Property

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

Pests can enter homes at any period

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

practical

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

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

‘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

How one man built his dream cottage on a Brittany clifftop

Ambroise L’Hénoret tells the story of La Maison d’Ambroise, situated on a coastal path between Le Loc’h beach and Pors Loubous

French house prices rise again in second quarter of 2025

New figures show prices increased by 0.3% in second quarter

Property watch: see what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Savoie

With ski slopes and lakes, this area is an idyllic spot

When should you avoid doing DIY in France

Columnist Nick Inman helps you decide when to contact - and to wait for - a professional

Bidding, fees – and candles: property auctions in France explained

We look at the two main types utilised by buyers

Are annual boiler checks obligatory in France?

Insurance companies may reference your boiler in their documentation

What is an SCI in France – and what are the tax and inheritance risks?

Mistakes made in setting up the structure may cause issues

French couple must change windows after complaint over transparency

Replacement windows were the same size but glass used was transparent not translucent

Energy efficiency ratings affect French property price by up to 25%, notaire data reveals

A ban on letting ‘G’ rated properties came into effect this year

Homeowner finds gold worth €700,000 buried in his French garden - and can keep it

Gold coins and ingots were discovered as he began digging to put in a pool

Six key points about 2025 French property market identified by notaires

Economic uncertainty and lack of investment threaten re-stablisation of market at wider level

Gironde residents offered grant of up to €150 to protect home from burglary

The initiatives began after a spike in the number of break-ins

French second homes: How capital gains tax abatement works (2025)

The tax exemption at sale depends on the time elapsed since the property was purchased

French second homes: tax-exemption time for capital gains may be reduced

MPs voted the bill through in a bid to improve housing market in high-demand areas

Must you clear fallen leaves from your garden outside your home in France?

In most cases it is not legal to burn leaves once they have been raked up

Are there duties payble on personal items when moving away from France?

A relief on customs duties is available for certain possessions

What are EDF ‘red days’ and how could they increase your French energy bill?

Special tariffs scattered across winter months can see electricity costs triple

Stepchildren: French MPs approve higher inheritance tax allowance

The pre-tax allowance is greater than before, but there are conditions

French house prices: see how your area fares in new notaire data

Caen, Grenoble and Reims saw significant rises in a year whilst Lyon, Bordeaux and Montauban saw drops

Struggle to find tradespeople for home repairs in France, survey finds

67% of respondents believe 'the government could implement more measures to improve the situation'

French second home tax: over 1,600 communes opt for additional levy

Communes deemed to face housing shortage can opt for surtax of up to 60% more on top of taxe d'habitation bill

What changes in France for residents in November 2025?

EES checks rollout, energy bills, taxes, and winter rules: See what is changing in France next month

Photos: €4 million French chateau sells for... €2 million at auction

American couple sold historic property near Cannes due to job change. It needs renovation work

Bills for France’s second-home property tax will start to arrive next week

More than 1,600 communes have opted to raise additional rates for the taxe d’habitation this year

Barn for conversion in French Alps on market for €278,000

Exterior dimensions and look must not be changed significantly

Plan for capital gain tax to apply to some main French homes

Current exemption would only apply after five years of ownership with some exceptions

Undergrowth clearance rules now in place across Var

New regulations affect most of department but aim to protect biodiversity

Mushroom contamination makes French couple’s home a ‘health risk’

The issue could cost the couple €50,000 to fix

Neighbour of French home has camera recording our garden – what can we do?

Installation of security equipment recording private areas can infringe privacy

Do we need permission to install pond in garden at French home?

Several planning and environmental factors must be taken into account

Refuse collection charges in France set to rise amid pollution tax hike

Change estimated to add €40 to €76 to average household bills by 2030

No notaire fee increase for 17 departments in France for property purchases

Higher fees in other areas result in increased cost of €500 per €100,000 when buying a home

Bin charges soar in many areas of France

One commune has seen fees rise by 90% in five years

What is the tontine option for property in France?

Option should be considered if buying for the first time

Is it possible to transfer my apartment to my daughter in France?

Gifting only residual ownership is one of many options

French property tax payment deadlines begin today – check your bills for errors

Payment by cash, cheque or bank transfer must be made tonight. Other deadlines fall next week

Heat pumps three times more efficient than oil or gas boilers, French study reveals

Pumps could be an economical and ecologically sound heating solution

How is capital gains tax calculated for en viager properties in France?

Amount is calculated taking account of both increase in value and ongoing 'rent' income

Plastic versus copper plumbing in France

Columnist Nick Inman charts the ups and downs of renovating an old French farmhouse

French home insurance: average costs are on the rise

Location and weather risks biggest contributor to increase

Our French gîte: a fortified house far from the beaten track

An ideal escape for nature-lovers and history enthusiasts

French homeowners using fuel or wood heating can benefit from purchasing discount

Bulk-purchasing of goods can lower costs

Returning to the UK from France? Start planning early - Partner article

New regime provides clarity and potential gains for returnees

How do I stop post piling up at French second home?

It is possible to pay to have mail redirected, including internationally

'One look at this turreted house in north-west France and I had to buy it'

This intriguing old home raises 'endless questions' about its history

How to save money when relocating to France: moving, fees and property tips

Buying a home is one of the most expensive things you may ever do. Here we look at ways to make your money go further before moving in

Homeowners turn to flood defence systems with government backing

Financial support is available against extreme weather events

France faces EU scrutiny over inheritance law – decisions expected this month

The European Commission asked France to consider 'solutions' to the 'problem' of 2021 inheritance law

French property renovation grant system reopens in reduced form

Rules are tightened for MaPrimeRénov’ scheme that offers funds for eco-renovations

Explained: local property taxes in France

Bills can vary significantly due to a number of factors

DPE calculations ‘ignore centuries of French building practice’, says housing expert

Older properties are penalised by current estimates, says the president of Maisons Paysannes de France, Gilles Alglave