Second Homes

Our property has a pool alarm. Does it matter if there is no one at home to hear it when we are in the UK? 

Do I need a French TV licence at my holiday home? Are there detector vans?

A law limiting large water bills due to leaks can apply whether or not the property was occupied at the time.

Moves to combat Airbnb-type tourist rentals of second homes have seen some communes agree to impose a surtaxe de la taxe d’habitation which can amount to an extra 60% on part of the tax.

My father, a UK resident, bought a French holiday home in 1998 for 60,000FF. He formally gifted it to me in 2006. My siblings received gifts in the UK to compensate. My father held no other assets in France. He died this year. Does his estate owe any taxes in France in relation to this gift?  R.H.

I sold a holiday house in France in March last year but monthly direct debits for local property taxes are still being taken. How can I stop this?  C.S.

It is always important to understand the tax implications when buying property, particularly where a foreign tax regime is involved and/or you have liabilities in more than one country.

What will be required in the way of documentation for the sale of a maison secondaire that we had constructed in 2003 on a greenfield site. Obviously, there is no previous selling history of a house from an agent immobilier, just the land. C.L.

Reader's query on local taxes on second homes.

As we enter summer and ‘high season’, many readers will be considering renting out their French homes or second properties to take advantage of the extra income, especially in popular tourist areas.