Property

Nearly 40% of French rental properties breach rent control laws

New report shows findings as senators set to debate expansion of the reforms

France court rules owner must prevent cracks to claim damages

'Homeowner failed to take usual measures', court rules

Who is responsible for repairing the electrical system in a new house in France?

The seller must provide a dossier de diagnostic technique, including a diagnostic électricité for installations older than fifteen years

property

New rules for French heat pump grants require device to be made in Europe

Updated criteria for heat pump installation aid came into force this month

Renovating a house in France: what help is available for foreigners?

Aids for both main and second homes are available

Are SCI property owners affected by France’s new e-billing rules?

E-billing changes impact millions across France, including many property owners

Explained: the rules for renting out a gîte in France

It remains a popular way to make extra income despite red tape

Partially built villa with concrete block walls and open window spaces behind a site fence.

French developer bankruptcy leaves 1,200 homes unfinished

Buyers continue to repay mortgages on homes

Do taxe foncière exemptions extend to second homes in France?

Principal residences are exempt from France’s main property tax under certain conditions

Instructor explaining something to 2 adults at a PC

France’s new e-billing rules: six questions answered

Staggered introduction, foreign companies, penalties: we review who is impacted and how

Glowing padlock icons hover above a laptop keyboard in a dark cyber security scene.

Hackers claim to have accessed property-owner data on French official website

Warnings over phishing and scam attempts as data offered for sale

Owners of above-ground pools in France risk additional tax if it is left up too long

These pools can be assessed for tax in certain circumstances

France’s new e-billing rules can affect homeowners too

September deadline fast approaching for millions of businesses and self-employed traders

What are the possible exemptions and reductions for France’s taxe foncière?

Exemptions exist for property owners based on several factors

Couple ordered to pay €150,000 after bypassing estate agent in south of France

Court rules they negotiated a lower price on €2.5m property

France widens government aid for homes cracked by clay soils

Scheme aimed at departments with high numbers of claims

Man arranges bottled water at a distribution point in Montsalvy during France’s 2022 drought.

40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

Plus, worst-hit areas and authorities step up enforcement as water shortages increase

How does France’s new ‘right to repair’ rule cover your purchases?

Certain electrical goods benefit from 10-year additional protection

Can I reuse shower or washing-up water in my French garden during drought?

Recent rule changes look to improve water recycling but systems face strict rules

French drought update: all departments face tap water limits or warnings

There are 48 departments where toughest restrictions are in place as new heatwave only set to worsen historic drought

Ivy-covered stone house behind a colourful flower garden under a blue sky.

Charles de Gaulle’s historic country home in France put up for sale

State seeks to keep house, known as La Boisserie, open to the public

Solar panels mounted on a terracotta-tiled roof with trees in the background.

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Changes to system applies to sales subject to VAT

Notaire data on how the French coastal property market is faring

Fluctuation in housing prices come as flats see more steady change

People sit at café tables in a sunny square surrounded by colourful half-timbered houses in Vannes, France.

How heatwaves affect where people visit, buy and live in France

Extreme temperatures are reshaping life in France

How to restore a staircase in a French farmhouse - one step at a time

It is better to save an existing staircase than to make a new one

How to use acrylic sheeting for window repairs in France

Transparent acrylic sheeting has advantages over glass for some applications

Collage showing office documents, call centre staff, a gas stove being adjusted and a car refuelling at a Beyour petrol station.

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

Bills will change for millions of households, fuel scheme extends, and savings accounts see new rates

France’s 2026 property tax bills: when they will arrive and what to expect

Taxe foncière is levied on all properties regardless of use with only a few exceptions

French government website helps check and manage risks where you live

Géorisques highlights how to stay safe from risks and dangers near you

Charred residential buildings stand amid scorched ground after a wildfire in Lege, France.

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

Since most wildfires are caused by human activity, this affects insurance claims

France’s property market is stabilising (and why this is not a bad thing)

Five key points from the most recent French notaire data

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

Largest cities saw little change but other areas vary considerably in fortunes

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

Notaire data shows strong growth in north but big cities such as Paris and Bordeaux see prices drop

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

44 departments now have at least one commune at ‘crisis’ level

Firefighter in protective gear oversees low flames in smoky woodland

French wildfires: are undergrowth clearance laws strong enough?

Clashes with environmental regulations and lack of compliance leads to questions over efficiency of anti-fire rules

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Millions of homes at risk with early prevention and corrections now encouraged

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

Unit installation requires wider approval from co-owners

Close-up of water dripping from a metal tap against a blurred background.

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

All but 13 departments have at least some restrictions in place

Mother and daughter loading a suitcase into the back of a silver car outside a house.

Free French police checks for your home and vulnerable relatives when absent

How to sign up for the Opération Tranquillité Vacances service and special wellbeing check

Construction workers spreading wet concrete beside a cement mixer and dump truck.

How we built a garage ourselves in France

Tania Solomons, 60, and Andrew Hamm, 58, to France in 2019

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

Tiger mosquitoes transmit several tropical diseases and are now present across all French regions

Close-up views of water pouring from taps and a hose into a pool.

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

We review rules for rainwater, wells, filling swimming pools, and penalties for infractions

Large sinkhole in a green cultivated field with exposed dark soil and debris.

Why sinkholes keep appearing in Normandy

Farmers' need for mineral fertiliser left a dangerous legacy

Blueprint,,Design,And,Hands,Of,Architects,Planning,Construction,,Strategy

What to do if your French property has a hidden defect

Hidden problems are called vices cachés and covered by Article 1641 of the French Civil Code

Electricity bills: French government announces 2.5% rise for regulated bills

Over 19 million households impacted, with the average bill rising €26 per year

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

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Properties with sub-standard sewerage systems can be sold with an official certificate of non-conformity

A view of a private swimming pool at a home

Are we responsible if we let neighbours use our French pool when away?

Pool ‘squatting’ is an increasingly worrying problem for owners

France facing ‘exceptional’ early drought, almost all departments on drought alert

Waterways and aquifers affected by intense heat despite strong spring rainfall

A model of a house with construction items, a calculator, and DPE rating on a table

Do French renovation grants need to be repaid?

Payments are typically made directly to tradespeople rather than homeowners

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

‘Never seen this in 54 years’: French property market warning

Sale cancellations up as more mortgages refused, and rental market facing serious issues says major estate agency

Drought map: tap water restrictions tighten in France

Residents urged to check local rules

Close-up of a chrome kitchen faucet with a single drop of water falling.

Is France heading for a severe drought this summer?

‘This is the first time in 33 years that we’ve had to start releasing water this early in the season’

A view of an empty, unfurnished property

France to merge vacant home taxes from 2027

Two taxes levied on vacant homes to be replaced by a single tax

Replacing water filter in French home became a two-month DIY nightmare

Columnist Nick Inman tells of his ordeal changing a dedicated filtered drinking water tap

France set to end funding for most single-project renovations under MaPrimeRénov’

‘A responsible choice’ to focus funds on more comprehensive projects is planned

See what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Tarn

The rural department is relatively expensive despite its low population

Check this before buying French property in a flood zone

One in four people – some 18 million – now live in an area at risk of flooding

Illustration of a market stall with fruit displays, shoppers, and signs reading citrus and oranges.

How usufruit works in France: inheritance, property and tax benefits explained

The concept can protect a spouse and reduce inheritance tax

How to compare and switch home insurance in France

You can change your provider after the first 12 months

Map: 79 French departments now on water restriction rules or alerts

Central departments already at highest restriction level

French property law: who pays for and maintains boundary fences?

Different rules apply to owners and tenants

Electric vehicle leasing, gas bill rises: what changes in France in July 2026

Card payments are also set to begin on Parisian public transport

Private island in Brittany with five beaches for sale at €2.5m

The six-hectare site in Morbihan includes two houses

Stone gate in front of a traditional house with a garden and blue sky.

What do French buyers actually want in an old farmhouse?

Columnist Samantha David prepares to sell her home

A view of a beautiful old house in Brittany, France

French tax authorities now have more time to update incorrect second home tax bills

Deadline for officials to levy taxes missed due to calculation errors or owner omissions has been extended

Can I cut down tree in my French garden without permission?

Hundreds of trees have protected status in France

Metal table and chairs on a stone terrace beside a building, overlooking a green valley at sunset.

Oprah Winfrey quote pushed us to realise our French vineyard tourism dream

Château Feely is an organic wine producer with accommodation, offering vineyard walking tours

Mortgage income law change proposed in France

Repayments cannot usually exceed 35% of income at present

Homeowners must prove they took steps to stop drought cracking, French court rules

Landmark ruling in €40,000 compensation case may embolden insurance companies to deny claims

Ornate corner building with balconies and decorative façade against a lavender sky in Nice, France.

France heatwave: Minister unveils plan to help homes and cities cope

Measures include support for reversible heat pumps and easing flat renovation rules as France prepares for hotter summers

Property developer ordered to repay €28,800 due to overvalued French estate

Valuation should have been explained to buyer, court rules

Why letting buyers move in early can backfire in France

Recent French court ruling highlights risks to sellers

A view of outdoor wheelie bins on a street in Paris, France

Residents in France face fines of up to €450 if sorting rubbish incorrectly

‘Bin police’ can search waste to ensure recycling is properly carried out

Are French electricity bills set to increase in August?

Increased usage charges will affect bills, but changes elsewhere may lessen impact

Residents of village in south-west France told to evacuate due to cracks in homes

Landslides risk tearing down most properties

Property

Nearly 40% of French rental properties breach rent control laws

France court rules owner must prevent cracks to claim damages

Who is responsible for repairing the electrical system in a new house in France?

New rules for French heat pump grants require device to be made in Europe

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France adopts new world map, moving on from Mercator

Will tighter EES border checks cause long queues?

France court rules owner must prevent cracks to claim damages

New wildfire spreads through 225 hectares in southern France

What is the average number of pupils in a French state school class – and how does it compare with the UK and US?

Temperatures to fall, rain arrives: French weekly weather forecast September 7 - 11

French mayor bans mosquitoes from flying over his commune

Renovating a house in France: what help is available for foreigners?

Are SCI property owners affected by France’s new e-billing rules?

Explained: the rules for renting out a gîte in France

French developer bankruptcy leaves 1,200 homes unfinished

Do taxe foncière exemptions extend to second homes in France?

France’s new e-billing rules: six questions answered

Hackers claim to have accessed property-owner data on French official website

Owners of above-ground pools in France risk additional tax if it is left up too long

France’s new e-billing rules can affect homeowners too

What are the possible exemptions and reductions for France’s taxe foncière?

Taxe foncière bills arrive for French property owners: how to check bill is correct

When does ‘mosquito season’ end in France?

Tap water restrictions increase in France: 57 departments on ‘crisis’ alert

Couple ordered to pay €150,000 after bypassing estate agent in south of France

France property tax: non-residents avoid social charge rise

France storm insurance: Briton’s payout delayed over proof request

Paris student faces €20,000 Airbnb fine after renting out flat

France sees spike in summer burglaries: tips on staying safe

New map shows most of France at risk from clay soil cracking

France widens government aid for homes cracked by clay soils

40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

How does France’s new ‘right to repair’ rule cover your purchases?

Can I reuse shower or washing-up water in my French garden during drought?

French drought update: all departments face tap water limits or warnings

Charles de Gaulle’s historic country home in France put up for sale

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Notaire data on how the French coastal property market is faring

How heatwaves affect where people visit, buy and live in France

How to restore a staircase in a French farmhouse - one step at a time

How to use acrylic sheeting for window repairs in France

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

France’s 2026 property tax bills: when they will arrive and what to expect

French government website helps check and manage risks where you live

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

France’s property market is stabilising (and why this is not a bad thing)

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

French wildfires: are undergrowth clearance laws strong enough?

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

Free French police checks for your home and vulnerable relatives when absent

How we built a garage ourselves in France

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

Why sinkholes keep appearing in Normandy

What to do if your French property has a hidden defect

Electricity bills: French government announces 2.5% rise for regulated bills

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Are we responsible if we let neighbours use our French pool when away?

France facing ‘exceptional’ early drought, almost all departments on drought alert

Do French renovation grants need to be repaid?

‘Never seen this in 54 years’: French property market warning

Drought map: tap water restrictions tighten in France

Is France heading for a severe drought this summer?

France to merge vacant home taxes from 2027

Replacing water filter in French home became a two-month DIY nightmare

France set to end funding for most single-project renovations under MaPrimeRénov’

See what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Tarn

Check this before buying French property in a flood zone

How usufruit works in France: inheritance, property and tax benefits explained

How to compare and switch home insurance in France

Map: 79 French departments now on water restriction rules or alerts

French property law: who pays for and maintains boundary fences?

Electric vehicle leasing, gas bill rises: what changes in France in July 2026

Private island in Brittany with five beaches for sale at €2.5m