Practical

These pages are devoted to the practical side of everyday life in France with sections on Money / Health / Property / Family / Work / Your Questions / Environment / Transport and Science and Technology. The Cx symbol denotes subscriber-only articles. Please send your questions to news@connexionfrance.com

Money

Tax at source in France: Your questions answered

Annual income tax declaration time is fast approaching in France

Small businesses feel pinch of coronavirus lockdown

Annual French tax declarations continue: Here's why?

The difference between ‘lawful’ and ‘tax’ residence

This column is by Bill Blevins of Blevins Franks financial advice group (blevinsfranks.com). He has decades of experience advising expatriates in France and co-authored the Blevins Franks Guide to Living in France

French government gives up gas price control

EU law change means household gas prices switch to open market

Health

Emergency numbers in France and other helpful numbers

Having separate numbers aims to give a faster response - but if in doubt there is always 112

Covid-19 confinement form: Can you tick 2 boxes?

Readers have been asking about what they should do if they are going out for two permitted reasons on the same trip, for example to a pharmacy and also to do food shopping.

'Follow rules in France to slow spread of Covid-19'

Washing hands and social distancing: That is what will make the difference, says British Ambassador to France Edward Llewellyn

Restez chez vous in lockdown France, or risk €135 fine

Penalty for not carrying simple document increases to €375 if not paid within 45 days

Your Questions

Covid-19 in France: Pool and garden help

Do police check how often we shop?

Covid-19 confinement in France and bike riding

Covid-19 France: Can we drive and shop together?

Covid-19: your health questions answered

How to pay chèque emploi service universel employees

Covid-19: Divorce and joint custody of children

Have French mortgages been suspended?

Covid-19: Contrôle technique extension

Covid-19: Can gardeners continue to work?

Property

Box clever and arrange for delivery of UK purchases

Watson European are expanding their current service of removals and storage to include the delivery of packing materials to your door.

Why sweeping your chimney matters in France

You can be fined up to €450 if you don't maintain in-use chimneys at your property correctly

New mortgage rules could mean fewer new houses

Instructions from the Banque de France to banks to tighten lending conditions for home loans may dampen the market in 2020

Lake water used to heat homes in SE France

In summer, the system can be used to keep the same properties cool

Joint property ownership options in France

Barbara Heslop of Heslop & Platt answers a reader query

Family

Families tell of problems when child is being bullied

A new initiative and hotline to deal with bullying has been introduced in France.

Covid-19: Use French post services from home

With one in ten post offices shut and people advised to only visit those if essential, it is useful to know about the many postal services available without visiting one.

Lessons at home as Covid-19 closes French schools

Work

Appreciating cultural differences is key at work

French and British businesses do not operate in the same way – as any Briton who has worked for a French company will tell you. It means meetings can easily turn into a minefield of misunderstandings due to cultural differences.