Property

France to end eco-renovation funding for homes with a gas boiler

Properties must not have gas boiler by end of works to access grant scheme

Can we contest neighbour’s planning permission at their home in France?

There are rules which dictate whether planning permission can be contested and by whom

France chases ‘one million annual heat pump’ goal, but is it feasible?

Sector leaders cite need for more aid and say ‘leasing scheme’ may be limited in effect

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Buyers win compensation for collapsed French chimney

Judges ruled that the description of the building stating that 'the exterior is in good condition', was inaccurate

French tax authorities expand AI checks for undeclared property expansions

Verandas, pagodas, and sheds targeted in new €100 million campaign

Selling a home in France: what should I tell the utility companies?

The transfer of utilities is a separate task from the notarial sale process

How do landlords register an Airbnb let with French commune?

New system requires all mairies to give tourist rentals a number

A view of a private swimming pool at a home

French ‘swimming pool’ tax falls for first time in nearly a decade

New pool installations must be correctly declared

Emily in Paris: three flats in her building for sale from €650,000

Buyers can live like the American heroine of the hit Netflix show

Airbnb ruled responsible for illegal subletting by French court

Short-let service fined as court rules it provides more than ‘internet service’

Air heat pump in a garden by a modern house

France’s heat pump leasing plan explained

Homeowners will pay back installation costs over three years, with payments cheaper than current bills

Houses sell for average of €550/m²: discover France's cheapest village

Property prices in Haute-Marne village, some three and a half hours from Paris, are lowest in France according to latest ranking

Five questions about plans to raise French property tax on millions of homes

Mairies will be able to assume that homes contain basic features omitted from official information, raising taxes

France announces ban on gas boilers in new homes and expanded electric car leasing

Measure forms part of wider push to accelerate electrification and reduce reliance on fossil fuels

EDF to provide €240m in grants to help home-owners and firms switch to electric

Money will be available for installing heat pumps and buying electric vehicles

How do I get an evaluation for inherited property in France?

It is important to get a fair and accurate valuation at the date of death

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

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

Attractive,Handy,Man,Using,A,Drill,To,Put,Up,Pictures

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

A view of someone looking at paperwork with a calculator and house model in the foreground

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

Image of a piggy bank next to a water tap to show the cost of water

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

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

New study shows where it makes more financial sense to buy if living there long term

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

The surface area of rooms is used to calculate property taxes

Bordeaux,,France-,August,19,,2024:,A,Couple,Looking,At,Real

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

'Many overestimate their DIY talents – and underestimate renovation costs'

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

Major changes for drivers, hospital patients, and property owners

A view of houses on piles of coins to show increasing costs

How much is second home insurance in France?

There is no legal obligation to insure a second home if it is a fully independent property

Group,Of,Chickens,On,A,Farm,Yard,Chicken,Eco,Farm

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

Coops are subject to taxes if over a certain size

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

Undisclosed payments cost French economy billions each year

294 French communes classified as natural disaster zones following flooding

Homeowners - including second homes - now have 30 days to make a catastrophe naturelle claim

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

Map from environment ministry shows more than half of country at risk

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

Person wearing blue surgical gloves about to open a septic tank cover

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

Financial aid is available for homeowners needing to install new tanks

A view of someone opening a house door with a key

Are second homes in France a good investment?

Investment picture is variable depending on geographical location

Rouen,,France,Panoramic,View,On,A,Summer,Day

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

Towns and villages have distinct Norman French architecture

Narbonne,,Aude,,France,-,July,07,,2025,:,Smoke,Billows

‘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

Big,Bed,In,A,Small,Bedroom,,Clean,,Comfortable,And,Affordable

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

Maison Lennox, home of British couple Nicola and Simon Braggins

'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

A view of three model houses on piles of coins to suggest property prices

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

Danger,Asbestos,Removal,In,Progress,Warning,Signboard,-,Concept,With

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

A view of a fence in France saying ‘A vendre (for sale)’

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

A view of a woman plugging in an electric car

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

Professional,Notary,Helping,Couple,With,Paperwork,In,Office

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

Concept,Of,Expensive,Heating,Costs.,Hands,With,Calculator,Consider,Cost

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

Facades of traditional Paris residential buildings

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

Hands with mini houses representing house swaps

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