Property

Millions of French homes face higher property tax over bathrooms and heating

Councils can levy property tax on ‘comfort features’ properties are assumed to have

Fuel leak at Brittany water plant triggers tap water ban

Limits on drinking water and showers still in place for some homes

More homes in south of France must clear undergrowth or face fine

Homeowners reminded of obligatory land clearance rules prior to forest fire season

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Farmers' hedge-trimming deadlines extended in France after winter rainfall

Homeowners are recommended – in most cases – not to trim hedges on their land between March 15 - August 15

How to find a handyman online in France

Two thirds of people polled in online survey say it is difficult to find a tradesperson - leaving many odd jobs undone

French gas prices: should you switch to a fixed deal before May rise?

Bills may increase by €200 per year due to increase in global gas prices

New ‘toothpick’ trick used by burglars in France can target second homes

Authorities in Ariège report several burglaries using method since start of the month

10% of French homes used only occasionally

Only 0.6% of properties in England and Wales are classed as second homes

French residential tax debits have not been taken - what should I do?

Many opt for monthly payments from January to October

Chimney sweeping rules in France: Can you do this yourself - and how often is required by law?

Insurance companies have their own requirements

Water bills rise by up to 40% in parts of Normandy

It follows the installation of remotely-read meters to homes around Caen in Calvados. Authorities claim previous readings were incorrect

New rules to define heat pumps eligible for energy grants in France

List set to be published in September 2026 as bodies call for more available aid

Why almost a million French households risk higher electricity bill in March

EDF must implement ‘red day’ tariffs before end of month

Unpaid bills led to a million electricity and gas ‘cut-offs’ in France in 2025

The number of accounts affected has risen by 79% since 2019

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

Major changes for drivers, hospital patients, and property owners

France’s home renovations grants relaunch: key points to know

MaPrimeRénov’ is once again available to households of all income levels

Did you know? These plants are forbidden in French gardens

Invasive species cannot be sold, planted, or exchanged

Home insurance increases expected in France after floods

Compensation costs for the recent storms and flooding across the west and south-west is estimated to be in the billions of euros

What are penalties for not conforming with new septic tank requirement?

Financial aid is available for homeowners needing to install new tanks

Are second homes in France a good investment?

Investment picture is variable depending on geographical location

See what €50,000, €200,000 and over €500,000 buys in Seine-Maritime

Towns and villages have distinct Norman French architecture

‘It’s becoming intolerable’: homeowners in France move north to escape the heat

Heatwaves becoming more regular and intense

Why storms in France have indirectly caused carbon monoxide poisoning

We cover tips and rules for detectors

Can you offer rentals in France when staying on visitor visa?

There are different thresholds for rentals before they are deemed as ‘professional income’

Must all properties in France have a ‘smart’ thermostat?

Modern thermostats can automatically set temperatures even when residents are away

'We transformed a historic Savoie chalet into a dream home'

Built in 1865 to keep animals and store cheese, the traditional house has been completely transformed

Repayable-on-death equity release loans open again to non-EU retirees

Products have recently started being offered by bank group again after it paused them in 2019

Insurance denied for Britons' French hilltop home due to 'flood risk'

Underwriters decided to end cover linked to alleged proximity to water

How is French property faring?: Key points in latest notaire review

Number of transactions is rising year on year

Map: see if flat prices have risen or fallen in your part of France

Areas including Orléans and Besançon saw prices rise, though falls of -4.2% elsewhere were recorded

How to deal with asbestos in France

As the material ages, it degrades - becoming more likely to release harmful fibres

Vanessa Paradis’ former French home for sale - at half price it was once valued at

Mill property has been left abandoned for several years

What the seller of a house in France must leave or remove

There are regulations in place for certain items, others can be subject to agreement

Can I charge electric vehicle when parked outside my home?

Rules on parking can also affect those looking to charge electric vehicles

Water-use restrictions lifted for some households in the Pyrénées-Orientales

Rainfall replenishes reservoirs but bans still remain in northern areas

See what €100,000, €500,000 and over €1m buys in Paris

The property market in the capital differs markedly from that of other French cities

Poor-quality fibre internet installations remain an issue in France

Stricter measures are announced to improve connection quality

Floor collapses in Paris building leaving 20 injured

Water leaking into the building from balcony is thought to be cause of collapse

French woman given one-year sentence for hiring men to evict squatter

Homeowner from south-west found guilty by Bordeaux criminal court

Is buying or renting property better in France?

Large variations in the respective costs exist between different regions

France’s ‘garden shed’ tax rates fall for first time in nine years: 2026 rates

Tax is paid on a per m² basis for many property improvements, with fixed values in place for some installations

How can I protect my second home in France from mice while I am away?

Pests can enter homes at any period

'I stopped going to the hairdresser for 12 years to save for my dream house in France'

La Maison de Wakefield is an 18th-Century stone house with four bedrooms and four bathrooms in Lot

Free fraud service for UK homeowners living in France

Owners can sign up for a free monitoring service from HM Land Registry to reduce risk of fraud

Do I need the devis to contest French builder’s bad job?

An estimate is a legal contract between you and the person doing the work

How to lower the amount you pay for insurance in France

‘Big three’ insurances all set to see costs rise in 2026

New DPE requirements affect 11 million flats in France

Certificates evaluate the energy performance of exterior walls, windows, roofs and shared areas

Electricity bills to remain stable for most homes in France, says government

Significant rises are not forecast for customers on regulated tariffs in next two years

How can I find out who the owner of a property is in France?

There are a few methods you can use to ascertain ownership

French property market: latest official statistics for 2025

Notaires have presented a ‘cautiously optimistic’ but still-mixed picture

Photos: our cosy and ecological home in the south of France

Reader Lucy Truscott, 49, describes how she and husband made a home for themselves in Hérault

Is ‘the good life’ still popular? What buyers of smallholdings in France look for

Self-sufficient living is still in demand

Taxe foncière: how to ask for delay, reduction, or cancellation of French property tax

Requests can be made even after the payment date has passed

See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys in Haute-Savoie

The mountainous department has international borders with Switzerland and Italy

Last day to benefit from free online call with a French notaire

‘Virtual fair’ provides opportunity to ask notaires about matters relating to property, inheritance etc

Hydroelectric conversions boost demand for historic French watermills

Laws on restoring rivers mean many are now threatened with removal

Buyer must compensate sellers after trying to change bid for French apartment

Court orders the buyer to pay compensation to sellers

Requirement to equip French homes with programmable thermostats postponed

Homeowners now have until 2030 to set up the devices

French home energy bills to rise in 2026

Both household electricity and gas bills will increase

Reduce temperature of French home by one degree to save money and even win gifts

One of several ways to reduce electricity usage – and bills – this winter

Local officials in south-west France search dumped bin bags to identify culprits

Around half of residents yet to collect access cards for new communal bins

More French towns put bans and taxes on new second homes

Mairies want to boost availability of housing for locals

What is notaire role in France other than property sales?

If you have bought property in France you will have dealt with one. But what else can they help with?

What are the rules for putting up cameras at my French home?

People have a right to install cameras, but must respect privacy laws

Property tax hike for 7.4 million homes in France postponed

Update of rates due to ‘comfort’ features such as inside toilets and sinks is deferred

'I have a 180-degree view of the sea – like living on a boat'

Vicki Jeynes fell in love with La Pagode, a unique house in the south of France, and fulfilled her dream of living by the seaside

‘Optimism’ for French property market as demand and prices increase

First-time buyers make up over half of all new mortgages as prices slowly rise

I want to sell French house but siblings do not: what can I do?

Buying siblings out may be possible

Can power of attorney be given to sell French home while abroad?

Several regulations were relaxed during the pandemic

How do septic tank inspections work in France?

The checks take place at least once every 10 years

Can I ask French police to check on my home when away in winter?

Rules are different for main and second homes

Asian hornet nests increase in France this autumn

Several deaths have been recorded in France from Asian hornet stings

Property owners’ tax to rise for 7.4 million French homes

Average increases are expected to be €63 and come after a reevaluation of ‘comfort features’ such as indoor toilets

Points to check before buying a property in France

Cracks, termites, electrical checks…what to look out for

Property owner in France fined €33,000 for unauthorised Airbnb rental

Airbnb ruling is the first of its kind in Lille

Property

Millions of French homes face higher property tax over bathrooms and heating

Fuel leak at Brittany water plant triggers tap water ban

More homes in south of France must clear undergrowth or face fine

Farmers' hedge-trimming deadlines extended in France after winter rainfall

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Fuel prices and shortages in France: Latest updates

Changes in April 2026 for residents of France

France set to miss EES deadline for registering all travellers

French senators meet minister over retiree citizenship refusals

Where to expect lorry driver road blockades in France this week

Millions of French homes face higher property tax over bathrooms and heating

Record fuel prices in France, TotalEnergies extends fuel price cap

How to find a handyman online in France

French gas prices: should you switch to a fixed deal before May rise?

New ‘toothpick’ trick used by burglars in France can target second homes

10% of French homes used only occasionally

French residential tax debits have not been taken - what should I do?

Chimney sweeping rules in France: Can you do this yourself - and how often is required by law?

Water bills rise by up to 40% in parts of Normandy

New rules to define heat pumps eligible for energy grants in France

Why almost a million French households risk higher electricity bill in March

Unpaid bills led to a million electricity and gas ‘cut-offs’ in France in 2025

French cities where it is better to buy than rent in 2026

Is there a ‘bedroom tax’ in France for additional rooms?

I’m an estate agent and these are the five errors that newcomers make in France

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

How much is second home insurance in France?

Can I install chicken coop for my own eggs during shortage?

What do you risk if you hire someone for work on your home and pay cash-in-hand?

294 French communes classified as natural disaster zones following flooding

House cracking threat spreads to new areas in France, putting 12 million properties at risk

France’s home renovations grants relaunch: key points to know

Did you know? These plants are forbidden in French gardens

Home insurance increases expected in France after floods

What are penalties for not conforming with new septic tank requirement?

Are second homes in France a good investment?

See what €50,000, €200,000 and over €500,000 buys in Seine-Maritime

‘It’s becoming intolerable’: homeowners in France move north to escape the heat

Why storms in France have indirectly caused carbon monoxide poisoning

Can you offer rentals in France when staying on visitor visa?

Must all properties in France have a ‘smart’ thermostat?

'We transformed a historic Savoie chalet into a dream home'

Repayable-on-death equity release loans open again to non-EU retirees

Insurance denied for Britons' French hilltop home due to 'flood risk'

How is French property faring?: Key points in latest notaire review

Map: see if flat prices have risen or fallen in your part of France

How to deal with asbestos in France

Vanessa Paradis’ former French home for sale - at half price it was once valued at

What the seller of a house in France must leave or remove

Can I charge electric vehicle when parked outside my home?

Water-use restrictions lifted for some households in the Pyrénées-Orientales

See what €100,000, €500,000 and over €1m buys in Paris

Poor-quality fibre internet installations remain an issue in France

Floor collapses in Paris building leaving 20 injured

French woman given one-year sentence for hiring men to evict squatter

Is buying or renting property better in France?

France’s ‘garden shed’ tax rates fall for first time in nine years: 2026 rates

How can I protect my second home in France from mice while I am away?

'I stopped going to the hairdresser for 12 years to save for my dream house in France'

Free fraud service for UK homeowners living in France

Do I need the devis to contest French builder’s bad job?

How to lower the amount you pay for insurance in France

New DPE requirements affect 11 million flats in France

Electricity bills to remain stable for most homes in France, says government

How can I find out who the owner of a property is in France?

French property market: latest official statistics for 2025

Photos: our cosy and ecological home in the south of France

Is ‘the good life’ still popular? What buyers of smallholdings in France look for

Taxe foncière: how to ask for delay, reduction, or cancellation of French property tax

See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys in Haute-Savoie

Last day to benefit from free online call with a French notaire

Hydroelectric conversions boost demand for historic French watermills

Buyer must compensate sellers after trying to change bid for French apartment

Requirement to equip French homes with programmable thermostats postponed

French home energy bills to rise in 2026

Reduce temperature of French home by one degree to save money and even win gifts

Local officials in south-west France search dumped bin bags to identify culprits

More French towns put bans and taxes on new second homes

What is notaire role in France other than property sales?