Your Questions

Do you have a question about life in France? Email our man in the know, Oliver Rowland, at news@connexionfrance.com

Why can I not cancel health policy with a month’s notice?

My health mutuelle provider says I cannot cancel with a month’s notice but need to wait until the anniversary date. Do mutuelles not come under the same rules as other contracts which you can cancel with a month’s notice? J.G.

Paying rent into UK personal bank account

I am retired and live in France and have rental properties in London. I opened a small business account with Barclays while I lived in the UK to deal with consultancy work I had and continued the account with rent being paid into it. Barclays now says it is closing business accounts held by people outside the UK but I can keep my personal account. However, it says I cannot pay the rent into it as it is not a salary. Is this right? S.L.

Declaring UK pensions in France

For a UK NHS pension (non-government) or state pension, a P60 end-of- tax year form is not available. If tax relief at source is provided through the UK, there will be no need for an annual UK tax return and so no year-end UK tax calculation statement of income from HMRC. In this case, how should these UK pensions be submitted for French tax? C.D.

Can mystery €200 rebate be French tax rebate?

We had a pleasant surprise when we checked our avis d’impôt tax statement and saw there was a rebate of over €200 on top of the fact that we owed €0 as usual. Our income is government pensions and UK rental income, taxed in the UK. Is there a logical reason for this rebate? I.S.

French resident turned down for a UK deposit account

I have a cheque account with a UK bank and rang to ask if I could open a deposit account and was told I could not as I live in France. I thought we had the right to open accounts from abroad? J.D.

Rules for having gas boilers serviced in France?

What are the rules for having gas boilers serviced in France? Do you need an annual check, as you do for chimneys?

Work and claiming transport costs in France

I have done some short-term employed part-time work and have been told I can claim kilométrage (transport costs) against this income. Is this true and, if so, how do I do this?

Leaving French property to just one child?

I have owned a French property since 1983. Can I leave it to just one child (who is involved with it and loves it as I do) instead of my two other children who are not remotely interested?

How is UK’s 15-year voting rule calculated?

When does the UK’s 15-year limit for overseas voting start to run? S.W.

Set up online fundraiser for a good cause in France

Is there a way of setting up an online page to benefit a French charity? I want to raise money for a cancer centre but you cannot use JustGiving in France. J.C.

Do I need French dossier médical partagé for children?

My doctor has suggested that I should create a dossier médical partagé for my child-ren – is it necessary? J.N.

Should French council pay for lamp on my wall?

There are two street lights and two spotlights for the church attached to my house. Although they obviously pay for the electricity, should the commune be paying me rent? A.W.

Does France have a ‘speaker’ in its parliament?

John Bercow, who recently stepped down, made the role of Speaker of the House of Commons famous even in France thanks to his memorable interventions during Brexit legislation debates and booming cries of “Ordeeeer, ordeeer”. Does the French parliament have an equivalent? [Editor’s note: the speaker is now Sir Lindsay Hoyle] J.P.

How to improve the WIFI signal in my French home?

I am having lots of visitors to stay for Christmas – any tips for improving my wifi?

Protecting my empty home in France

How can I deter burglars from an empty second home? It is isolated, so an alarm isn’t enough. J.C.

British probate and residents in France

Earlier this year, my spouse died. He was English. In 2016 we moved to France and bought a house here. He only had a British will. My notaire asked me to obtain probate in the UK. Everything we have is in joint names, including bank accounts in UK and France, and land and property in France. My application was rejected because there is nothing to probate. Do you know how this should be dealt with? I can’t get the land and house into my name until succession is approved. S.W.

France's loi Carrez – why is it so important?

The loi Carrez – why is it so important (I have only come across this concept in France)? Which areas are counted?

Is French business set-up needed to sell a few items?

My husband is retired and has a hobby making wooden items. He occasionally sells them at a fête or after an inquiry. How much can he earn before he is required to register a business? Can we show the work on internet groups and occasionally sell items? A.B.

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