Property

Energy aid: 2025 sees changes to France’s chèque énergie scheme

Electronic version of the voucher now available

Are there compensation payouts for French home losing internet?

Free mediator is available for cases not resolved amicably

Which areas suffer most burglaries in France and what items are targeted?

Thieves are working together to take more items from a home

practical

Wall cracks due to heat are a growing problem in France

Up to 10 million homes affected by issue linked to clay soils that swell when wet and shrink in heat

New tricks by burglars in France and how to better protect your property

Increasingly high-tech methods are being used to break into homes

Property watch: See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys Haute-Saône

The sparsely populated department has a growing reputation as a lush and peaceful tourist destination

'Our French farmhouse was rebuilt by hundreds of helping hands'

Discover how a New Zealand-English couple transformed a dilapidated farmhouse into a vibrant home with the help of 145 volunteers

How to find the history of your home in France, including prior owners

The means of searching records can vary dependent upon a property’s age

Landowner refused planning permission granted compensation by French court

Compensation of €25,900 plus costs awarded after refusal deemed "illogical"

What taxes are levied on second homes in France?

The taxes, and possible exemptions, depend on your personal situation

Towns in France race to improve flood defences

A quarter of people now live in areas at risk of flooding according to government estimates

How to assume property ownership in France

Usucapion can take place if you have acted as if you believed you owned the property for at least 30 years

Map: See how French flat prices have changed this year

Recovering property market has not meant a blanket increase in prices

French property market showing sign of recovery: five key points from latest notaire data

Global uncertainties may impact speed and level of recovery

UK home insurance difficulties for Briton living in France

Change of underwriters left woman without insurance for second home in Scotland

Invasive Japanese beetles detected in eastern France

Residents are being asked to report beetles

Red drought alerts raised in south-west France: restrictions on water usage in place

Obtaining water from natural sources is now banned

Can a large age gap invalidate a tontine agreement in France?

Tontine clauses are inserted at time of property purchase but can be invalidated at a later date

What documents are required to sell a home in France?

Property diagnostics are required as part of sales process

French officials order the destruction of a house in Perpignan

The villa was constructed over ten years ago

Wasps, mosquitoes, hornets, ants: how to deal with summer insects in France

Natural repellents can keep some pests away

Out of the red: Energy audit reforms to improve rating for 850,000 properties in France

New calculations will benefit homes heated by electricity and aim to put smaller rental units back on the market

Enedis reinforces anti-fraud checks on Linky meters in France

More than 100,000 meters found to have been tampered with to provide false readings

Are French holiday lets affected by taxe d'habitation?

It's important to know the exemptions when it comes to holiday properties

How to protect your home in France against forest fires

Keeping gardens clear of undergrowth is important, and in several areas is a legal requirement

New water restrictions in France: which areas are affected and what changes for residents

Warnings are being raised from north to south with the exception of the south-west (for now)

Does a pool still add value to French property despite water restrictions?

An increased selling price might look attractive but do not forget running costs, increased taxes and water bans

Hidden defects cause legal row for €1 house in France

Couple may sue French council over drainage issues in their bargain property.

New ways to release equity from French property

New ways for accessing capital while retaining your home in France

Giant housing estate to block view of Cézanne’s mountain in south of France

Mayor insists the houses are badly needed and that there has been consultation

Hilltop windmill offers free night in Dordogne

Accommodation for two people can be booked for one night through town website

People with a second home in France should check their insurance policy

Cover can be reduced or voided for homes left empty for significant periods of time

Photos: four historic French châteaux on sale for under €1 million

Grand abandoned properties are looking for new owners

Tips for keeping your home cool during heatwaves in France

France’s ecological transition agency has issued some tips that are also eco-friendly

Growing problem of unpaid ‘copropriété’ charges in blocks of flats in France

Authorities urge legal reforms as unpaid service charges suggest €2billion in arrears

Could property owners in France be obliged to combat heat in tenanted homes?

MPs from several parties want to tackle ‘boiler homes’

Surge in private swimming pool ‘squats’ in France

Warnings in place as owners can be held responsible for any injuries to pool squatters

Rennes becomes first city in France to limit size of swimming pools

Pools will be limited to 25m3 in size, 15m3 smaller than the average size in France

Key points and rules to consider if want a pool at your French home

Taxes, safety measures, running costs are all things you should factor in

Why your garden in France may look unusually ‘yellow’

Crops in northern France have been harvested early due to warmer temperatures

Table: Rural house price changes across France in 2024 – see how your department fares

Uneven shifts see falls of up to 19% and rises of nearly 12%

Partner article: What are the rules on noise from heat pumps in France?

Heat pumps are popular eco-friendly renovation choice

What are arrival timelines for declaring property wealth tax in France?

There is a ‘grace’ period available for wealth held overseas

What are the rules on fitting air conditioning into homes in France?

Work declaration, noise levels, professional certification - we review what is needed

French ‘property use’ declaration deadline: who has to submit before July 1?

Declarations have been required since 2023

French court backs homeowners in capital gains tax dispute over primary residence

No capital gains tax is due on the sale of a person's main home

French renovation grants maintained for insulation and boiler replacements

Applications for ‘monogestes’ will not be paused during summer months

French land agency reduces €1m field sale to €15,000

Intervention of rural land management agency causes massive price reduction in Brittany

Did you know? These items are banned at a French vide-grenier clear-out sale

You should be aware of prohibited items if planning to declutter this summer

Map: Latest water restrictions across France and how public is affected

A dry spring in the north has left many areas under drought alert

What do you risk if paying a friend to do work at French home without a contract?

This can often be for smaller projects such as repainting a room, mowing the lawn or laying new carpet.

What types of water can be used to fill swimming pool at French home?

New pools can be filled in for the first time despite drought restrictions

Is it best to sell usufruit property in France before returning to the UK?

You need to agree to sell the property with the person or people who own the residual legal rights

France’s home renovation grant system to resume in September

MaPrimeRenov' scheme is being paused for the summer to tackle fraud and backlogs

Property watch: See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys in Haut-Rhin

The north-east department is known for its strong German influences

Estimate renovation gains to French home with new official tool

Studies claim properties in some regions could see their values increase by 20% following energy-efficiency upgrades

Tips on how to manage a French chateau - and how to get your own

Chateau owners Lionel and Claire Cherruault share their experience

MaPrimeRénov' scheme in France paused – how are ongoing projects affected?

Excess fraud and the increase in applications lead to suspension of scheme

France’s ‘garden shed’ tax: how to check if it has been paid – and what to do if not

Taxe d’aménagement is payable on a wide range of structures including pools, garden sheds and other outbuildings

Are we required to connect our French home to new communal sewage system?

The process can be expensive but some financial aid is available

Is it possible to obtain a DPE energy audit remotely in France?

Property owners must obtain document before selling homes

Private swimming pools boom in France: 5 key statistics

Home pools have become more popular in the past few decades

Bridging loan alternative offers French property owners quick access to finance

Specialist agents can pay up to 60% of their property's value within weeks through a new initiative

How France's energy ratings system is affecting property prices

New study reveals significant differences in urban properties

What are the rules for changing your front door in France?

We review the rules, from planning permission to paint colours

Where in Paris is property becoming more affordable?

Seven arrondissements have now fallen below the €9,000 per square metre bracket

Second-home market in France grows: who is buying and where?

In some departments close to 20% of properties are second homes

What is ‘electric box’ we have been asked to install at French home?

Grid manager Enedis must ensure all electrics are compatible with public domain

Partner article: What are the legal formalities of building a house in France?

The planning formalities in France can become an additional burden if you are ill prepared

Ensure your smoke detector in French home is maintained and legal

Detectors must conform to several safety rules to be valid

New ranking shows the best places to live near Toulouse

The list advises places to get that south-of-France village feel without sacrificing city living

Important rules for property owners with a garden in France

Bonfires, undergrowth clearance, water usage… check you are on the right side of the law

An entire village in Provence is up for sale

Twenty Flemish families spent four decades bringing the ancient hamlet back to life

Seven key points to consider before you begin a home renovation project in France

Ask what work is needed, how to avoid scams, and the savings available, advises a consumer group

How long to receive French renovation grants - and why it is getting longer

Protestors accuse the scheme of ‘malfunctioning’, but the managing authority disputes this