Renovation

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

Unauthorised home improvements potentially lead to problems when selling

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

I have enjoyed every one of my five French chateaux renovations

Geoffrey Kenyon-May, 82, moved to France in 1975 and has since enjoyed a rollercoaster life renovating five chateaux and one watermill

practical

Change to timeline of energy efficiency rules for French homes announced by PM

More than 600,000 properties may be affected by rule change, allowing them to remain on rental market

Expandable homes gain popularity in France

Prospective homeowners battling high property prices are increasingly turning to modular houses designed for easy future expansions

Time is ticking to benefit from energy-saving government grant in France

The Coup de pouce Pilotage scheme, worth up to €624, runs out in December

Home renovation grant change welcomed by French builders

Orders had plunged following the start of stricter rules for obtaining MaPrimeRénov’ money but the rules have been eased again

Home renovation grants simplified in France from today

It should now be easier to apply for help to install a new boiler, for example, but homeowners will need to act quickly

Planning to replace your boiler at home in France? Now is a good time

Eco-friendly alternatives will be easier – and cheaper – to install from mid-May

Heat pump insurance cover downgraded for many home owners in France

Wood-burning stoves are also affected following a court ruling

France revamps energy renovation grants scheme to boost take-up

MaPrimeRénov’ rules for homeowners and tradespeople to become simpler after applications plummet

Why it is hard to find people to do French eco-renovation grant work

Almost one-fifth of trade companies did not renew their certification for 2024

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

Firm proposes funding renovation of French property for a share of it

It claims to offer an alternative to traditional funding

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

Are modern underpants really shown in medieval French church window?

The Troyes tourist board had initially joked that a pair of men's briefs were added to the stained glass window during restoration

Can I get financial aid for insulation as a retiree in France?

Several different schemes can potentially help with the France Rénov' network being the most important source of help

French renovation grant to target old gas boiler replacement

From January 1 MaPrimeRénov’ scheme will also focus on cooling homes and increase grant limits to €70,000 for low-income households

Brittany man wins €1m on replacement scratch card

The original ticket was ripped so the shopkeeper replaced it with what turned out to be a winning card

Which materials have gone up the most for home renovation in France?

Overall, building work has risen by 9% in cost, with concrete prices specifically up 21%

French court rules on tradesmen and faulty materials for renovations

Our property ‘round-up’ also looks at new tests to limit drought damage to homes and a big rise in bedbug infestations

Land for sale at €1 per m² in rural village in central France

Mayor hopes it will help reinvigorate community and maintain the local school

How to dispose of rubble, bricks and other renovation waste in France

Planning ahead can be beneficial when it comes to cleaning up after renovation work

Many homeowners still ‘better off’ with France's new local tax system

This is despite significant rises to one tax. We also look at changes to eco-friendly grants in France and prices in Paris in our weekly roundup of property articles

Which renovation works can exempt you from property tax in France?

You can receive a partial or full rebate on taxe foncière payments for three years

Can I get financial help towards replacing boiler at my French home?

Many people now look for eco-friendly solutions when replacing their heating systems

France offers more money to households replacing their old boilers

The government has increased the financial help available for replacing old boilers with new, eco-friendly models. Who is eligible for the aid?

Airbnb rip-offs, tax cut to be scrapped?: 5 French property updates

We round up the latest from the French property sector

Tips to avoid energy renovation scams in France after warning issued

The government’s consumer protection branch shares examples of typical complaints it receives and how to spot fraudsters

Pagoda-style French seaside renovation has romantic backstory

Vicki Jeynes fell in love with La Pagode, a unique house in the south of France, and despite its poor condition, she purchased and renovated it, fulfilling her dream of living by the sea

Will renovation grants be extended to DIY projects?

The French agency Anah is considering the possibility of including DIY projects in its MaPrimeRénov' scheme

DIY projects on French homes may become eligible for renovation grants

Those running the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme are not ruling it out but must deal with fraud and organised crime first

France’s eco-friendly home renovation scheme again called to question

A senate report said MaPrimeRénov' was too complex and needed to be better funded

Wait to buy warning, squatting crackdown: 5 French property updates

Plus government defends eco home renovation scheme and unique French fishing huts for sale

Boost for homeowners as France pours €300m extra into eco grant scheme

MaPrimeRénov provides financial aid for those planning environmentally friendly home improvements

Is French eco-renovation aid only for main homes?

Financial help is available for renovating French homes to make them more energy efficient, but second-home owners are not always eligible

France wants to restore its village churches… but who is going to pay?

The government is looking at implementing a subscription model in a bid to fund restoration work for small churches in France

Help to renovate French home undermined by lack of certified builders

Figures suggest less than 5% of the building firms listed in France have the necessary paperwork to carry out grant-approved work

‘Old French house bricks have a character that is unique’

Bricks tell a story and can help date parts of your property, says Nick Inman

Do we have to pay back eco grants when we sell our French home?

It depends on which financial assistance you have received

Five French property updates: second homes surtax, noisy neighbours

Plus: how to get a Paris apartment from €30,000, and why air conditioning is becoming increasingly desirable among house hunters in France

Hundreds sue over French energy renovation grant delays

The legal action is linked to the French government’s MaPrimeRenov’ scheme, which funds improvements to a home’s energy efficiency

Five French property updates: undeclared extensions, slowing market

We also look at how hundreds of refunds are due over issues with grants for environmentally-friendly upgrades to homes

Unusual French properties: Mill owners can see water below their feet

In our series looking at unusual properties, Charles Miskin tells us he has no regrets after falling for an old watermill

Nine tips for managing a French home renovation project yourself

If you prepare in advance like a professional project planner, doing your own renovations will not seem so daunting

Drawing will help you get to the essence of a French building

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

18 changes for residents and property owners in France - January 2023

From energy bill help to a ban on single-use packaging in fast-food restaurants, we look at the changes that have come into place this month

Community workshops make DIY accessible in France

A growing number of community workshops have sprung up in France offering DIY enthusiasts access to space, equipment and skills to develop their projects

Notre-Dame fire: What is France doing to protect its other cathedrals?

Four years on from the blaze at the Paris landmark, France is investing €220 million to guard against a repeat elsewhere in the country

French renovation rule over children having to OK work is insulting

Firm told readers they needed to have their children sign-off on a payment they need to make to it

Is there any aid to help replace old draughty windows at French home?

We look at the help available for upgrading single-glazed windows

French handyman offers home renovations to people in need

The builder wants to help people in south-west France who are unable to afford essential renovation work, and he has plans to expand to the rest of the country

Eleven changes in France for residents in April

From home energy audits to sexist contempt offences, we look at changes coming in and some key dates

Noisy deliveries, JFK’s holiday home and the dangers of subletting

Our weekly round-up of property-related news in France

French renovation: Why bricks don’t deserve ‘second best’ reputation

Nick Inman argues that primitive mudbrick constructions could find a new fan base among people looking for more environmentally friendly building practices

How I bought our new family home in France for €1

The town council of Saint-Amand-Montrond hope to bring life back into the town centre by repurposing empty buildings

Where is the best place to buy a second home in France?

Our property news wrap also looks at a neighbour dispute over a right of way, liability for latent defects when selling a property and MaPrimeRénov' bugs

Admin error led to renovation aid refusal in France: what can we do?

Make sure when you are applying for aid, you follow steps in the correct order

What help is there to adapt homes in France for old age?

We look at the aid schemes currently available in France to help older people to continue living at home

French eco-renovation grants increase as price of materials rises

Funding available through the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme will rise from €15,000 to €25,000 but homeowners carrying out works will need to keep a more detailed record

Shed tax rise, renovation aid, rental prices: French property updates

We also look at the introduction of a mandatory logbook for home eco-renovations and how a chateau once visited by General de Gaulle is on sale for just €550,000

French renovation: Bell tower collapse is a chance to ring the changes

Writer Nick Inman is impressed by his friends’ ornate rebuilding of a bell tower on their property, which showcases the couple’s skills and interests

Couple warn of French renovation grant ‘frustrations’

The Vintner family lost out on aid worth €1,280 for double glazing in their home after signing for the installation before getting formal approval

Energy audits, tax, grants: What is new for property in France in 2023

We look at the energy diagnostic tests needed for sales or letting and why installing a pool will cost more

‘Our quirky French home: a former nightclub fitted with glitterballs’

The property is large enough to accommodate a burgeoning brocante business as well as an intergenerational family

100 French heritages sites to receive funding through lottery funds

The money will go to sites across the country in need of restoration and repair

France looks to make eco-renovations easier for flat owners

The government has proposed reducing the number of co-owners who must agree to the work being carried out

DIY in France: Fixing garden wall is opportunity to study old methods

Writer Nick Inman’s main challenge in rebuilding his orchard perimeter was replicating the old mortar

Renovation loans, evictions, house swaps: Five French property updates

We also look at tax authorities’ Google surveillance of garden pools in 2023

Grant to renovate French homes is extended with a bigger budget

Those applying for large sums, however, will soon have to use (and pay for) a professional adviser

Former schoolhouse makes quirky French home for US family

The family have yet to convert the old classroom but currently live in the adjacent former mayor’s office

Old clothes turned into home insulation and sold in French DIY shops

The insulation is made from donated charity garments that are too badly damaged to be resold

Extra boiler aid, drought damage claims: Five French property updates

We also explain why advertising a home yourself if you have an exclusive estate agent contract could cost you dear, a tougher new squatting law and more Airbnb backlash

‘I swapped hairdressing in UK for family window business in France’

Jane Robertshaw, explains how hairdressing kept her away from her sons. Their move to France brought a new family venture

DIY: Buying wood board for French property renovation can be minefield

Writer Nick Inman explains how he has learned to navigate bewildering builders’ merchants and what you need to ask for