Compost, cars, cakes: Five French practical updates

Composting tips

January 1 brought with it a number of changes, including new rules for composting in France.

Essentially, French households must now have a separate space to dispose of biowaste, or use it to create compost.

Our article offers some tips for those composting in their homes for the first time, as well as highlighting previous Connexion articles about this change in law.

Read more: New obligatory home waste law in France: Eight tips for composting

App to help buy or sell a vehicle

The government’s updated Simplimmat app can be used by those looking to buy or sell a second-hand vehicle (or give it away).

Our article sees how the app can cut down on vehicle thefts, and help remove much of the paperwork usually required when buying or selling second-hand vehicles in France.

It also provides details of what each side must provide when using the app for a sale / purchase.

Read more: New app lets you buy or sell a car in France with no paperwork

Check your swimming pool is tax compliant

This article gives an overview of tax requirements if owning a swimming pool.

We review the types of installations that need to be declared, as well as how this can be done.

The article also covers the potential changes to your property taxes resulting from the installation of certain pools.

As a reminder, tax authorities have been clamping down on undeclared pools in recent years, using methods including Artificial Intelligence (AI) to track those in contravention of the rules.

Read more: Swimming pools: How to check you are within tax rules in France

How does France’s court system work?

The latest in our series of ‘Explainer’ articles looks at France’s court system, as well as how jury service works in the country.

The system differs from that in the UK, largely due to the reforms made by Napoléon during his reign and the creation of the Napoléonic code.

Jury service, for which French citizens over the age of 23 are eligible, cannot be avoided unless certain serious reasons (such as health problems) are given.

Read more: Explainer: How criminal courts and jury service work in France

Make France’s iconic ‘Epiphany’ cake at home

January 6 is Epiphany, a day where many French people eat a traditional galette des rois cake.

Our article looks at the history of the famous cake, which often features a small figurine inside.

Whilst most French people now opt to buy one from a bakery, if you want to try making one of the cakes yourself, you can use our recipe to make a cake fit for a king – or three.

Read more: RECIPE: How to make a ‘perfect’ French galette des rois