Property

Is taxe d’habitation required for flats let in French farmhouse?

Taxes due depend on the status of the property

PHOTOS: the French house that looks like a yacht and is on sale for €2.2m

Couple with a love for sailing want to sell their dream riverside home

France property focus: Puy-de-Dôme

We look at properties ranging from €26,000 to more than €1,000,000 in the volcanic department

practical

Landlords in France can now increase rent for some tenants: when and by how much?

The government has previously implemented a rental ‘shield’ to restrict increases

Confirmed: Electricity bills to drop by 15% from February for most French households

Savings of up to €650 a year are expected for a family of four

Is it possible to apply for compensation after power cut at French home?

Compensation is sometimes given automatically

What is the role of an estate agent when buying a property in France?

Some properties are advertised with multiple agencies

Can a mobile home remain parked in French home garden?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Is it possible to transfer property share of French home?

Transfer may be subject to gift tax

Many French property energy efficiency ratings now out of date: How to check yours

The change will affect you if you plan to sell or rent a property

Could France follow Spain’s plan for 100% tax on non-EU buyers of second homes?

Spanish prime minister says country must act to combat rising housing shortage

How should garden waste be disposed of in France if bonfires are not allowed?

Some areas have also banned disposing of green waste at waste centres

Properties you can buy for under €50,000, €150,000 and €1 million in Pas-de-Calais

One of France's most densely populated departments is reinventing itself to appeal to tourists

MAP: How much can you negotiate off a property purchase in France in 2025?

Chances of a successful offer vary considerably depending on the region

French court orders withdrawal of Linky smart meter in home after health complaints

Homeowners who do not install a meter now face annual surcharge on electricity bill

Commune to use drones to enforce planning rules in south of France

The drones will be able to assess expansions to private properties as well as larger constructions by companies

15 changes in France from January 1, 2025

Pensions, gardens, boilers, registering cars and postal costs are just some of the areas which change

The trees in your French garden have a worth - here is how to value them online

Owners of properties can see values rise thanks to trees, similarly to garages or barns

Revaluation of property data used to set local taxes delayed in France but concerns continue

A reform of the valeurs locatives cadastrales, a theoretical annual rental value assigned to every property, has been planned for several years

Fraud probe: Court upholds €461m seizure from Briton after Paris property deal

The sum relates to suspected tax evasion over a number of years by the businessman thought to live between California and Crans Montana in Switzerland

Photos: Unusual tower for sale in France (could it make a quirky home?)

The seller claims the four-bedroom property could be converted into a comfortable home

Are French tax charges on foreign property rental income correct?

France should award tax credits in some situations

Must I continue paying French property tax for second home sold in January?

Property taxes can be split into ten monthly payments

French property: Share of foreign buyers increases for houses - which areas are popular?

Non-French buyers make up more than 10% of purchases of non-new build houses in some departments

Property sales plummet in France but did any areas resist price drops?

Values have increased in the last ten years across the board despite post-Covid slump in sales

How to get retrospective approval for building works on French home after completion

Unauthorised home improvements potentially lead to problems when selling

Is my information safe with French estate agents?

Using major national estate agencies is an option if you need to have more confidence

French grants for home renovations are changing

Act now if you want to fit a wood stove before the MaPrimeRénov grants are reduced in 2025

Property energy audits in France: Major cost variations nationwide

More in-depth energy tests are becoming increasingly mandatory

This will be the minimum property tax increase in 2025 in France

Communes are likely to add further charges to final bills

Weighing up costs of renting a home versus buying in France

Rent increases and property price drops make it better to purchase in some areas but significant regional differences persist

Historic urban developments face demolition in Roubaix

Two architectural heritage organisations are fighting the decision by city officials to destroy five courées in Roubaix (Nord)

Is Capital Gains Tax levied on land in France?

Additional taxes apply in the case of certain sales

How to solve higher DIY challenges in France

Nick Inman charts the ups and downs of renovating an old French farmhouse

Off peak hours, Linky meters: electricity and gas bills are set to change in France

Hours for cheaper electricity set to differ depending on season under new rules

New tough tax rules apply on French holiday rentals from 2025

Short-term holiday lets are the target of a new law

Notaire fees expected to rise for home purchases in France

Local authorities set to increase fees to combat budget cuts

Must you remove snow in front of home in France? Rules to respect

Icicles must be removed from roofs in some cases

What is process for building work near a site listed as historic monument in France?

The Architectes des Bâtiments de France must approve of external renovations within 500m of a listed site

Neighbour’s chimney blows smoke into our French home: what can we do?

Chimney stacks must be a certain length from nearby rooftops

Property slump eases in France but sellers still need to be patient

The drop in prices is steadying but the situation is not the same across the country

Thousands of property owners in France sent ‘empty home tax’ bills in error

The bills, payable this December, can run to thousands of euros

Checks and safety laws explained after death in France from carbon monoxide

It kills around 100 and affects 3,000 people every year in France

Small increase in notaire fees for property buyers expected in France

The fee is expected to generate revenue of €30 million a year to fight against coastal erosion

How a builder's creative tip helped me in my farmhouse renovation

Nick Inman continues with his project to restore an old farmhouse

What you can challenge on a French taxe d’habitation bill - and how to do it

Over €700 million was erroneously collected for the property tax last year

Proposal to make homeowners pay back state renovation aid if they sell within ten years

The amount repayable drops for every year the owners remain in the home

Which came first – the White House or its French lookalike?

Columnist Jane Hanks explores the strong resemblance between Château de Rastignac in Dordogne and the iconic home of US presidents

What are the documents that a landlord cannot request from a tenant in France?

Renters can refuse certain invasive demands from property owners

Properties: see what you can buy in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m

Explore Orne's scenic routes, traditional sausages, and surprisingly affordable property market

Is French second-home property tax levied on garages?

Tax may also be levied on parking spots in certain situations

AirBnb rental laws to be toughened in France

Tax reductions will be partially brought in line for long and short-term rentals, with communes having more power over the market

French fire service asks people to check for empty or unused gas bottles at home

Canisters can be returned to points of sale, reducing fire risk

Are drain unblockers for septic tanks commercially available in France?

Supermarkets offer a variety of standard unblockers

400 French communes declared natural disaster zones after October floods

Property owners have 30 days to make insurance claim

How much does a house cost in ‘the healthiest department’ in France?

This area scored well in a national study on air pollution, green spaces, healthy shops, and hiking trails

French property market: Six key points from latest notaire data

Signs of recovery in view from post-Covid slump although sales numbers and prices remain low

MAP: house price falls in France - see how your area fares in new notaire data

Only a handful of cities avoided a fall in price at the start of 2024

What are the rules for domestic wind turbine installation in France?

Turbines of all sizes can be purchased

Why home insurance costs are expected to rise in France next year

Properties in the south face higher costs as natural disasters and droughts hit hard

Further crackdown on tourist rentals under debate in France

Communes would be given more autonomy to manage tourist rental market as tax allowances drop

Some main homes in France targeted for capital gains tax under new plan

The length of ownership would be an important factor

Is it illegal to fit a boiling water tap in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

How to identify and destroy toxic plants that grow in French gardens

Some can cause illness or even be fatal if eaten

Widow loses right to live in French property due to lack of maintenance

‘Total and long-standing failure’ to maintain home means it requires complete renovation

Why have we not been paying taxe d’habitation on our French second home?

Exemptions exist but only apply in a very limited number of scenarios

What is the procedure if septic tank is classed as non-conforme?

Rules are different when buying a new home

17 new and recent changes in France

Many of the recently-announced measures will come into effect from January 2025

Ski chalet owners in French Alps hit with exit fees of up to €200,000

Several are taking legal action after being promised they would not face charges when leaving a popular tax-beneficial leaseback scheme run by companies such as Pierre & Vacances

Home buyers given wrong French bank details and must now pay again

Cooperative gave them IBAN of a tradesperson it employed in error. Court has ordered that couple must pay a second €70,000 payment for the property

Explained: rent increase limits in France as latest inflation figures published

Many renters will face price increase in January

France could add VAT to Airbnb-style tourist rentals

MPs say they aim to make competition fairer between rentals and hotels

More second homes in France face higher tax under new proposal

Far-left proposal would see all communes able to levy additional surcharges on second-home tax

Oise: Properties you can buy from €39,000 to €1.9m in the north of France

The department is just north of Paris so buyers may have to look hard for a bargain

How I revived the rusty railings at our old French farmhouse

Columnist Nick Inman explains how an inventive use of copper tubing gave his garden wall a new lease of life