Practical property

Medical fees, eco-grants, gas prices: 5 changes this May in France

We also include the French income tax declaration deadlines for residents and second-home owners and other dates coming up

Phone scams, gardening, insurance claims: 5 French practical updates

Our roundup of recent practical articles you may have missed

House ruined by wood-rotting fungus - ‘French insurance will not pay’

Fungus can be swept in through windows and vents and lead to extensive damage. Insurers consider it homeowners’ fault

Where in France are people now negotiating most off a property?

Some towns are seeing price drops of 9%

Do US citizens need documents notarised at embassy in France?

Some real estate procedures for US property sales require a notary

How to check for leaks in your French home without a smart water meter

Homeowners should do regular checks to monitor their water consumption

Woman wins local tax fight over French home invaded by squatters

A court has ordered that she is refunded four years of the tax. It was her fourth attempt to be exonerated

Interest rates for loans to buy property in France continue to fall

The drop may help kickstart the market as banks and politicians explore new ways to boost home sales

Obligatory property declaration in France: paper forms now available

Missing declarations must be made by June 30, 2024. Up to one in six property owners did not complete this new declaration last year

What changes require you to make new property declaration in France?

Tax officials have sent out an email reminding people of the rules

Explained: Why you might need a certificat d’urbanisme in France

How to get the document and what information it reveals about plots of land and planning issues

‘Tiny swimming pools’ catch on in France as easier and cheaper option

Smaller pools are not subject to same regulations as larger conventional ones

No state payout for requisitioned homes built illegally in France

Properties built without permission do ‘not retain right’ to expropriation compensation, states new court ruling

Are there restrictions on building garden walls in France?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Homeowners in France at risk of being sued by subcontractors

If the main contractor fails to pay up, the property owner may be liable, a new ruling confirms

Can you open a bank account in France without a local address?

Banks are free to deny an account to anyone and are not required to provide justification for their decision

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

Home security cameras: what are the rules in France?

Rules differ dependent upon the scope of any video camera

Who still has to pay taxe d’habitation property tax in France?

Changes on how the charge is levied have taken place in recent years

Landlord arrested for paying man to scare non-paying tenants in Nice

Tenants had changed locks to stop the landlord from entering the home. He is now banned from going near the property

Who has to complete the new French property declaration in 2024?

Not all property owners will need to submit a return this year

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

How do I register to offer a furnished gite rental in France?

A new online registration system is now in place, but note there are income limits at which you become classed a ‘professional’ renter

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

It is not only for handheld electrical devices such as phones

French state watchdog recommends grants to stop house drought cracks

More should be done to prevent damage from climate change, it says

Can I sell inherited shares in French home to an investor?

Matthew Cameron of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query

France's new property declaration form: 2024 rules and fines explained

A new deadline is in place for those who have yet to declare - or have moved

Can I install a septic tank myself at my second French home?

Installations must be checked every 10 years

Must I remove ivy growing on my French second home?

Ivy can be attractive but can also be viewed as damaging

Are second homes in France more at risk of 'home-jacking'?

Home invasions are on the rise nationally

Do I need to sweep and insure an unused chimney in my French home?

New rules over chimney cleaning came into force at the end of 2023

Which foreign nationalities buy the most property in the Paris area?

And what has happened to British buyers?

Points to consider if heating your French home with fuel oil

We cover money-saving tips, market variables and alternatives

Can bank loan pay for notaire home purchase fees in France?

This would allow buyers to effectively expense the fees over the life of the loan

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 2021 law affect wills choosing foreign legal rules?

Controversial 2021 inheritance law has complicated issues with regard to the EU regulation that allows foreign people to opt for inheritance law of original country

One partner’s debt can cause joint home to be seized in France

The effects of a couple's marriage regime were highlighted by a recent case in France's top appeal court

Can our neighbour in France force us to replace a hedge with a fence?

Position, height, age are all factors which will need to be considered

How can I reduce the cost of home insurance in France?

Extra cover and location are two primary factors of higher annual charges

Second homes in France: locals call for quotas

Campaigners in the Basque Country want a quota system to limit new second homes, councillors in Brittany propose housing priority for existing residents

New buyers left owing €300,000 for uninhabitable ‘mouldy’ French home

Couple were forced to leave after six months as their newborn baby fell sick due to fungus-related issues

Man does not have to pay for renovations as no quote signed in France

Court rules that payment is not due for the completed works even though he had paid a deposit

How do I estimate the value of my rural home in France?

The market for older properties can be complex

Are video doorbells legal in France?

The positioning and the scope of a camera is important

Property energy rating system in France eased (a little)

Smaller properties are to have their DPE calculated differently so their rating more accurately ‘reflects reality’, the government says

7 key points on property market in France from new notaire data

Several areas are now predicted to see significant falls

How often do I need to sweep my chimney in French home?

New rule changes mean chimneys must be swept within a certain timeframe

How to find out more about an area in France before you move there

Platforms abound on ways to tell if a town or neighbourhood might be suitable for you

Buyers lose case over ‘banned’ loft conversion in France

They wanted compensation from seller, who did not inform them that the loft had been renovated despite sales deed saying it could not be done

What are the laws surrounding trespassing in France?

Trespassing rules are governed by the furnished condition of a house and can include any garden also

Americans flock to buy in Paris, spending a median of €715,000

People from the US are the largest group of non-resident foreign buyers in the French capital

Home sale in France annulled as visible faults not stressed at viewing

The estate agent should have informed buyers of issues even if they were clearly noticeable, court rules

Do we pay French CGT tax on the sale of our UK house?

Rules depend on the tax treaty signed between two countries

Couple cannot demolish and rebuild French home even if not protected

The 1950s building is said to be of ‘heritage interest’ despite this not being officially recognised

How do I release equity from my French property?

There are various loans available in France which look partially to the value of a property as security

Property buyers in France scammed out of €26,000 by fake bank advisor

Couple checked the advisor’s details but thieves had stolen his identity to trick them into paying over a property deposit

Homeowners challenge automatic rise in French property tax - and win

2019 bills had risen by 15% but officials had not visited to recalculate property values

Do we need children’s permission to sell our French home?

Antonia Ridley-Hughes of Ashtons Legal, answers a reader query

Buying and selling a home in France: What is the viager system?

France has an unusual way of buying and selling a home based on estimates of the seller’s life expectancy – vente en viager – which is the only realistic way for many homeowners to ‘release equity’ from their property