inquiry after the vandalisation of a plaque commemorating the last homosexual couple to be put to death in France.

Homeowners in France warned about overgrown hedges

When did you last check your hedges? Homeowners in France are warned that any hedges or trees that impede on public roads or viewpoints may prompt the local Mairie to cut them down, at your own cost.

Rouen paints the town rainbow...but authorities object

Rainbow colours have popped up on pedestrian crossings in Rouen as part of a LGBTQ campaign against homophobia, but now the town authorities say the move may contravene road rules.

Bordeaux creates new Airbnb hit squad

Crackdown on holiday rentals

No rules on destroying caterpillars

More and more Swiss are dumping rubbish in France

French communes are fighting back as the number of Swiss residents crossing into France to dump their rubbish across the border continues to increase.

Dunkirk man leaves town €1.8m – and a headache

Bequest is a bonus for Channel town... but it also comes with two conditions

Fruit trees grow from mighty oaks

Mairie takes action to compensate for cut down trees

Mayors of France worried for towns’ financial future

Mayors across France have stated their worry at increasing financial cuts and the effect this may have on their coffers.

Mairie ‘troll’ explains Strasbourg Christmas tree saga

As Strasbourg replaces its Christmas tree for the second time in weeks, the city’s Mairie offered locals chance to take home part of the stricken pine, after its very own “troll” interrupted proceedings.

Mayors call strike over tax cuts

Dozens of mayors in the the Eure department of Normandy are expected to call strikes in municipal services next Wednesday in fury over President Macron’s taxe d’habitation cut.

Stopping someone feeding stray cats

We keep a boat in our local port. A woman regularly feeds stray cats on her barge and they do their toilet on the other boats. It is disgusting to clean. The capitainerie and mairie have not helped. Is there any law to cover this? M.S.