Deals, deadlines, tax hikes: 5 France practical updates

1. Police can check on your empty home during holidays

If you go on holiday, you can ask the police or gendarmerie to check on your house whilst they are on patrol and alert you to any issues they spot.

Homeowners can sign up for the service online, using a FranceConnect login, or go directly to a local police or gendarmerie station to ask for the service.

Whilst the police only provide it for main homes, the gendarmerie will check on second homes – and up for an entire year.

One important thing to note is that you have to let the authorities know if any travel plans change, in case they believe you to be an intruder in your own house.

Read more:Did you know French police can check on your home while you are away?

2. One week to complete the mandatory property tax form

The deadline to submit the much-discussed property declaration (biens immobiliers) is on Friday, June 30.

It can be completed online, through your personal space on the French tax site (your professional space if the property is held through an SCI), or by calling the tax authorities if you are currently in France.

Our latest article on the form covers some last-minute questions, alongside a list of our other resources available on the topic, including our special Q&A.

Read more:Tips on completing mandatory French property form a week from deadline

3. Could your second home in France face a tax hike soon?

The list of more than 3,500 communes that are likely to be able to hike second-home property taxes has been announced.

Around 1,140 communes (in larger city agglomerations) were already able to levy increased taxes on second homes left vacant for over a year.

However, the latest move sees the number of communes able to increase property taxes more than trebled.

The communes in question do not have to raise taxes - they just have the power to do so if the housing situation requires it.

The new communes added to the list are largely in tourist hotspots such as the south-east, the Alps, Corsica, and the Atlantic coast.

You can use our article to search for your commune and see if it is on the list.

Read more:Draft list of French communes that could face second-home tax hikes

4. Staying hydrated in the summer heat

Whilst most of the country has been continually battered by storms throughout the week, the weekend is set to bring clear skies and hot weather to France.

Southern Corsica also faced heatwave warnings, with temperatures reaching over 40C on the island on Tuesday.

With this in mind, and with a particularly warm summer ahead, France’s public health body has released tips on how to stay hydrated during hot weather.

Advice includes avoiding alcohol, drinking room-temperature drinks, and eating water-rich foods to stay replenished.

Read more:French public health body’s tips for staying hydrated this summer

5. Amazon Prime customers eligible for supermarket discount

Both new and existing customers of Amazon Prime can get 10% off of their shopping at supermarket Monoprix for up to six months.

Amazon Prime subscribers will be able to sign up for the supermarket chain’s ‘Monopflix’ loyalty service for free for six months, a benefit of which is a 10% discount on their total shopping bills.

What is more, the deal provides discounts in-store, on Monoprix’s online shop, and when buying Monoprix groceries through Amazon.

There are around 10 million subscribers to Amazon Prime in France, meaning the store could receive a huge influx of customers.

Read more:Amazon Prime customers offered discount at French supermarket Monoprix