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French towns take action to reduce percentage of second homes
A new town is to offer ‘tiny homes’ to rent all year round from just €100 per month. Around 25 other French communes are working on similar projects
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Septic tanks expose difference between law and reality in France
The tanks can reveal stark differences between French and British laws... and the attitude of homeowners towards them
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What changes require you to make new property declaration in France?
Tax officials have sent out an email reminding people of the rules
What are the rules on foreign septic tanks in France?
Septic tanks are subject to official approval and regular inspections
Reader Question: We are looking to buy a second home in France which needs a new fosse (septic tank). Would a septic tank purchased in the UK conform?
The decision depends on the Service Public d’Assainissement Non Collectif (Spanc) covering your commune.
Spancs keep a digital record, with photos of each fosse installation, and are also in charge of
inspections, usually every 10 years, to make sure installations are working as they should.
All tanks must meet French standards and have a CE stamp.
We spoke to a Spanc manager in a rural area of France which has many second homes that are owned by foreigners.
EU septic tank installations are accepted
The manager had seen a few installations of tanks from elsewhere in Europe, but none from the UK.
“Britain is no longer in the EU but I do not think it has moved far from EU rules on installing waste systems, so there is a possibility that a UK fosse would be acceptable,” she said.
“But it must be checked before it goes into the ground, and technical documents provided in French. Each inspector makes their own decision based on the individual house and garden layout.”
Read more: Explainer: the rules around septic tanks in rural France
She advised anyone thinking of importing a tank to contact their local Spanc before buying it, detailing its specifications, including internal drawings.
“But really it would be easier to buy from a French supplier,” she concluded.
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