-
Free fraud service for UK homeowners living in France
Owners are encouraged to sign up for a free monitoring service from HM Land Registry to reduce risk
-
New civic tests for foreigners in France launch amid criticism
Applicants for some types of residency cards must now take 45-minute test
-
Workers in France can take 17-day break using only eight days of leave in 2026
Favourable calendar for public holidays makes extended May break possible, with five guaranteed long weekends throughout year
French couple sell €1.5m property via €13 lottery game
A €1.5 million, 450m2 gîte property with a pool is being sold in Périgord (Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine) via an online lottery game that costs just €13 to enter, and which is still open to entries.
Owners Brigitte Demassougne and her husband decided to sell the property in this way after becoming dissatisfied with local estate agent methods.
The couple - who have lived on the seven-hectare site for 20 years - are set to retire soon, and wanted to sell the property in an original way. They are hoping to sell up and “move closer to the seaside”.
Anyone interested can take part in the lottery draw game online, for a fee of just €13. To play, you must also answer two simple questions, and guess the value of three objects. The winner will later be chosen at random.
In just five days, more than 1,500 people have taken part, including entrants from France, Canada, Belgium, and the UK. The entrance fees will be protected in a separate online account, until the end of the game. It is set to close to entries at the end of the year, with the option to extend until May 2020.
Ms Demassougne said: “This is quite an expensive property [and] everything is in a perfect state. But [this way], someone without a lot of money could get it.”
The site is located about 80km south-east of Périgueux, in the commune of Cénac-et-Saint-Julien. As well as a pool, lake and horse stables, it also has two stone outbuildings, and seven hectares of land.
Set deep in the countryside, the house is also always surrounded by birds of all kinds, and squirrels, Ms Demassougne said.
She added: “It is a beautiful location.”
All the details on the property, how to enter the competition, plus the terms and conditions, are available online here.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France
