Second home US buyers resist French property slump The second home market performed better than the domestic market according to notaire data for 2023
Protests in Brittany over high number of second homes and Airbnbs A collective is denouncing the ‘active, aggressive promotion of second homes’ which represent 70% of properties in some communes
Can firewood be gathered in forests to heat French homes? A set of strict and ancient rules govern wood collection on public land
practical Is a second home subject to gift tax in France? Notaires are required to confirm the transaction
MAP: Which areas in France are most popular with second-home owners? Hundreds of communes are dominated by second homes, with 70% or more of all properties only being used ocassionally
Is Starlink a good option for internet access in rural France? Alternative internet access provider focuses on rural properties and ‘nomads’
What are the rules for ‘key boxes’ outside homes in France? The rules depend on where you want to install the box, and whose property it is
Did you know French police can check your home when you are away? Here is how to sign up for the service, as well as a special check for elderly people. Plus, advice on how to avoid ‘fake police’ scams
How to handle disputes with your neighbours in France Problems due to messy gardens, noisy children and unauthorised constructions can easily spiral out of control
French bill seeks to ban new second homes - where and how? The proposed law aims to ‘remedy imbalances in the rental market’ but would affect many popular destinations including on the coast, Alps, Pyrénées, and Corsica
French towns take action to reduce percentage of second homes A new town is to offer ‘tiny homes’ to rent all year round from just €100 per month. Around 25 other French communes are working on similar projects
What changes require you to make new property declaration in France? Tax officials have sent out an email reminding people of the rules
How can we cut off utilities at French second home from abroad? Meter reading need to be taken to close most accounts
How much can property buyers in France negotiate down prices in 2024? An explosion in the number of homes on sale coupled with a drop in values - and looming new energy efficiency rules - is opening up opportunities Taxes, bank holidays, Olympics: Key dates to note in April in France French MPs still trying to ease visa process for second-home owners Can I install a septic tank myself at my second French home?
Reader experiences: Dealing with a burglary at second home in France Couple’s house in Pays de la Loire was broken into while they were in the UK Are second homes in France more at risk of 'home-jacking'? Do I need to sweep and insure an unused chimney in my French home? Which foreign nationalities buy the most property in the Paris area? Owners lend second homes so sick children in France get a holiday How can I reduce the cost of home insurance in France?
Fight continues to ease visa process for long visits to France Campaigners are lobbying lawmakers about simplifications to the process – and are asking supporters to complete two surveys to gather experiences
Second homes in France: locals call for quotas Campaigners in the Basque Country want a quota system to limit new second homes, councillors in Brittany propose housing priority for existing residents
How do I estimate the value of my rural home in France? The market for older properties can be complex
How do I contact tax officials when I move to France? As resident some taxes will no longer be payable, depending on your situation
7 key points on property market in France from new notaire data Several areas are now predicted to see significant falls
What are the rules on foreign septic tanks in France? Septic tanks are subject to official approval and regular inspections
What are the laws surrounding trespassing in France? Trespassing rules are governed by the furnished condition of a house and can include any garden also
Do I have to wait six months after expiry to renew French VLS-T visa? VLS-T visas are separate to Schengen Bloc visa-free access days
LIST: what was kept and what was rejected in French immigration law Conseil constitutionnel rejected a third of items including an ‘automatic visa’ plan for Britons owning second homes - but approved increasing the level of French needed for certain residency cards
How do I release equity from my French property? There are various loans available in France which look partially to the value of a property as security
France second-home visas: when is ruling due and when could it start? The nine ‘sages’ of the Conseil constitutionnel are set to scrutinise the immigration law this week
Where are France's 3 million empty homes and why so many? Vacancy rates are in double figures in some rural communes, but also in major cities
‘Dangerous’ trees, scams, vineyards to buy: French property round up Our recap of recent property articles
Why are rural French houses so cheap? Lack of demand by the French for countryside lifestyle, and state of properties are among the reasons
Can I get a discount for paying rent up front in France? Some landlords may be willing to negotiate prices, but only under certain conditions
Second homes – France’s automatic visa plan: the next steps Easy visits scheme for Britons will take some time so it is advisable not to put off visa applications this year
Automatic visa for second home visits: Senator feedback and questions We talk to Senator Berthet about the next steps and answer queries
99 extra French communes declared drought disaster zones for 2022 People with affected properties have 30 days to make insurance claim
Noisy chickens, chimneys, renovations: French property round up Our pick of property stories you may have missed
Visas, residency cards: What changes in France’s new immigration law? Non-EU citizens, for example Americans or Britons, coming to France to live or work in France will be affected by several changes in the new law passed by parliament
‘We must help ease 90/180 rule for owners of French second-homes’ Senator from Savoie calls for your feedback on why more flexibility would benefit France
Automatic visa for easy second-home visits passed by French parliament Law will help tens of thousands of Britons to spend longer in France as they could before Brexit
What happens next for law to ease second-home visits to France? France’s immigration law, including help for British second-home owners, is been voted definitively but a few steps remain
Why are Americans not part of second-home easy visit plan in France? Many Britons have written to French lawmakers over difficulties after Brexit
Immigration law rejected in France: is this the end of it? Out of three possible options the government has chosen to call a ‘mixed commission’ of MPs and senators to look at the text
French immigration bill: What happens now to second-home visits plan? As the bill moves forward for examination by a ‘mixed commission’ it is possible the ‘automatic visa’ proposal will remain
Flurry of new MP bids to ease visits to second homes in France New bill amendments either call to bring back Senator Martine Berthet's 'automatic visa' idea or a version of it proposed by MP Alexandre Holroyd
New pool must go due to neighbour’s ‘protected view’ clause in France Court rules property must be returned to original state in line with clause protecting a sea view in their property deeds
MP: I will resubmit a new proposal to ease visits to second homes The president of the MPs’ France-UK friendship group says helping Britons ‘is essential’
Are Britons making a lot of demands on French prefectures? We clarify which French officials are having to deal with different British applications post-Brexit
What changes for household budgets in December in France We also look at key tax and other payment or benefit dates this month
French plan to ease second-home visits rejected: but may return Several MPs want this restricted to those who purchased their homes pre-Brexit and for all people who live in the UK, not just Britons; independent and centrist MPs demanded its withdrawal
Update on plan to ease second-home visits and sample French MP letter We look at progress in parliament on the ‘automatic visa’ law and a positive email from a majority party MP. We also provide detailed help for writing to your MP
Is Spain calling for easier second-home visits as French senators are? Several media reports have linked the French ‘automatic visa’ proposal and alleged actions by Spain
Pools, insurance, tax bills: French property round up Our review of recent property articles you might have missed
Stop stigmatising us during droughts, say pool owners in France Pools only account for 0.06% of nation’s water usage, says industry federation
Brittany is the region which has most newcomers in France A quarter of new arrivals come from the Paris area. Britons remain most numerous foreign group
Second-home Britons urged to ask their French MP for visa plan support We explain what the Senate has put forward for British second-home owners and what goes to MPs on December 11 for final debate
How do we buy out our friends’ share of French property? Providing everything is agreed amicably, the process should be quicker than a normal transaction. Helen Fullerton of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query
Price changes, rental strife, tax explainer: French property round-up Our pick of recent property articles that you might have missed
Normandy senator: British homeowners should not be penalised by Brexit Britons are ‘perfectly integrated’, says politician who presented automatic visa scheme to the senators
‘Life-changing’: Second-home owners on French Senate’s visa support Questions still remain despite the positive feedback from Britons who face different visiting rules post-Brexit
French senate backs ‘automatic visa’ right for UK second-home owners However, two other amendments including a five-year 'homeowner' visa were rejected
What capital gains tax is due when selling inherited French property? Capital gains tax may not be the only liability upon sale of an inherited house
What is ‘automatic visa right’ backed by French senators for Britons? The Senate – upper house of parliament – has voted through new proposed rights for Britons who own second homes in France
Refunds due as €600m of French property tax ‘billed to wrong people' The money will be paid back this year and is said to be in part due to backlogs in registering changes in property ownership since the Covid pandemic
Foreign second-home owners: what are French senators’ three proposals? We explain the different amendments to the new immigration bill that aim to simplify visits
French MP seeks new way to pause second-home sales capital gains tax The proposal to encourage owners to sell and free up property for main homes was initially rejected but is likely to get a second chance in spring
Brexit: The real impact of 90/180 rule on second-home owners in France Britons share how the rolling limit is affecting their lives, jobs and family
How long before French home is deemed main residence? Rules are not to do with time, but how property is used
50 French senators back more flexible rules for second-home owners More than a quarter of the dominant Les Républicains group in the Senate have now put their name to one or more amendments
More French senators and MPs back plan for second-home owner visas Lawmakers want to ease red tape for six-month stays by non-EU nationals
Solar panel row, permit drop, fake bricks: French property news recap Our pick of recent property articles that you might have missed
Can I get financial aid for insulation as a retiree in France? Several different schemes can potentially help with the France Rénov' network being the most important source of help
Britons with French second homes ‘should get automatic long-stay visa’ A senator is proposing this as an amendment to an immigration bill which is due to be debated next week
Give second home owners in France a special visa, says senator Five-year visa would allow annual six-month visits
French senator waits to hear over plea for second-home Britons Senator for Savoie is arguing for a special status for owners who bought pre-Brexit
Couple build house in south-west France - then court cancels permit Neighbours complained that the built property blocked their countryside views. Couple may now have to pay a fine or may even see home demolished
How do I get a refund on the social charges paid on French home sale? A recent change saw social charges lowered when selling a home
Clay shrinkage report, château sale: French property updates We recap four stories from the world of property in France last week