Parked cars, property form, burglaries: 5 French practical updates

Do you need to complete property form in 2024?

People who did not complete France’s Biens Immobiliers declaration in 2023 are being asked to do so now - with a deadline of July 1 being set for this.

Updates will also need to be made by homeowners if the occupant of a property has changed or if a property has been purchased/sold – both buyer and seller should make the updates.

If you already completed the form in 2023 and the property’s situation has not changed, you do not need to do anything.

A paper version of the form will be available this year.

Read more: France's new property declaration form: 2024 rules and fines explained

What to do after a burglary

With more than 200,000 burglaries committed each year in France, there is unfortunately a chance of anyone being affected.

This article looks at the seven key steps you should follow if impacted, including how to file a police report and notify your bank.

Read more: What to do (and not to do) after a home burglary in France

What are rules on cars parked in same spot for several days?

Cars cannot be parked in the same spot outside for more than seven days – unless it is on private land or paid for – without the risk of being towed. In some places, this is decreased, down to a minimum of 24 hours.

Once a vehicle has been taken away, there is a short deadline for the owner to retrieve it before it can be destroyed, dismantled for scrap, or sold on.

Read more: How long can car be parked in same spot in France before police act?

Rules for dashcam images

This article covers the rules of dashcams (cameras mounted on the inside of vehicles) in France.

We look at whether courts – and insurance companies – accept the cameras as valid forms of evidence.

In addition, we look at the cases in which diffusion of videos captured by dashcams is illegal.

Read more: Dashcams: do French courts and insurance firms accept the images?

Pros and cons of self-employment

Finally, we look at the pros and cons of being a ‘micro-entrepreneur’, or self-employed worker in France.

We compare taxes, rights, and other benefits of self-employed people in France in comparison to a salaried worker, and how to obtain micro-entrepreneur status.

Read more: Micro-entrepreneur status: Pros and cons of self-employment in France