In part two of our guide to benefits in France, Catharine Higginson looks at what’s available for those of working or retirement age, including help with housing, healthcare and income – and where to keep abreast with the latest local news…
The CAF (Caisse des Allocations Familiales) is the organisation in France that is responsible for administering and paying nearly all state benefits. In the last issue we looked at the various benefits and allowances that are paid by the French state to parents and families but despite its name, the CAF is also responsible for administering all of the benefits that people of working age, and beyond, may be entitled to.
SOCIAL WELFARE
One of the best known is the RSA (le revenu de solidarité active). This payment guarantees a minimum income level of €646.52 per month for a single person and increases to €1,357.69 for a couple with two children. It is resource-based and only available to those aged 25 or over unless they are pregnant or already have a child.
This allowance becomes le revenu de solidarité for those aged between 55 and 60-the word active has been dropped as they are considered to be of pre-retirement/retirement age according to different professions. As with the majority of CAF benefits, the amount you receive is reassessed every three months and may increase or decrease if there’s been a change in personal circumstances.
La prime d’activité is another well-known benefit and this is paid to people who are working, whether as an employee or freelancer but whose income is low. It can also kick in when people have been placed on chômage partiel/technique – in other words, their employer is experiencing cash flow issues and in order to keep the business afloat, the employer can pay the employees around 60% of their salary and la prime d’activité will make up the rest. Again, this is means-tested and reassessed every three months.
It is an incredibly useful benefit and provides a real safety net for freelancers especially or anyone whose income might fluctuate from month to month.
HOUSING HELP
Photo: Shutterstock
Those on a low income will also be eligible for help with housing and there are numerous benefits available. The best known of these is probably APL. (aide personnelle au logement). Available to anyone on a low income students and young people included – the APL will help you to pay your rent or mortgage. However, not all rental properties are eligible. For example, if the property is not sufficiently thermally efficient, it will not qualify, and this is why rental adverts often state ‘eligible CAF’, so do make sure you check before signing a rental contract if you think you might be applying for APL.
If you are a landlord and your tenant receives housing benefit or APL, you will need to confirm their continued occupation and rental payments to the CAF so that their benefits continue to be paid. This is done online via the CAF website; you will need to use the ‘Pro’ part of the site and will require separate log-in details for this.
Moving house is also something that the CAF will help with; families with three or more children can apply for la prime de déménagement; this is currently around €1,138 for families with three children and increases slightly if you have more dependents.
Once you’ve moved, whether you are a tenant or an owner, the CAF will assist with the general improvement of the property if this includes key elements such as sewage, insulation, repairs and so forth. They won’t help with decorative elements but anything that could impact the health of those living in the property may qualify for le pret à l’amélioration de l’habitat (PAH).
The CAF will also help families receiving benefits with various other housing issues and all of this comes under what is termed l’action sociale pour le logement. This help could include assistance with costs such as unpaid rent, loan payments, water and electricity bills or loans to purchase essential household equipment such as a washing machine or fridge. A huge amount of assistance is available for housing matters but as everyone’s circumstances are different, it’s best to contact your regional CAF and see what they can help with.
UNEMPLOYED AND CARERS
Photo: Shutterstock
Obviously, there are also numerous payments available for those who cannot work for whatever reason. Parents with a disabled child receive the AEEH (allocation d’éducation de l’enfant handicap) and disabled adults receive the AAH, which guarantees them a minimum income and varies according to whether or not they are working and their household income.
The AJPA (allocation journalière du proche aidant) is a payment made to anyone giving up their job or reducing their hours in order to look after a family member who is disabled or can no longer function independently. The AJPP (allocation journalière de présence parentale) is paid to parents whose child is seriously ill, has suffered an accident or has some form of disability.
Pension rights (assurance vieillesse) are also included for those who have reduced their working hours in order to look after a disabled or seriously ill family member. Should the unthinkable happen, the CAF will also make a payment on the death of a child, to help support the family through this time.
If you experience a death in the family, the CAF can assist you through the process, both financially and emotionally. These types of benefits are all part of the CAF’s remit to assist families with each and every event that may impact family life, whether it’s separation, the death of a family member, single parenting, moving house or unpaid bills.
HEALTHCARE INSURANCE
Photo: Shutterstock
The CAF is also responsible for administering the CSS (complémentaire santé solidaire), which is free or partly subsidised mutuelle or top-up health insurance cover. Over eight million people benefit from this and it means that any healthcare expenses incurred over and above the ceiling fixed by French social security are fully covered.
Students, retirees, the unemployed and anyone working on a low income are eligible to apply, along with cross-border workers and those in receipt of various other benefits. It is well worth taking a look and seeing if you qualify; there is a really easy to use online calculator (mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr/votre-simulateur/accueil) which covers not only the CSS but all the benefits administered by the CAF in addition to various regional grants. The page is updated on a regular basis so it is one to bookmark. Keeping up to date with the various allowances and being aware of your eligibility is a key part of claiming benefits in France. These days there is a huge amount of information online via the official French government websites and the CAF also produces its own magazine Vies de famille. This is published quarterly and sent to anyone receiving benefits or you can read it online (caf.fr/allocataires/vies-de-famille/lire-le-magazine).
Things change all the time so get into the habit of reading the magazine. It will keep you up to speed – and improve your French!
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
After a Brexit banking agreement, UK-issued bank cards will no longer be accepted at certain businesses in Europe, and stricter rules for sending parcels outside the European Union have been introduced. Around 28,000 hectares of vineyards will be destroyed, and Transavia, the French budget airline, has cancelled flights due to limited fuel supply. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
Businesses and Tolls to Reject British Bank Cards
Some businesses in France are becoming more restrictive in their acceptance of UK-issued bank cards, an effect of post-Brexit banking arrangements. While major Visa and Mastercard payments generally still go through, there are increasing reports of refusals at smaller shops, rural businesses, and automated machines such as ticket kiosks and petrol pumps.
This is often linked to higher processing fees or additional verification requirements for non-EU cards. UK visitors are advised to carry an alternative form of payment, such as cash or another card, to avoid disruption when making everyday purchases.
New International Postage Rules Introduced
France has introduced stricter rules for sending parcels outside the European Union, tightening customs procedures for international post. Anyone sending items abroad must now complete more detailed customs declarations, accurately listing contents, value, and purpose of the shipment.
Parcels that are incorrectly declared or missing documentation risk being delayed, returned to the sender, or subject to additional fees on arrival. These changes are particularly relevant for shipments to destinations such as the United States and reflect broader efforts to enforce international shipping regulations.
France to Cut 28,000 Hectares of Vineyards Amid Wine Oversupply
France is set to remove around 28,000 hectares of vineyards as part of a major restructuring effort aimed at tackling oversupply and declining wine consumption. The plan will mainly affect red wine producers in areas such as Bordeaux and Languedoc, where demand has fallen most sharply.
Around 5,800 growers have opted in, with some expected to uproot all their vines and leave wine production entirely. Others plan to scale back their vineyards to match current market conditions and stabilise prices.
Transavia Cancels Flights as Jet Fuel Prices Rise
The French budget airline, Transavia, has cancelled 2% of its scheduled flights in May and June, as jet fuel prices raise concerns over potential shortages during the summer travel period.
The disruption is linked to reduced fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed up costs and forced airlines to adjust timetables or consolidate routes. Affected passengers are being offered rebooking, vouchers, or refunds, as the carrier tries to limit financial losses while maintaining most of its network.
With warmer weather on the horizon, thousands of Brits are gearing up to fly out from airports this summer. But as peak travel season approaches, experts are warning that new regulations and overlooked passport rules could catch travellers off guard.
Here’s how to avoid unexpected issues this summer, from a travel expert at Good Business Travel:
1. Check your Passport for Damage
A damaged passport can stop your trip before it even begins. Airlines have the authority to refuse boarding to passengers with passports that show signs of wear, including minor ones. Issues such as water damage, peeling laminate, missing pages or heavy creasing can all raise red flags at check-in.
“Some countries also refuse emergency or temporary passports, particularly for visa-free entry,” says Natasha Inglis, Implementation and Client Success Director at Good Business Travel.
“This means travellers who’ve replaced a lost or damaged passport on short notice could still run into problems.”
2. Don’t Just Check the Expiry Date
Many travellers assume their passport is valid as long as it hasn’t reached its expiry date written on it, but that’s not always the case. To enter EU countries and the Schengen area, UK passports must be less than 10 years old on the day of arrival.
This means a passport can technically still be ‘in date’ but fail to meet entry requirements. Make sure to check both the issue date and the expiry date are essential to avoid any last-minute problems at the airport.
3. Make Sure you Have Enough Blank Pages
Since Brexit, UK travellers will get their passports stamped when entering and leaving EU countries. While this is being phased out with new digital systems, such as the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), it’s still important to have enough blank pages while this is still being rolled out.
“Many countries require at least one or two completely blank pages, and passengers can be refused entry if there isn’t enough space,” says Ms Inglis. “It’s worth noting that a page with space left doesn’t count as blank, even if it only has one stamp.”
4. Prepare for EU Border Delays
The introduction of the EU’s EES means additional checks at borders, and we’ve already seen the initial fallout of this from the Easter holiday rush, where hundreds of passengers missed their flights due to the long queue times.
Travellers entering the Schengen area for the first time since April will need to provide biometric data, including fingerprint scans and photographs. Travellers are advised to arrive earlier than usual to allow for potential delays.
5. Dual Citizens Must Use the Correct Passport
Recent changes to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rules have created complications for dual nationals.
“British passport holders who also hold another nationality are required to enter the UK on their British passport, or otherwise carry with them a certificate of entitlement,” says Ms Inglis. Travelling with the wrong passport can lead to questioning, delays at passport control, or even being denied boarding.
To ensure a smooth journey, dual citizens should always travel with the correct documentation.
Travel requirements for Brits heading to Europe are evolving, which can feel daunting at first. However, with some simple preparation and by checking key details ahead of time, travellers can avoid stressful situations and make the most of their trip.
Sarah Daly explores the complex world of social interaction in France – and how to make sure you get it exactly right…
France and the UK are separated by only 22 miles of water at the Strait of Dover, and yet they often feel like a world away from each other in terms of etiquette and custom. Knowing how to navigate situations – from walking into a shop, dining in a restaurant or attending a business meeting, to socialising with colleagues or visiting French friends at home can make the difference between creating a positive impression and unwittingly causing offense.
THE MAGIC WORD
I’ve lived in France since 2018 and even after seven years, I’m still learning when it comes to meeting new people or finding myself in unfamiliar situations. One of the things that took me by surprise initially was that, despite the fact I spoke reasonable French, people would look at me askance when I asked for help. I soon learned that greeting someone with ‘excuse me’ is considered rude here. Each time I greeted someone this way, I would be met with a very pointed ‘bonjour madame’ in return.
Every interaction, almost without exception, I discovered, should begin with ‘hello’. On the phone, ‘allo’ is common, but whenever you enter a shop or restaurant, or greet anyone, ‘bonjour’ is absolutely essential. Even emails and text messages usually start this way. ‘Bonsoir after an unspecified point in the evening can be substituted, and ‘madame’, ‘monsieur’ or ‘messieurs dames’ are often added in speech according to the situation.
Beyond this, though, there’s not much room for manoeuvre. ‘Salut’ is used as ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’ among friends and ‘coucou’ is used to greet very good friends or children. I confess I’m rarely brave enough to use either, as I’d rather be too polite than appear rude or overly familiar. Just to confuse matters, where I will say hello every time I meet someone, in France, you don’t say it again to someone you’ve already met that day. Instead, you nod, smile or occasionally use ‘rebonjour’ (hello again). I find this far more difficult than remembering to say hello in the first place, but to repeat it risks giving the impression that you’ve forgotten that you’ve met someone already.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Alice Burrows is assistant professor of applied linguistics at Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris
I ask Alice Burrows, assistant professor of applied linguistics at Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris, if there is such a thing as French etiquette, or whether we risk stereotyping our social interactions by making this assumption. She studies how French is taught as a foreign language and is responsible for programmes teaching French to the university’s overseas students. Alice has a French mother, an English father and an Argentinian husband. She also speaks Italian and Arabic, so she is very used to adapting to different cultural situations. “I look at French and other cultures on an anthropological level,” she tells me. “Jodelet’s theory of social representation describes how we develop our system of values and beliefs. It suggested that our first socialisation usually comes from family. Later, friends, university and work contribute to our ‘reality filter’ and how we expect things to be.”
Alice tells me about a study that found that exchange programmes such as Erasmus often seemed to reinforce participants’ stereotypes of the country they visited rather than challenge them. “Cultural contact depends on the eyes of the person making the contact,” she says.
An example she gives of this is that in big cities such as Paris, English is the lingua franca for so many people that it’s widely spoken and English-speakers are consequently more accepted. In very rural areas with fewer tourists, English-speakers who move in and don’t speak any French or socialise at all with French neighbours are more likely to be frowned upon.
Keeping an open mind, doing your best to prioritise politeness and being friendly seems like a good approach then, however little French you speak. “Bonjour and merci will always be appreciated,” Alice says. “Try to learn French and show that you want to adapt if you’re moving to a rural area. If you don’t speak any French at all and don’t plan to learn, you may find it easier to live in a big city.”
In rural France little English is spoken
IN POLITE COMPANY
Photo: Shutterstock
When I ask her about specific situations that cause confusion, Alice is quick to highlight l’apéro. “People who aren’t used to this often don’t realise that an apéro invitation is for drinks only and means you should leave before 9pm,” she says. “It isn’t an invitation to a meal, so only nibbles will be served and your hosts are probably waiting for you to leave so that they can eat. An apéro dinatoire, on the other hand,” Alice adds, “will include a more substantial meal and go on for longer. If in doubt, ask your host what you should expect.”
When we moved into our new home, I consulted a French friend before I invited the neighbours to our own afternoon apéro. I thought I had it nailed, until I realised that none of our guests would accept a drink until they knew that everyone we were expecting had arrived. I had no idea who was actually coming and found my own desire to be a good host and give everyone a drink at war with each neighbour’s desire to be a good guest and wait before accepting one.
“That can be a generational thing as well,” Alice says. “It’s changing now as get-togethers become less formal affairs.”
And I’m very pleased to say that the neighbours overlooked our initial ignorance and many have since become good friends, despite the frequent mistakes I still make with language and etiquette. Which leads us on to la bise. The French tradition of greeting friends, colleagues and sometimes complete strangers with a kiss has changed somewhat since the Covid pandemic, Alice tells me. “We no longer do this where I work, but it’s still common with friends.” How many kisses to expect varies between regions, but I’ve found that a handshake is generally an acceptable alternative when I’m unsure whether to proffer a cheek. In fact, one of my neighbours now enthusiastically fist bumps me when we meet, as he knows I’m English and realises I’m therefore largely clueless about this aspect of French life.
Whether you’re visiting, or moving to France for work, another tradition Alice says is important to understand is an invitation to prendre un pot, or go out for a drink, after work. “This is very much viewed as part of work,” Alice tells me. “It may be once a month or more often, but while it looks like it’s optional, it is expected that you will go unless you have a very strong reason for refusing.”
“I actually find British visitors to be very polite,” says Estelle Liébert, who runs Le Darnetal (ledarnetal.fr), a traditional French restaurant in Montreuil-sur-Mer in northern France. “About 70-80% of our clientele is English-speaking and I love having them. They always smile and seem genuinely happy to be here, despite usually speaking very little French.” Like most people who come into regular contact with tourists, Estelle speaks English and enjoys chatting with visitors. And like most restaurateurs in France, she is trained to a very high standard.
Estelle Liébert runs popular restaurant Le Darnetal in Montreuil-sur-Mer
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Photo: Shutterstock
This is a key difference it’s important to understand when visiting a French restaurant: the chances are high that everyone, from waiting staff to the chef and owner, will have attended a specialised catering college and all are skilled and knowledgeable professionals. Estelle trained at the prestigious Lycée Hôtelier du Touquet and has worked in almost every aspect of the restaurant business over the past 20 years.
I ask her what the key differences are between French and English-speaking clients. “French clients will usually eat their main meal at lunchtime,” she tells me. “British visitors often prefer to eat in the evening. A common misunderstanding is that they can arrive early. Brasseries tend to be open all day whereas most restaurants will be open for lunch between noon and 2pm and won’t open again until 7pm even if staff are on site. Before you visit a restaurant, a good tip is to look at the menu. If it’s available in English, you’ll probably find English-speaking staff, whereas that may not be the case if it’s only available in French.”
And if you’re dithering about tipping, service charges have automatically been added in French cafés and restaurants since the 1980s, ensuring staff are paid an adequate wage and don’t need to rely on tips. You should see on the menu and on your bill, the phrase ‘prix service compris’, sometimes followed by a percentage or further details. You’re not expected to leave anything extra, but a ‘pourboire’, or tip, of few coins will always be appreciated, if you feel you’ve had really good service.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
waiters in France are skilled professionals _shutterstock
I’ll confess that I cringe now when I’m in a bar or restaurant and I see English-speakers summon a waiter without even saying hello in English, let alone attempting French, and instead launching in with a peremptory ‘can I get…?’.
While etiquette differs from place to place, politeness and good grace are universal. If you don’t speak French, just lead with the word ‘bonjour’ and a smile. If you can add ‘Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?”, it will be appreciated, but things are far more likely to go smoothly for all concerned after that first simple ‘bonjour’.
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
From tomorrow, new rules surrounding travelling with pets in the EU will come into effect, individuals will be notified if they are affected by a large-scale data breach from a cyberattack, and the swimming pool tax drops for the first time in 10 years. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
New Rules for Travelling to the EU with Pets
From tomorrow (22 April 2026), new EU rules mean UK residents can no longer use EU-issued pet passports to travel with dogs, cats, or ferrets from Great Britain to France and other EU countries. Instead, pet owners must obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from a vet for each trip, which is valid only for a single journey and must be renewed every time they travel.
The change reflects EU regulations that restrict pet passports to EU residents, making travel more administrative and potentially more expensive for UK pet owners, while rules for returning to Great Britain remain unchanged.
Mass Data Leak from Cyberattack on ANTS
A cyberattack on France’s official document agency, Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS), has led to a breach of personal data from its online portal used for services like passports, ID cards, and driving licences. Hackers accessed information, including names, email addresses, and dates of birth from user accounts, though authorities said the data does not allow direct access to accounts or sensitive supporting documents.
The number of people affected has not been announced, but individuals will be contacted if impacted and are advised to be alert to phishing scams. The department has strengthened its security since the attack and filed a criminal complaint.
Swimming Pool Tax Lowered for First Time in a Decade
France’s tax on new swimming pools, taxe d’aménagement, will be reduced in 2026 for the first time in almost ten years, dropping the rate by about 4.2% to €251 per square metre. The change reflects a fall in construction costs, but homeowners building pools larger than 10m² must still declare them within 90 days of completion or risk penalties. Local authorities can also apply their own additional charges and warn that undeclared pools are increasingly likely to be found using satellite imaging and AI.
Nadia Jordan explains the reasons southwest France should definitely be on your property radar…
In a striking shift over the past couple of years, Americans have surged to become the number one foreign buyers of property in Paris, and growing numbers are beginning to look to other regions of France in a way that is having an impact on the French property market.
According to Reuters, French government data for the first quarter of 2025 showed that long-stay visa requests from Americans stood at 2,383, compared to a total of 1,980 over the same period the previous year. Increasing numbers of Americans are turning their dreams of French home ownership into reality and they are expected to be among the top five nationalities looking for property in France this year.
They are increasingly looking to France not just as a dream holiday destination, but as a place to build a new life. Some are seeking a slower, more meaningful existence, tired of the relentless work culture and rising costs in the USA. Others are drawn by France’s strong sense of community, excellent healthcare and emphasis on work-life balance.
More recently, the growing tension and divisive political situation in America, along with concerns over economic instability, gun violence and social unrest, have prompted many to rethink their long-term future. Since Donald Trump’s re-election, interest from American property buyers in France has surged significantly.
However, American buyers in France tend to purchase in either Paris or Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA); these are the two regions that seem to personify the French dream for Americans. But they are also two of the most expensive regions for property, as well as being the most crowded especially in summer. In addition, Provence is becoming so hot in the summer months, with increasing wildfires, that the reality might not always live up to the dream.
Meanwhile, tucked a little further west and south, below the radar of many American buyers – but long popular with Brits – lies a part of France that offers a region equally as beautiful but also more authentic, less spoiled and more peaceful, where nature, culture, history and lifestyle come together and where the dream of French home ownership is not only alive, but still affordable, unlike much of the southeast of France. Are Americans perhaps missing a trick, focusing on one small part of France and missing the best bit?
GENTLE PACE OF LIFE
Tucked between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with the backdrop of the spectacular Pyrénées mountains, southwest France is one of those rare places that has it all. With its pretty villages, sweeping mountain views and a gentler pace of life, it offers exactly the lifestyle that so many Americans are dreaming about, if they only knew to look here.
This is a land of colourful local markets and café terraces, quiet, tree-lined country lanes and rolling hills where seasons still matter. Whether you are looking for a holiday home or a more permanent escape, the southwest quietly delivers on every front.
The Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées departments are steeped in history yet brimming with possibility, offering character-filled properties at prices far below those of Provence or Côte d’Azur. These are places where dotting the hillsides are pretty farmhouses with thick stone walls, hand-carved fireplaces, beautiful views, blue shutters, vines, large gardens and lots of traditional charm.
The beauty of this part of France is not only in its houses, villages and landscapes, which shift from lush valleys to dramatic mountain peaks, but in its rhythm of life. It’s a region that invites you to slow down and stay a while, to wander around ancient market towns like Auch or Marciac, or to sit with a coffee in a sleepy village square. It’s not a curated postcard version of France, it’s the real thing. And that is what makes it so compelling.
- ARIÈGE
The Ariège makes up much of the Pyrénées national park, an accolade awarded to recognise the unspoiled landscapes and natural beauty. Here, there’s a winning combination of lush valleys, soaring mountain peaks and traditional French villages that seem unchanged for centuries.
The area prides itself on its organic local produce and artistic, down-to-earth inhabitants. In terms of property, you’ll find affordable farmhouses, stone cottages and even the occasional château that would cost 10 times as much in Provence. If you’re looking for a project then, yes, you can still find houses for renovation or updating here and barns crying out for conversion, which means you can create both the property and the lifestyle you want. Outdoor fans will feel instantly at home with wonderful walking trails, cycling, horse-riding, skiing. kayaking and beautiful picnic spots all on your doorstep. Along with peace and quiet.
- HAUTE-GARONNE
South and west of Toulouse, the Haute-Garonne offers a great blend of beautiful countryside, far-reaching mountain views, peace and quiet – and proximity to the thriving city of Toulouse, with its vibrant city culture and major international airport. Charming villages such as Aurignac and Aspet provide French country life with relaxed, deeply rural lifestyle, infused with gastronomy, tradition and a gentle climate with sunshine much of the year. Property here ranges from grand manoirs and maisons de maître to simple village houses and traditional L-shape farmhouses, which often come with sweeping views and generous amounts of land.
- HAUTES-PYRÉNÉES
Like a prettier and gentler version of the Alps, Hautes-Pyrénées has all the same activities and quality of life on offer, but with significantly lower house prices. Wide open valleys are dotted with pretty sunny villages and farmhouses with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Every sort of sport is available here. In the heat of the summer, it’s not far to escape to the cooler mountain air, while in winter there are numerous ski resorts within an hour’s drive. But, unlike the Alps, this is a mountain region that still feels undiscovered. It is also known for its thermal baths and spas, so whether you are drawn to the skiing, hiking or simply soaking in thermal waters while gazing at the mountains, there is something for everyone.
REASONS TO BUY HERE
Tarascon-sur-Ariegev, Photo: Shutterstock
The southwest of France may be less well known than Provence and the southeast of France, but it’s just as charming and beautiful while being quieter and less developed. In terms of buying property, you will also get much more for your money here, so it’s also likely to be a good long-term investment -whether for a permanent home or holiday house.
Property is incredibly good value compared to many other areas of France, and you can still find generously sized stone houses with gardens and views of the Pyrénées for less than €250,000. Whether you are dreaming of a rambling countryside retreat, a lock-up-and-leave village house or a gîte business, the options here are as varied as they are affordable.
LIFESTYLE CHOICE
Then there’s the lifestyle. The southwest of France offers something truly rare, a balance between tranquillity and connection. Toulouse airport, with regular transatlantic links via Paris or London, makes international travel surprisingly easy. The TGV (high-speed rail) reaches down into the region, currently as far as Bordeaux, but you’ll soon be able to get from Toulouse directly to Paris in three hours.
The roads are empty and well-maintained, so you are never very far from the mountains, the Atlantic coast, the Mediterranean, the vineyards of Bordeaux or the city buzz of Toulouse. You really can have it all. Most importantly, life here feels sustainable – ecologically and financially. You don’t need to be a millionaire to own your home, nor sacrifice modern comforts. The food is local, the feeling of community is strong and the sense of wellbeing is something buyers often say they didn’t realise they were missing until they arrived.
The climate is also arguably more liveable than that of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, With more than 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, this is one of France’s sunniest corners. Summers can be hot, but they are manageable and there is not the wildfire risk here that there is further east. There are four distinct seasons and winters are short, sunny and offer an intensity of light missing in northern climes in the colder months. So, what are you waiting for?
Nadia Jordan runs thefrenchpropertyfinders.com, a network of property finders across France, and foothillsoffrance.com, a property search agency in southwest France.
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
Moving to France is an exciting life change, whether you are relocating permanently, buying a second home, or planning a long-term stay. But alongside property searches, visas and removals, one practical area that is often overlooked is insurance.
France has a regulated insurance system, and understanding the cover you may need before you arrive can help you avoid costly surprises. From healthcare to property protection, here are five key insurance areas to consider when relocating.
1. Health insurance: your first priority
Healthcare is one of the first things to check when moving to France, but the rules depend on your status. If you move to France to work, you are generally attached to the French social security system through that employment. If you are not working, access to French healthcare may depend on whether you are living in France legally and stably.
In some visa situations, you may also need to show proof of medical insurance for part or all of your initial stay in France. That means private medical cover can be important at the beginning, especially before your position in the French system is fully in place.
Once you are covered by the French public system, you may still want a mutuelle, or complementary health insurance. This can help cover all or part of the costs not reimbursed by the state system, depending on the policy.
2. Property insurance for your French home
If you are moving into a rented home in France, home insurance is usually compulsory. A tenant under a standard residential lease must take out insurance covering at least the main rental risks, including fire, water damage and explosion.
If you are buying a property, the position is slightly different. If the home is already insured, the insurance contract is automatically transferred on the sale. For owner-occupiers, insurance is not always legally compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. In a copropriété, owners must at least have civil liability cover.
French home insurance policies often cover core risks such as fire, water damage and civil liability. Other protections, such as theft, may vary depending on the contract, so it is important to check exactly what is included.
3. Car insurance: legally required
If you plan to drive in France, motor insurance is compulsory. At a minimum, your vehicle must be insured for third-party liability, which covers damage or injury caused to others.
Insurers may also offer wider protection, including fire, theft and comprehensive cover, but these are optional extras beyond the legal minimum. If you are importing a vehicle or arranging a new French policy, it is worth checking the exact level of cover, exclusions and conditions before driving.
4. Personal liability insurance
In France, civil liability insurance is an important form of protection. It covers damage or injury caused to other people by you or by things under your responsibility, and it is often included in a home insurance policy.
It is still worth checking the scope of cover and any exclusions carefully, particularly if you are renting, living in a copropriété, or arranging a new policy after a move.
5. Life, disability and income protection
If you are planning to live or work in France for the long term, you may also want to consider personal protection insurance such as life cover, incapacity cover or invalidity-related protection. These are not part of the core relocation formalities in the same way as health, housing or motor insurance, but they can still form part of your wider financial planning.
As with any insurance product, the level of protection depends on the contract and the circumstances in which it applies. It is worth checking carefully what is covered, under what conditions, and whether the policy is optional or linked to borrowing or employment arrangements.
Getting advice before you move
Every move to France is different, and your insurance needs will depend on your visa status, work situation, housing arrangements and whether you plan to drive. The key point is to separate what is legally required from what is simply recommended, and to make sure you have the right protection in place from the outset.
Looking to learn more about insurance in France?
Asttral has developed an experienced English speaking team focused on advising and arranging the most suitable Insurance policies for the Ex-pat community in France.
France is currently the world’s number one destination for destination weddings. This is not a temporary trend. It represents a structural shift driven by sustained international demand.
The American market is booming. The British market has remained strong for years. Canadian, Dutch and Belgian clients are increasingly active, alongside a highly engaged domestic French market. For investors who understand this sector, acquiring a château today represents a significant strategic opportunity. However, an opportunity at this level always comes with responsibility and disciplined decision-making.
One of the most compelling reasons to invest is France’s unique global positioning. It represents heritage, elegance and lifestyle. For international couples, getting married in a French château is not simply an event; it is an immersive experience rooted in history and romance.
This demand creates real economic potential for properties that are professionally positioned and properly operated. A château that is aligned with market expectations can generate consistent revenue while building long-term brand equity.
A château is not only a hospitality opportunity; it is also a rare real estate asset. Its intrinsic value tends to appreciate over time due to scarcity, heritage significance and land ownership.
Investors are therefore acquiring something tangible, unique and historically valuable. When that asset is combined with a well-structured wedding and events business, the financial model becomes particularly attractive. The combination of long-term real estate appreciation and recurring business income makes château ownership one of the most compelling investment categories available today.
However, this outcome is not automatic.
One of the most significant risks lies in renovation and construction decisions. Many owners exceed budgets on improvements that have little or no impact on profitability. It is remarkably easy to spend hundreds of thousands of euros on aesthetic upgrades that do not increase pricing power, occupancy rates or overall attractiveness to the right client demographic.
Every investment decision must be strategically secured and commercially justified. Strategy must guide renovation, not emotion.
Another frequent mistake is poor commercial positioning. Some owners lose two or three critical years focusing on platforms, directories or marketing channels that fail to deliver qualified clients. These channels can be time-consuming, expensive and ineffective.
Time is the most expensive resource an owner can lose. Avoiding these early missteps can dramatically accelerate return on investment.
Surrounding yourself with experienced professionals is essential. Experts who understand the château wedding market can help you position the property correctly, avoid costly strategic errors, accelerate profitability and unlock the full commercial potential of the asset.
The difference between success and failure is rarely the building itself. It is the strategy behind it. When structured correctly, return on investment can be rapid. Combined with long-term real estate appreciation, a château can become one of the most powerful and rewarding investments available.
But it must be approached as a business, not simply as a romantic real estate acquisition. France remains the world’s leading wedding destination. Demand is strong. The market is active. Opportunities are real. For investors who approach château acquisition with clarity, structure and strategic discipline, buying today is not just a dream. It is a smart investment decision.
To explore how strategic positioning can transform a château’s profitability, visit www.thevenueadvisors.com.
If you are considering acquiring or repositioning a château wedding venue, discover more insights at www.thevenueadvisors.com
The French government is set to hold a final vote tomorrow on localising low-emission zone regulations. From 2027, gas boilers will be prohibited in new buildings. A reminder has also been issued on keeping dogs on leads to protect wildlife during mating season. Meanwhile, SNCF plans to expand rail links into Italy but is facing legal challenges. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
France To End Low-Emission Zones in Final Vote
France’s National Assembly voted on Wednesday, 8 April, to abolish low-emission zones (ZFE), with the proposal passing by 98 votes in favour to 51 against. The measure is part of a wider “simplification” bill and would remove restrictions that currently apply in around 25 urban areas across France, where vehicles are regulated based on emissions standards.
However, the decision is not yet finalised. A competing government amendment is currently being debated that would instead allow local authorities to decide whether to keep or scrap the zones, rather than removing them nationwide. A final key step is a Senate vote scheduled for Wednesday, 15 April, which will determine whether the abolition stands or is softened into a local-choice system.
Gas Boilers to be Banned in Newbuilds from 2027
France has announced that gas boilers will be banned in all newly constructed buildings from the end of 2026, including homes, apartments, offices and shops, as part of a broader plan to shift away from fossil fuels.
The change hopes to reduce France’s current exposure to unpredictable global energy prices and its reliance on ‘domestically produced’ electricity. The government will also expand its subsidised leasing scheme for electric cars to target high-mileage workers and encourage businesses to switch to electric vehicles, in an effort to honour its environmental pledges.
Reminder of Lead Rules for Dog Owners
Dog owners in France are being reminded of seasonal rules requiring dogs to be kept on a lead in forest areas during spring, specifically from April 15 to June 30. The restriction applies when walking off official paths in woods and forests, and is designed to protect wildlife during the breeding and nesting season.
Outside of forest trails, dogs can still roam more freely but must remain under control and within about 100 metres of their owner. Anyone breaking the rules can face fines, as the measures are enforced to protect wildlife at a crucial time of year.
SNCF to Expand its Routes to Italian Hubs
France’s national rail operator, SNCF, is hoping to enter Italy’s high-speed train market, with plans to start running domestic services from around 2026. It would put SNCF in direct competition with existing operators already offering links between cities such as Milan, Rome and Naples.
However, the plans are currently tied up in a legal dispute, with SNCF challenging restrictions linked to access to Italy’s rail network and infrastructure, meaning the court’s decision will play a key role in determining whether the expansion can go ahead.
French tax season is upon us, and if you are resident in France, you must, by law, file a tax return this May (see our 2026 French tax calendar for the official deadlines). For expats in France, filling in a tax return often means additional requirements, such as declaring overseas bank accounts and worldwide income, or requesting tax credits on overseas pension or rental income. Let’s take a look at the basics of what you’ll need to fill in on your 2026 French tax return – step by step.
Note: The screenshots in this article are taken from a previous year’s tax declaration of a micro-entrepreneur and some sections have been pre-filled based on past declarations – your own tax return may vary slightly from this one, depending on your work situation and past tax returns. This article is intended as a rough guide to the tax form itself and the different sections you may need to fill in.
Your 2026 French tax return: form 2042
The main tax return ‘Form 2042’, also titled ‘Déclaration principale‘ (online) and ‘Déclaration des revenus 2025’ (paper form), must be filled in by everyone resident in France, as well as non-residents with French income (see our guide Second Home Owners: Do I Need to File a French Tax Return?), even if you have no income to declare or are not liable to pay any taxes. In 2026, you will be declaring your income from the previous year, 2025.
If it’s your very first time filling in a French tax return, you will need to submit a paper form, which you can download here. Everyone else will need to file their annual tax return online.
You can access the digital version of Form 2042 by logging into your account on the government tax website at impots.gouv.fr. The online declaration opened on 9 April 2026.
If you haven’t already set up your online account, find out How to Get a French Numero Fiscal & Open Your Online Tax Account.
2026 filing deadlines
The deadline for paper declarations is 19 May 2026 (based on the postmark date), including for French residents abroad.
Online filing deadlines are staggered by département:
- 21 May 2026: Départements 01 to 19, and non-residents
- 28 May 2026: Départements 20 to 54
- 5 June 2026: Départements 55 to 976 (including overseas territories)
Form 2042 French Tax return, France, impots, declaration Click to log in to your ‘espace particulier’ Form 2042 French Tax return, France, impots, declaration Start your 2026 tax declaration – ‘Déclaration des revenus’
Start your 2026 tax declaration – ‘Déclaration des revenus’
Step 1 / Étape 1
The first few pages of your online tax return will ask you to confirm your basic personal information, including your name, address, and date of birth. This is also the moment to declare any change of status, such as a marriage/PACS, divorce, or a death if you haven’t already. Be sure to verify that all the information is correct before you move on.
Step 2 / Étape 2
The ‘déclaration par un mandataire ou un tiers de confiance’ is for those filling in the tax return on behalf of someone else.
The ‘renseignements personnels’ section concerns your fiscal household – this is where you will declare the birth of a child or any children under your charge, as well as your ‘situation familiale’ (whether you are single, married, PACSed, etc)
Declaring income, rental income, pensions, and bank accounts
Step 3 / Étape 3
The ‘Revenus et charges’ section is the bulk of the tax return and is where you will enter information regarding both your French and worldwide income, whether from work, pensions, property rentals, investments, or other.
Rubriques & annexes
First up, you will be asked to select the ‘rubriques’ required – these are the different sections of income declaration, e.g. traitements et salaires (wages and salaries), pension de retraite (pension income) or micro-entreprise (professional micro-entrepreneur activity).
There are also several ‘annexe’ forms (ancillary forms) that you may need to include in your tax return. The options online will often be customised to you and your past tax declarations, so if you do need an additional annexe, you might need to search for it – use the search box and enter either the name of the form or a related word (in French).
Here are some of the most common required by expats and property owners in France:
2042K – is for declaring your French salary
2042C PRO is for declaring income as a micro-entrepreneur and for furnished property rentals.
2042C is for declaring foreign investments and capital gains.
2042-IFI is for declaring French wealth tax.
2047 is for declaring income from foreign sources, including UK government pension and rental income where tax has already been paid in the UK.
2044 is for declaring income from property rentals under the réel system.
3916-3016-BIS is for declaring overseas bank accounts and life insurance policies
2086 is for declaring crypto-currency investments.
Declaring your income
Once you’ve selected the forms you need, you will then move through several pages of forms, where you will be asked to declare your all your different income sources, relevant charges and deductions, and ‘divers’ (miscellaneous) revenue sources. Remember that you should be declaring all worldwide income on your French tax form, so if there’s something you know you have missed, make sure to search for the relevant form.
Declaring foreign bank accounts on your French tax return
If you have foreign bank accounts to declare, make sure you also check the box ‘8UU’ under ‘Divers’. You will then be prompted to enter the number of accounts and fill in a separate form for each account. You’ll be asked for the account number, address, the date of opening and closing (if relevant) of the account. The boxes marked with an * are essential, so don’t leave any blank spaces – if you don’t know the exact opening date of the account, do your best to estimate the year that it was opened – you won’t be required to provide proof of this.
Warning: Failure to declare a foreign bank account can result in a fine of €1,500 per undeclared account.
If you’ve forgotten to declare an account in previous years, it’s imperative to declare it as soon as possible – fines are more-often-than-not waived when individuals come forward of their own accord. If you are worried that you haven’t declared it on previous forms, the best course of action is to send a message to the tax office or add a note to your declaration stating this mistake and asking them to please update the information accordingly (more on this below).
Read our full article French Tax FAQ: Do I Need to Declare Foreign Bank Accounts & Life Insurance Policies?
Signing your tax return
Step 4 / Étape 4
The final step is to sign your tax return and send off your declaration. At this stage, you will be able to view all your declared income from various sources under the ‘déclaration de revenus’ section, followed by an estimation of your income tax total (Estimation de vote impôt net après crédits d’impôt) and the outstanding amount that you will need to pay (Montant restant à payer). You can also confirm or change the payment details by adding your bank RIB.
Once signed, you will also be able to see the withholding tax rate (prélèvement à la source) that will apply to your income starting in September 2026.
Be sure to double-check that all the information is correct and that you are happy with the income tax calculations before clicking ‘signer ma declaration‘.
Your 2026 tax notice (avis d’imposition) based on your 2025 income will be available during the summer.
Automatic declarations
If your income is fully pre-filled by the tax administration and your personal situation has not changed since 2025 (address, family status, income amounts, deductions, etc.), you may be eligible for the automatic declaration. In this case, you do not need to take any action – your return will be automatically validated and your tax notice will be available from the summer. However, if any of the pre-filled information needs to be amended or supplemented, you must file a new return by clicking ‘Déclarer en ligne’ from the automatic declaration screen.
Adding a note or receiving help with your tax return
If you have any concerns or additional information that you want to add to your tax return, it’s a good idea to add a note to alert tax officers to your query. Examples of this might be when you’re declaring an overseas bank account that you’ve previously forgotten to declare and therefore wish to update previous tax returns (and hopefully get out of a fine!), or advising the tax office of the currency exchange calculations you used to reach the foreign income totals declared on your form. On the paper form, there is normally an ‘information’ section for this, but when declaring online, it’s best to use the online messaging service to relay any important notes.
For help with any of the forms, you can consult the ‘fiches pratiques’ linked to throughout the process. Or, for more personalised questions, use the message service within your personal space – advisers are on hand to help, and the response time is normally very quick.
If you notice an error after submitting your declaration, you can still make corrections directly online from your Espace Particulier until the filing deadline for your département. After that, an online correction window typically opens later in the year. If you spot a discrepancy on your avis d’imposition when it arrives in the summer, you can dispute it within 90 days.
Paying Your Taxes in France
Whether you are moving to France, own French property, or have business interests, assets, or investments in France—FrenchEntrée is here to help with all your tax questions. Our Essential Reading articles are designed to give you an overview of the basics, from income tax and social charges to wealth tax and property taxes. However, tax laws and rates are always subject to change, and international tax liabilities can be especially complicated, so if in doubt, we always advise discussing your personal situation with one of our recommended financial or tax advisors.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice regarding any aspect of your tax planning or tax liabilities in France. FrenchEntrée cannot be held responsible for the consequences of decisions or actions you may choose to take in connection with French tax declarations or tax liabilities.
In 2019, France introduced a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system, or ‘prélèvement à la source’ in French, meaning that all employment income, along with some other kinds of income, would be taxed at source. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the PAYE system in France?
From January 1st, 2019, all social charges and income taxes on employment income and some other income in France became subject to a new withholding tax system. This Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system or ‘prélèvement à la source’ system means that all employment income is now taxed at source.
This system works in a similar way to many other countries that also implement a PAYE or tax at source system, such as the UK, United States, and other EU countries, whereby both income taxes and social charges are deducted from your wages before you are paid. Prior to this date, social charges were deducted from income at source, but income tax was paid by in monthly or quarterly instalments the following year after filing your annual tax return.
Income subject to the French PAYE system
The PAYE system in France applies to the following:
- Employment income/salaries
- Taxable state benefits (e.g. sickness and unemployment benefits)
- Pension and other taxable retirement income (such as lifetime annuities)
- Rental Income
- Non-French income taxable in France (including foreign pensions paid to French residents)
- Business profits
- Other independent income
PAYE accuracy has improved due to digital platforms that automatically report income.
However, it does not apply to:
- investment income*
- capital gains*
- non-French income subject to French tax credits under the double-tax treaty ( for example, a French resident receiving income from a rental property in the UK or receiving a UK government pension)
*Note that this doesn’t mean that there are no tax implications for this income, but it will not be taxed at source – you must still declare all income on your annual tax return and may be subject to tax.
Understanding PAYE in France: How Much Tax Will I Pay?
Since September 2025, couples in a shared household are automatically assigned an individualised tax rate (taux individualisé), which was previously a household rate. Household rates are still optional, but no longer the default for the applicable French tax rates and tax-free allowance. You can see estimates of your current tax liabilities and amend your tax situation (for example, if your salary is set to increase or decrease, you marry or divorce, or have a child) via your online tax account at impots.gouv.fr.
Click on your ‘Espace Particulier’ and ‘Gérer mon prélèvement à la source’ (manage my PAYE), where you can ‘Signaler un changement’ (inform the tax office of a change of situation) or update your salary. You can update your withholding tax rate at any time during the year via your online tax account, and changes are now typically applied within one to two months, allowing your tax deductions to reflect changes in your income or personal circumstances more quickly.
Read our guides for more on how your tax is calculated:
Understanding French Income Tax- What You Need to Know
Understanding French Tax- What is a Fiscal Household in France?
How are the taxes deducted under the PAYE system?
If you are employed in France, your income tax and social charges will be deducted from your wage each month before you are paid. A full breakdown of all the taxes and social charges will be shown on your payslip, along with your gross (brut) and net (net) earnings.
The payslip below shows an example of what this might look like – the Cotisations and Contributions Sociales at the top are your social security contributions, while the ‘impôt sur le revenu prélève’ is the amount of income tax deducted from your salary. ‘Le montant du salaire net imposable’ is the amount of taxable income (after social security contributions) that you will declare on your income tax return.
For rental income, income from foreign sources, and other income that fall under the PAYE system, your taxes will be deducted monthly (or sometimes quarterly, depending on your individual situation) from your bank account upon receipt of payments.
Do I still need to file a French tax return?
All legal residents in France are required to file an annual tax return, regardless of whether or not you are employed or receive income in France, or whether or not you have any tax liabilities. You may also need to file a tax return as a non-resident if you have French income or investments – see our guide Understanding French Tax: Are You Tax Resident in France? for more on this.
Many employees and pensioners in France have now moved onto ‘automatic tax declarations’, which work similarly to the system in the UK and other countries. Essentially this means that you don’t need to file a tax return; your tax declaration will be automatically filled in, and you will simply declare that the information is correct. However, you still need to go online and confirm the tax declaration – this is your opportunity to also add any tax claims or deductions, or declare additional income.
What happens if I’m taxed too much/too little?
PAYE rates are only an estimation of the tax you owe; the exact amount will be calculated when you file your annual tax declaration in May (or sign off on your automatic tax declaration where applicable). If your situation changes during the financial year or you benefit from reductions or tax credits, you may find that you are charged too much or too little income tax throughout the year. This is one reason why it’s essential to inform the tax office of any changes to your personal situation as soon as possible.
In these instances, you may find that you are entitled to a tax rebate or that you have outstanding taxes to pay. Outstanding payments or refunds will be automatically deducted from or credited to your bank account either as one lump-sum payment or (in the event of outstanding payments over €300) as staggered quarterly payments throughout the current tax year.
Certain tax credits and reductions (such as those for childcare or home help) are now partially paid in advance—typically around 60% in January—helping to reduce large adjustments when your final tax liability is calculated.
Paying Your Taxes in France
Whether you are moving to France, own French property, or have business interests, assets, or investments in France—FrenchEntrée is here to help with all your tax questions. Our Essential Reading articles will talk you through all the basics, from income tax and social charges to wealth tax and property taxes. However, international tax liabilities can be complicated, so if in doubt, we always advise discussing your personal situation with one of our recommended financial or tax advisors.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice regarding any aspect of your tax planning or tax liabilities in France. FrenchEntrée cannot be held responsible for the consequences of decisions or actions you may choose to take in connection with French tax declarations or tax liabilities.
If you own a second home in France, your visits often come with a familiar rhythm: time with family, enjoying the region… and inevitably, a few purchases along the way.
From clothing and beauty products to gifts or personal items, these purchases quickly add up. What many non-EU residents don’t fully realise is that a part of this spending can be recovered.
Thanks to VAT refunds (tax-free shopping), you can reclaim the VAT paid on eligible goods — typically up to 20% of the purchase price.
A simple principle that is often overlooked
VAT refunds apply to goods that are purchased in France and taken out unused of the European Union.
In practice, this means that items you buy during your stay and bring back with you to the UK can qualify for a refund.
It’s a straightforward principle, but one that is often underused, especially by regular visitors who don’t necessarily think of their trips as “tax-free opportunities”.
A matter of awareness, not complexity
For many second-home owners, the challenge isn’t eligibility. It’s timing.
VAT refunds are rarely top of mind when travelling back and forth between countries. Purchases are made naturally, without necessarily thinking about the administrative side.
Yet with the right reflex, asking for the correct invoice and validating your documents before leaving the EU, the process is simple and accessible.
A more seamless way to manage VAT refunds
In recent years, digital solutions have made VAT refunds significantly easier to handle.
Zapptax is one of them, offering a fully digital experience designed for frequent travellers and expatriates.
With Zapptax:
- you request an invoice in Zapptax’s name when shopping in France
- upload it directly in the app
- your tax-free forms are generated automatically
- you validate them at customs when leaving the EU
- and receive your refund afterwards
The app allows you to manage multiple purchases across different trips, without paperwork or unnecessary complexity.
Good to know : with Zapptax, you can order goods online, make them delivered in France and have them tax-free when returning home. You simply need to add Zapptax invoicing details when placing your order online.
Making the most of each trip
Owning a second home in France means travelling regularly, and these trips naturally come with spending.
Without changing your habits, simply being aware of VAT refunds allows you to make those purchases more efficient.A simple reflex before your next trip: think VAT refund.
Download the Zapptax app and make the most of your purchases in France.
To live in France, you’ll need to learn a lot about its healthcare system, because, for good or bad, it works a little differently from what most are used to. For example, you’ve probably heard about “mutuelle.” Here’s what it actually means for your wallet (and your wellbeing).
What is a French mutuelle?
The French Sécurité Sociale (public healthcare system) is excellent, but it doesn’t cover 100% of your medical costs. While it varies by treatment type, it typically reimburses around 60–70% of the state-set rate. The rest comes out of your pocket (that is, unless you have a mutuelle).
A mutuelle is supplementary health insurance that tops up what the state pays. Think of it as the missing piece that turns good coverage into comprehensive coverage. Around 95% of people living in France have one, and for good reason.
Your employer will have to provide a company-wide mutuelle and pay half the costs, but if you’re anything other than an employee (think self-employed, retired, or arriving as an expat), you’ll need to arrange your own.
When you’re first getting used to the system, it’s helpful to have a mutuelle provider that serves its customers in English, like Feather.
What does a mutuelle cover?
The specifics depend on your plan, but most mutuelles cover these key areas.
- The hospital stay gap: The public system covers 80% of hospital costs. Your mutuelle picks up the remaining 20%, and many plans also cover extras like a private room.
- Dental care: This is where a mutuelle really earns its keep. Fillings and cleanings get partial state reimbursement, but crowns, bridges, and dentures can be expensive without top-up cover.
- Optical care: The government provides barely any coverage for both glasses and contact lenses. That’s where a lot of Mutuelle will provide a ton of value, because they typically offer an annual allowance between €100 and €300. That you can use on anything from frames to eye exams or lenses.
- Specialist consultations: Many specialists in France charge above the state-set rate (known as “dépassement d’honoraires”). Without a mutuelle, you’d cover that difference yourself.
- Alternative therapies: It will vary depending on your plan, but if you select one with relatively strong coverage, you might get coverage for services that Sécurité Sociale doesn’t reimburse at all, such as osteopaths, acupuncturists, or other practitioners.
What isn’t covered?
You’re still gonna need to be paying some out-of-pocket costs even though you sign up for a Mutuelle, for example:
- The €1 co-payment: This is standard everywhere in France. All doctors and specialists must charge the end consumer at least €1.
- Dental implants: implants aren’t necessarily recognised by the public system, unlike crowns and bridges. If this is something important to you, there are some mutuelles out there that offer partial coverage, but many don’t.
- Adult orthodontics: Only the most expensive Mutuelle will contribute to adult orthodontics. Otherwise, the typical cutoff age for treatment coverage is 16 to 18 years old.
- Cosmetic procedures: Of course, elective cosmetic treatments that aren’t medically necessary will have to be paid out of pocket.
- The “100% reimbursement” catch: This is something that catches a lot of people off guard. If your plan says 100% coverage, that doesn’t mean 100% of the final bill. It just means 100% of the official Social Security rate. Hence, what that means is if your doctor charges more than the rate (which you should always double check before getting whatever treatment you’re considering), you are still going to have some out-of-pocket cost.
How to choose the right mutuelle
Always compare plans, and when you do, pay close attention to the different levels of reimbursement, especially for dental and vision care, because this is where there will be the most variation between insurance companies. It’s also the areas most likely to cause frustration if you didn’t explore them thoroughly beforehand.
You’ll also want a plan that uses the “tiers payant” system. That’s where your doctor/healthcare professional bills the insurer directly, so you don’t pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. And if you’re an expat, being able to manage everything in English makes a real difference when you’re navigating claims or choosing a provider.
This is exactly why we created Feather’s private mutuelle. It’s designed specifically for expats in France: strong dental and optical coverage, tiers payant included, flexible monthly plans you can cancel anytime, and an entirely English-language experience from sign-up to claims.
What about the gap before your mutuelle kicks in?
If you’re newly arrived in France, there’s often a waiting period of several months before you’re registered with Sécurité Sociale and can access a mutuelle. During that time, you still need health coverage, especially since it’s a visa requirement.
Feather’s expat health insurance covers you from day one (no medical checks, no long-term lock-in, and everything in English). Once you’re registered with the public system, you can switch straight to our private mutuelle, so your coverage never has a gap.
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Thinking of swapping a flat in Fulham for a farmhouse in France? From packing to paperwork, international moves can come with challenges. Trusted movers AnyVan have put together a helpful guide on the most common mistakes to avoid when moving furniture from the UK to France. Here are 5 mistakes to look out for:
1. Not planning ahead
One of the most common mistakes people make is leaving the move to the last minute. Moving to another country takes time to organise, and being hasty often leads to higher costs, limited availability, and unnecessary stress. AnyVan suggests starting at least two to three months in advance to avoid the rush.
A good place to start is by creating a checklist. This should include sorting your belongings, researching international removal companies, booking your transport in advance, and preparing documents for customs. Booking early can help you secure better rates and ensure availability for your preferred dates.
2. Underestimating packing
Packing furniture for international transport isn’t quite the same as packing for a local move. If you’re doing it yourself, make sure you use strong packing materials and wrap items carefully to avoid damage.
Label boxes clearly and keep a list of what’s inside each one. This is also useful when preparing your customs inventory. Take a look at AnyVan’s international packing guide for more expert packing tips and tricks.
3. Moving items you don’t actually need
Now’s the perfect time to channel your inner Marie Kondo. Don’t pay to transport stuff you don’t love (or even like). It’s a common mistake that can cost you hundreds of pounds.
International removals are usually priced by volume, so it makes sense to avoid taking things that aren’t essential. If you’re unsure about whether to bring certain items, consider whether they’re worth the transport cost to you.
You can sell or donate things you no longer need. Or, if you’re not quite ready to part with them, using a storage solution is a good option. AnyVan offers secure UK storage with flexible access when you’re ready.
4. Incomplete or incorrect paperwork
Since Brexit, moving goods from the UK to France requires customs paperwork, and missing documents can lead to delays at the border (which no one wants!).
Key documents include:
- A detailed inventory of all items
- Proof of your new residence in France
- Completed customs declaration forms
Good news! If you’re moving your main residence and the goods have been owned for more than six months, you can usually move them without paying import duties or VAT. That said, the paperwork still needs to be accurate.
Some international removal services, including AnyVan, help with customs documentation to make sure everything is correct and ready before you travel.
5. Trying to do it all yourself
Unless you’re an expert at international logistics (and have a van, mates with muscles, and nerves of steel), it’s best to leave this one to the pros.
A trusted removals service like AnyVan won’t just help you move, they can help protect your furniture, sort the admin, and make sure your prized glass coffee table arrives in one piece. Plus, they include options for additional insurance and extra care for fragile items.
You can use AnyVan’s free quote tool to compare prices from trusted international movers in minutes. Save up to 40% on your move, with flexible options and relax knowing that your furniture will get to France safely for a great price.
We have been looking at what property management in France really is, and why absentee owners need to source reliable and trustworthy property caretakers to ensure they can truly enjoy their ownership of a property at a distance. For this article we consider how regular inspection or security visits to your property can help at many levels to reach that goal.
More Than a Walk-Around
Inspecting a property isn’t only a matter of walking around its perimeter and checking there are no obvious signs of damage or vandalism, although that must be the first check item on arrival at any property. Once inside we also encourage the reading of electricity, gas and water meters at each visit, logging those in the client file so that any out-of-the-ordinary use can be investigated further. We can also assist with notifying the utility companies of current usage as needed.
One such example was from Les Bons Voisins in the Occitanie region where they were able to spot an apparent use of water out of all proportion to the norm during a visit one spring to a property with a pool. The pool was built into a hillside and surrounded by a landscaped rockery which had completely disguised a water leak due to a broken underground pipe: it wasn’t enough to be obvious as far as the level in the pool was concerned (the lowering of which had been attributed to evaporation!) but it was certainly enough to potentially build up over time into an enormous water bill for the absentee owner. Logging the water meter reading drew the issue to the attention of the property manager, who was able to arrange a simple fix and avoid a potentially huge cost.
Good to know: Most French properties now have the smart Linky electricity meter (managed by Enedis), which transmits electricity readings automatically — and owners can monitor their consumption remotely at mon-compte-particulier.enedis.fr. Water and gas meters are generally not yet smart, however, and still benefit greatly from manual logging by your property manager during inspection visits.
Keeping the Electricity On
If there are no long gaps between visitors to a property, many clients will often prefer to keep the electricity switched on, perhaps leaving items in the freezer, and saving them from the potential headache of switching the Livebox supplying the Wi-Fi back on — in case it is temperamental and might take days to settle back down. If this is the case, inspection visits are vitally important in case there has been any temporary cut in the supply due to weather conditions. Electricity cuts are far more frequent in France than people in the United Kingdom are used to, particularly in rural areas.
Orange’s Livebox remains France’s most widely used home internet router. More recent models (Livebox 5 and 6) are more stable, but rural line quality varies significantly. Owners of rural second homes should consider asking their property manager to physically restart the Livebox after any reported power cut, or invest in a 4G/5G backup dongle as an extra precaution.
Security: Varied, Vigilant and Up to Date
Our inspection visits, although regular, are always varied as to day and time, and if we can, we occasionally open shutters and leave them open for a few days, giving the property the appearance of being occupied. This helps to avoid targeting from opportunist criminal elements. A suitable combination of visible security — CCTV, a prominent alarm system, smart lighting on timers, and a property that appears occupied — remains a strong deterrent. The technology available to homeowners has improved considerably in recent years and is now more affordable and remotely accessible than ever.
It is worth noting that France’s official statistics body (SSMSI) has reported a modest rise in burglaries in recent years, and rural properties are specifically at risk: research shows that rural burglars are often better prepared than opportunistic urban ones, researching targets via online maps and monitoring owners’ social media to confirm when homes are empty. Isolated holiday homes are disproportionately vulnerable, making regular, varied inspection visits all the more important.
Practical security tips for 2026: 1. Do not post holiday plans or photos on social media. 2. Register with Opération Tranquillité Vacances — a free gendarmerie scheme where officers check on your property while you are away (register at your local brigade or via gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr). 3. Remotely viewable CCTV, smart doorbells and programmable lighting timers are now affordable and widely available. 4. A visible, local property manager remains one of the most effective deterrents of all.
The Best Security: Les Bons Voisins
With our own network being called ‘Les Bons Voisins’ (the good neighbours), the best assistance of all for any absentee owner and their property manager is to make friends with the actual neighbours of the property. We always ensure that we make ourselves known to the neighbours on either side of a property we are caring for, leaving them our contact details and asking them to alert us if they see anything untoward.
In fact, the most helpful heads-up I personally ever had from a neighbour was a phone call to let me know I had left a Velux window wide open and there was a large storm brewing shortly after. I had time to return to the property and shut the window — which was above the double bed in the master bedroom — and avoid significant and embarrassing damage that would have been caused by the deluge a few hours later. A nice bottle of wine and heartfelt thanks was duly delivered to that neighbour on my next visit!
A Worthwhile Investment
The investment in a property in France is not insignificant, so it would be false economy to stint on its ongoing management. Regular inspection visits can truly spot issues before they become problems, as well as give you the peace of mind you want as an absentee owner. As with the old stitch-in-time proverb, a few euros spent on asking your property manager to make regular inspection visits will save you the angst of the unknown and provide reassurance and timely reaction to issues — all of which are beyond price.
Inspection Visits for Letting Properties Too
Inspection visits are not necessarily just for vacant properties. If you have paying guests in your property, having your property manager pop in during their stay to check on the property can also have the benefit of ensuring the guests are happy and have no issues with their stay. This level of customer service can be a wonderful investment.
Gone are the days when an unhappy holidaymaker didn’t have a platform on which to share their views. Today, reviews on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Abritel are central to booking success — and a single poor review can have a real impact. Your friendly professional property manager visiting on your behalf makes your guests feel welcomed, valued and looked after on a whole different level to many other properties, resulting in great feedback and recommendations.
French legislation has tightened rules around short-term letting in recent years, and 2026 brings further significant changes under the Loi Le Meur (November 2024). All furnished tourist lets must now be registered via a national online service by May 2026, with a registration number displayed on all listings. Tax relief for unclassified short-term rentals has been sharply reduced — the micro-BIC income threshold drops to €15,000 with only a 30% allowance, making it far less advantageous than before. Having your property formally classified (1–5 stars) preserves more favourable tax treatment. Municipalities also have new powers to cap rental days or restrict short-term letting in their area. If you are letting your property, it is well worth seeking up-to-date tax and compliance advice — your property manager will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Visit Les Bons Voisins: www.lbvfrance.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0033 (0) 562 29 26 62
The window for taxpayers to submit their 2025 income will open this Thursday, France’s departments suffer varying levels of ‘diesel drought’ due to ongoing international conflicts, and new registration rules for UK caravan & trailer drivers in Europe have been launched. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
French Income Tax Declaration to Open This Week
On 9 April, the limited window for taxpayers to file their income tax returns for 2025 will open. The deadlines will vary if you use paper or online declarations. Paper declarations must be submitted first; your return must be posted by 19 May 2026, not received by then.
Deadlines for online declarations vary by department:
Departments 1-19: Thursday, 21 May 2026 Non-residents with a French-source income must also submit by this date
Departments: 20-54 (including Corsica): Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Departments 55-976 (including Overseas) Thursday, 4 June 2026
Online declarations are made through the personal space on the impots.gouv.fr website.
France Hit with Diesel Shortages
Due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, France is experiencing fuel shortages nationwide, driving prices to a record high of €2.33 per litre. Around 13% of petrol stations are running low on or have run out of diesel, which is by far the country’s most widely used fuel.
The severity of this ‘diesel drought’ varies from department to department, with some areas feeling the squeeze much harder than others. Territoire de Belfort, Indre-et-Loire, and Tarn-et-Garonne are among the most affected, where around a fifth or more stations are facing shortages.
UK Caravan Owners Warned Over New Number Plate Rules
Caravans and trailers over 750kg must now be registered before travelling to many European countries, including France. Once registered, a separate trailer registration number and plate must be displayed alongside the car’s number plate.
A duplicate of the car’s plate on the caravan is no longer sufficient for British caravan/trailer drivers travelling abroad. Drivers must also carry their registration certificate and be ready to show it if stopped. Failing to comply with these new rules could lead to delays at borders or fines up to €750.
From annual income tax declarations to property taxes—if you live in France or own property in France, you will receive your fair share of tax bills throughout the year. It is your responsibility to make sure you file your tax return and pay your taxes on time in France, and there are penalties if you miss the deadlines. To help you plan and prepare, our 2026 France tax calendar has all the key dates for your diary.
What are the Dates of the French Tax Year?
The French financial year runs from January to December, along with the calendar year. This means that in 2026, you will be filing returns for the financial year that ran from January 1st, 2025, to December 31st, 2025.
Who is Required to Complete a Tax Return in France in 2026?
Quite simply, if you are a French resident, you must complete a tax return, even if you are unemployed, retired, or have no revenue to declare. If you own a French property but are not resident in France, you will also have taxes to pay, but you probably won’t need to file an income tax return. However, if you rent out your French property, work or receive income from French sources, or own substantial property assets (and are therefore liable for French wealth tax), you may also need to file a return.
Read our guides:
When Do I Need to File My First Tax Return After Moving to France?
Second Home Owners: Do I Need to File a French Tax Return?
Understanding French Tax- Are you tax resident in France?
Understanding French Income Tax- What You Need to Know
What You Need to Know About French Social Charges
Paying Your Taxes in France
Income taxes, social taxes, property taxes, and other taxes can all be declared and paid online via the French tax website. Typically tax bills or declarations are issued around one to two months before the declaration or payment is due. There are typically two different due dates – one for those paying online and an earlier date for those paying by cheque or declaring by post. Deadlines for annual tax returns are staggered depending on the French departement in which you live, so be sure you note the relevant date according to your postcode.
After logging into your account, you will be able to access previous tax declarations, see any outstanding declarations or payments due, make changes to your personal situation (for example, if you get married or have a baby), view your ‘Prélèvement à la source’ payments (if employed in France), and download your annual Avis d’imposition (tax notice).
Online and paper declarations
Although it is possible to request that a paper declaration be sent out to you, this is no longer the norm, so be sure to double-check your settings. After logging into your tax portal, click on ‘mon profil’, and check your ‘options de dématérialisation’ – if you opt for ‘zéro papier’ this means that your returns will only be available online.
You can also set up email or text message alerts (select text or email under ‘mes préférences de communication’) to remind you of any impending tax declaration or payment dates, but please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that all your taxes are declared and paid for on time. Steep penalties may be applied in the case of missed deadlines or failure to pay taxes. To ensure you don’t forget, print out our 2024 calendar below, or enter all the dates into your own diary or calendar.
Read our guide to filling in your first French tax return for how to set up your account and apply for your numéro fiscal (tax number).
French Tax Calendar 2026
All the key dates for your 2026 tax declarations and payments in France. (Disclaimer: the below dates should serve as a guide only – be sure to follow the instructions and deadlines listed on your tax bills).
April 9th, 2026: Income Tax Declarations Open
The online platform to submit your annual déclaration des revenues (income tax declaration) opens. You can now submit your tax declaration online here and you will have 6 to 8 weeks in which to do so.
May 20th, 2026: Income Tax Postal Deadline
If you are submitting your tax declaration by post or filing your first income tax return (which must be submitted by post), this is the national deadline. Your tax bill or Avis d’Imposition (tax notice) will be posted to you within a few months.
May 21st, 2026: Income Tax Online Deadline 1
This is the deadline for overseas residents or French residents who live in départements 1-19 for submitting your tax declaration online. Your tax bill or Avis d’Imposition (tax notice) will be available online within a few months.
May 28th, 2026: Income Tax Online Deadline 2
This is the deadline for French residents who live in départements 20-54 for submitting their tax declaration online. Your tax bill or Avis d’Imposition (tax notice) will be available online within a few months.
June 4th, 2026: Income Tax Online Deadline 3
This is the deadline for French residents who live in départements 55-101 and French overseas territories for submitting their tax declaration online. Your tax bill or Avis d’Imposition (tax notice) will be available online within a few months.
June 30th, 2026: Declaration d’Occupation + Monthly Payments
If you wish to pay your property taxes (taxe d’habitation and/or taxe foncière) by monthly instalments rather than in one single payment, you must register online by this date.
This is also the deadline for the new Declaration d’occupation form that all property owners in France must fill in if they didn’t already fill one in in 2024 (or if there are any changes).
mid-August, 2026: Taxe Foncière Bills Available Online
If you own property in France and have elected to receive your tax bills online, this is the date that your taxe foncière bill will be available to view online.
Read our guide to French Property Taxes: Taxe d’Habitation and Taxe Foncière
August, 2026: Taxe Foncière Bills Sent Out By Post
If you own property in France and have elected to receive your tax bills by post, this is the date that your taxe foncière bill will be sent out.
From October, 2026: Taxe d’Habitation Bills Sent Out
If you own a second home in France, your taxe d’habitation bill will be sent out or available to view online (depending on the option you have elected) from this day onwards. French residents no longer pay the Taxe d’Habitation on their primary residence.
mid- October, 2026: Taxe Foncière offline deadline
If you opt to pay your Taxe Foncière by post, this is the deadline for payments.
mid- October , 2026: Taxe Foncière online deadline
If you opt to pay your Taxe Foncière online, this is the deadline for payments.
mid- November, 2026: Taxe d’Habitation offline deadline
If you opt to pay your Taxe d’Habitation by post, this is the deadline for payments.
mid November , 2026: Taxe d’Habitation online deadline
If you opt to pay your Taxe d’Habitation online, this is the deadline for payments.
mid-December, 2026: Income Tax Amendments
This is the final date for any amendments to be made to your income tax return.
mid-December, 2026: TLV or THLV Tax
If you own a vacant property subject to TLV or THLV taxes, this is the date for payments by post. Read our article on What Are France’s Zones Tendues?: Rental Caps and Extra Taxes on Second Homes
December, 2026202: TLV or THLV Tax
If you own a vacant property subject to TLV or THLV taxes, this is the date for payments online.
Paying Your Taxes in France
Whether you are moving to France, own French property, or have business interests, assets, or investments in France—FrenchEntrée is here to help with all your tax questions. Our Essential Reading articles are designed to give you an overview of the basics, from income tax and social charges to wealth tax and property taxes. However, tax laws and rates are always subject to change, and international tax liabilities can be especially complicated, so if in doubt, we always advise discussing your personal situation with one of our recommended financial or tax advisors.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice regarding any aspect of your tax planning or tax liabilities in France. FrenchEntrée cannot be held responsible for the consequences of decisions or actions you may choose to take in connection with French tax declarations or tax liabilities.
France is set to miss the deadline for registering travellers in the EES system, while French lorry drivers are protesting over increasing fuel prices, and new residency changes for French citizens will take effect on April 1. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
France to miss EES Deadline for Registering Travellers
France is expected to miss the EU’s deadline to fully register all travellers under the new Entry/Exit System (EES) due to ongoing technical problems with equipment and software used to collect biometric data. The deadline, March 31, 2026, is part of a phased rollout ahead of full system operation from April 10, when passport stamping is due to end.
However, issues such as malfunctioning pre-registration kiosks, difficulties linking national systems to EU databases, and concerns about long border queues have slowed progress. Similar delays are being seen elsewhere in Europe, and authorities are considering more flexible timelines to cope, introducing partial suspensions of the EES system in busier periods while fixes are implemented.
French Lorry Drivers to Protest Against Fuel Costs This Week
Lorry drivers across France are staging nationwide protests this week, which will cause major disruption on motorways and in cities. The protesters are demanding greater government support to offset rising fuel costs, triggered by the conflict in Iran. Action began over the weekend with blockades on key routes such as the A7 near Lyon and the A71/A89 around Clermont-Ferrand, instigating a “go-slow” (snail) operation in Paris, clogging the surrounding ring road.
Further disruption is expected in multiple regions, including Pays-de-la-Loire, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with blockades of major roads and access points to public buildings. The protests follow a breakdown in negotiations with the government, whose proposed fuel discount has been widely criticised by industry leaders as insufficient.
April Changes for French Residents
From 1 April 2026, several changes take effect in France affecting energy costs, benefits, and healthcare communications. Gas prices will fall slightly, by about 0.7%, reducing costs for both heating and cooking. At the same time, the annual chèque énergie scheme opens the same day, with eligible households beginning to receive vouchers worth up to €277 between April 1 – 20 to help pay energy bills. In healthcare, the state system (Assurance Maladie) will introduce a new, clearer email format to make official messages easier to recognise and navigate.
Join our Webinar on Buying Property & Moving to France
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What really happens before your belongings cross the Channel on their journey to your new home? Ben Hingley explains…
For many people, the decision to move to France is the realisation of a long-held dream, a new lifestyle, better weather and a fresh start. Before you can settle into your new château in Provence or pied-a-terre in Paris, there’s a detailed behind-the-scenes operation: getting your belongings safely from the UK to France.
What may seem at first glance to be a simple van trip across the Channel is, in fact, somewhat more involved. This is where a professional removal company comes into play. The process is carefully engineered to prevent delays, damage and unnecessary stress. Here’s an inside look at what actually happens before your belongings cross the Channel.
SETTING THE STAGE
Photo: Shutterstock
The pre-move survey Your relocation begins long before moving day. One of our expert surveyors will either visit your property to perform an in-house survey, or they will complete the survey via a virtual video call. During this survey, they will assess everything you want to take. However, we’re not just counting boxes. We’re planning your entire move. This means we calculate the volume, to ensure we send the right size vehicle(s) and determine whether access is tricky. Narrow village streets, rural farmland, steep driveways, top-floor flats without lifts all need. to be factored into the logistics.
Our surveyors also note what needs specialist care (pianos, artworks, family heirlooms). We’ll also discuss with you anything restricted by customs rules. “A successful move to France is all about preparation and spotting challenges early, so they don’t become problems later on,” says Steve Ball, sales representative at Burke Bros Moving Group.
POST-BREXIT REALITY
Customs and paperwork
There was a time when your belongings could glide into France without any formalities. However, post-Brexit the landscape is different and there are quite a few requirements.
An extensive amount of paperwork is required to bring your belongings into France. It is important to have the help and guidance of a removal company that is fully conversant with all these new requirements. A professional removal company will help you prepare a detailed inventory that lists each item correctly and advise you on what you need as proof of the move.
It should also help you avoid the pitfalls, for example, packing anything that customs might see as a red flag. If something isn’t quite right, belongings can be held at the border. That’s why having specialists on your side matters now more than ever.
Choose a removal company with a detailed knowledge of the customs requirements, one that deals with the customs procedures every single day, so you can feel confident in them guiding you through this.
PACKING FOR EXPORT
A different level of care
Packing for a move abroad isn’t just a case of popping things into the back of a van on moving day. Your furniture and possessions will be travelling a long way. We use export-grade materials and industry-leading techniques to protect items through lifting, stacking, transit and Channel weather.
A professional mover should be able to create bespoke wooden crates for fragile or precious items, provide protective wrapping for large furniture and antiques and special cartons to transport the contents of your wardrobe to prevent creasing. We’ve even transported tractors, wine collections and motorbikes. If it matters to you, we’ll find the right way to move it.
Choose a removal company with a detailed knowledge of the customs requirements. One that deals with the necessary procedures every single day, so you can feel confident in them guiding you through this.
THE LOGISTICAL BALLET
Planning the journey
The moving company will need to coordinate ferry timings, legal driving time limits for their driver, traffic and any access rules in historic French towns and navigate any potential issues that seasonal weather may throw into the mix. If access to your French home is difficult, it may be necessary to arrange for a smaller vehicle to act as a ‘shuttle’ between the larger van and your property. If needed, we can arrange secure UK or French storage if you don’t want your effects going straight to your home in France.
Customers can choose between a dedicated vehicle, which ensures faster delivery as your effects travel on their own, or a part load, involving shared transport with other moves heading to France. We’ll always explain the costs and timeline clearly so you can choose what suits you best. “No two French moves are ever the same, so we plan every journey with precision,” says Dave Colley, operations manager at Burke Bros Moving Group.
While most customers only meet the surveyor, the packers (if packing is included in your move) and the removal crew on the day itself, your move involves a large team of experts, from storage operatives, to the customs compliance experts that ensure your move goes smoothly.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH EXPERTS
Moving to France is a significant undertaking and surrounding yourself with expertise makes all the difference. Choose a removal company that is an established authority in international moves, British Association of Removers (BAR) accredited; a specialist in UK-France relocation; highly experienced with customs compliance; and able to offer professional packing services.
By the time the front door opens at your new place in France, countless meticulous steps will already have taken place. Your belongings aren’t just transported, they’re cared for, tracked and protected every mile of the journey. This means that you will have the best possible start to your new life in France.
Ben Hingley is the Sales Manager at Burke Bros Moving Group.
In May 2026, Burke Bros Moving Group will be exhibiting at the French Property Exhibition in Birmingham, which returns to the city for the first time since 2012. The show will take place at the Britannia Suite, National Conference Centre, next to the National Motorcycle Museum.
Tel: 01902 714555
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
Advice on relocation from Fabien Pelissier…
Which visa do I need if I want to retire in France?
For retirees, France has a very clear legal pathway: the long-stay visitor visa (visa long séjour visiteur). This visa is designed for people who want to live in France without working. It is the correct choice if you are moving on the basis of pensions, investments, rental income or savings. It allows you to live in France legally for one year, after which you convert it into a renewable residence permit.
What matters most for this visa is not your age, but your financial independence. You must be able to show that you can support yourself financially. There is no fixed amount written into law, but in practice authorities expect income at least equivalent to the French minimum wage (as of January 2026, around €1,443 per person).
This visa also requires medical insurance, because you are entering France as a non-working resident. That does not mean you will be excluded from French healthcare forever, but it does mean you must arrive covered. For most retirees, the visitor visa is not a restriction. On the contrary, it is a recognition that you are bringing stable income, paying taxes and contributing to the local economy without competing on the French labour market. France is remarkably open to this kind of resident.
Which visa do I need if I want to run a gîte?
This is where things become more subtle, and where many people accidentally fall into legal trouble. France allows people on a visitor visa to earn limited passive income, including from property. If you own a holiday rental or gîte and earn a modest amount from it, this is often tolerated. In practice, the accepted threshold is around €23,000 per year.
Below this level, rental income is generally treated as secondary income rather than a business. This means many retirees can legally rent out a small gîte while keeping their visitor status. However, the moment the gîte becomes more than a side activity, if it is marketed aggressively, becomes your main income, or involves staff or multiple properties, it is no longer considered passive income. At that point, French law sees you as running a business..
That is when you need a business or entrepreneur visa, not a visitor visa. This distinction matters enormously. Someone who runs a full-time gîte on a visitor visa may seem fine for years, only to be blocked when they try to renew their residence permit or apply for permanent residency. The French administration rarely looks backwards, it looks at what you are doing today. The good news is that France does offer visas for gîte owners and entrepreneurs. They require a business plan, proof of viability, and registration with the French system.
If I’m eligible for an S1 form, do I still need health insurance?
This is one of the biggest misunderstandings in expat life. If you are a UK or EU pensioner with an S1 form, you will be entitled to French public healthcare, paid for by your home country. This is an enormous benefit, and one of the reasons France is so attractive to retirees. But the S1 does not work instantly. You must first arrive in France, register with the local health authority (CPAM), submit your S1, and wait for your French health number and carte vitale.
During that period, you are technically insured but it is a bit of a challenge until you get your French social security number so you may want to get private medical insurance in the interim to avoid a potential gap.Once your S1 is activated, you are part of the French healthcare system. At that point, most people take out a mutuelle (top-up insurance), which is a French policy that covers what the public system does not. Most French residents have one, because it reduces out-of-pocket costs and gives access to better dental, optical and hospital cover.
So no, you do not need long-term private insurance if you have an S1. But you may need insurance to bridge the gap, and you will almost certainly want a mutuelle once you are inside the system.
France has a reputation for bureaucracy, but its philosophy is actually simple. If you are financially independent, respect the system and contribute to the country, France welcomes you. Getting the visa and healthcare right at the beginning is not about red tape. It is about protecting your future in France.
Fabien Pelissier is the founder of Fab Expat, guiding expats through the French system, from visas to healthcare and residence fabexpat.com
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
Riverside towns are charming and sought after -Carolyn Reynier picks out three set along France’s longest waterway, the mighty River Loire…
I’ve often thought it would be fun to have a French address on a river you know, like living in a beautiful village such as Talmont-sur-Gironde or Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. Where better to look than along France’s longest river, the mighty 1,020km Loire? It rises in Ardèche, flows north, hangs a left at Orléans then heads west to Nantes where it enters the Atlantic Ocean (so it’s a fleuve, not a rivière, which flows into another river). I’m going to take a look at properties in
On the market three riverside communes in three different departments. Firstly, Aurec-sur-Loire – with a medieval château, stone houses and picturesque lanes is in the Haute-Loire department (Auvergne-Rhône Alpes region). Part of the Loire Semène territory, it nestles in a river bend just southwest of St-Etienne, prefecture of the neighbouring department Loire, and north of the Loire gorges. With verdant river banks, a popular nautical base and the Teinturerie Street Art festival in September, it’s surrounded by rolling landscapes, walking and cycle paths with natural sites for fishing and canoë-kayak.
Secondly, La Charité-sur-Loire in Nièvre (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) is a Unesco-classified 11th-century Clunisien monastic site and a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire. It’s a stopover on the Via Lemovicensis, one of the Ways of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The 10,000-hectare medieval Bertranges oak forest is close by, while lovers of the sauvignon grape can fill their cellars with sancerre and pouilly-fumé from nearby vineyards.
The third location is Les Rosiers-sur-Loire in Maine-et-Loire (Pays de la Loire), part of the Gennes-Val-de-Loire commune in the 277,063-hectare Parc Naturel Régional de la Loire-Anjou-Touraine. It lies on the north bank on the Grande Levée, now the D952, the Angers-Saumur road built by the English Henry II, also Count of Anjou; a suspension bridge links it to Gennes on the southern bank. Although named after the roseaux (reeds) which covered the valley, you’ll find many varieties of old roses in a local nursery.
HAUTE-LOIRE
Aurec-sur-Loire is a welcoming commune, says Maxime Boncori of Val de Loire Immobilier, with embankments and small beaches along the riverbanks. The most sought-after property is situated along these banks. These symmetrical bourgeois maison de maître dwellings in attractive tree-filled grounds often belonged to former local industrialists. Prices start around €300,000-€400,000 for a pleasant property with cachet and pretty grounds.
The other characteristic type of property in local hamlets and villages is renovated stone corps de ferme (farmsteads; agriculture here is mainly dairy herds and some cereal) with open views in a natural tranquil environment. Around €350,000 should buy you a decent property, says Maxime. You may still find old barns or farm buildings for renovation. Some with direct access to rural hiking paths – offer gîtes and chambres d’hôte.
If you prefer to be in the historic centre of Aurec-sur-Loire, a small, terraced townhouse with terrace or jardinet (small garden) would be around €150,000. Apartments in old stone buildings are priced at €1,800-€2,100/m², rising to €2,100/m² for one in a modern building. Due south, Monistrol-sur-Loire (population 9,000) is the second largest town in Haute-Loire. St-Étienne is just 25 minutes on the RN88 so lots of folk who work there settle here. In the centre you’ll find old stone townhouses with or without a garden, and apartments. There are also some detached bourgeois properties – cut stone, hipped roof (toit à quatre pentes), large staircases and tree-lined grounds (parc arboré).
Authentic elements have usually been preserved which gives interiors their cachet, says Maxime. Apartments have magnificent stone and timber staircases, but rarely have lifts, and are priced around €2,200-€2,500/m². Apartments in residences ‘de bon standing’ (quality) built ‘de bon standing’ (quality) built from the 1990s on can reach €3,000/m². Maxime mentions La Rivoire, an attractive late-1970s residential sector, with around 200 houses, each with lots of surrounding space. It has been designed “to create a country effect although you’re in town,” he says. Prices range from €250,000 to €600,000. It’s easier to find a famhouse around Monistrol because there are more of them (€300,000-€500,000), he says.
Have a look, too, at nearby Bas-en-Basset – more detached houses, fewer apartments, historic centre, pretty Sunday morning market, and you can walk around large étangs (ponds or small lakes). You’ll find hamlets, says Maxime – “a bit isolated, very typical of the locality” – which are “très sympathiques”. A distinctive feature is that many enclosures and some houses are built from pise (rammed earth).
BURGUNDY LOIRE
La Charité-sur-Loire lies at the crossroads of two major cycle paths: the St-Jacques à Vélo, and the Loire à Vélo, part of the 4,500km Euro Vélo 6, which follows rivers to link the Atlantic to the Black Sea, from the Loire to the Danube via the Rhine. Small stone, terraced townhouses have open beams and fireplaces and, although rare in the centre-bourg, may come with small courtyard or garden, says Marie-Louise Watine of Agence Berry-Nivernais. Expect to pay €80,000-€120,000 for one with a little outside space and no work required.
There are also some attractive terraced bourgeois houses with pretty reception rooms, panelling and moulding and jardinet; Marie-Louise quotes a bracket of €300,000-€350,000. The pale building stone, la pierre de Bourgogne, is from the local Champcelée quarry. There are two post-war central residential buildings which offer pleasant east-west dual-aspect (traversant) apartments. Expect to pay circa €50,000 plus work in the older one, and €80,000-€100,000 in the more modern one. A little further from the centre you see detached late-19th-century/early-20th-century properties with gardens – attractive facades, central front door, brick window surrounds, four ground floor rooms leading off from a corridor, for around €150,000-€200,000.
Post-war detached homes built over garden-level basement and garage with living area on the first floor sell for €120,000-€160,000. Within a 15km radius, you drive through villages and hamlets with old terraced houses with small rear gardens in their centres, while further afield, you’ll find modern properties with larger gardens. Marie-Louise explains that the La Charité-sur-Loire taxe foncière (property tax) is quite high so you may want to checkout surrounding villages like Chaulgnes to the southeast, and Narcy and Bulcy to the north. Have a look, too, at La Chapelle-Montlinard opposite La Charité in Cher and other villages on or near the canal lateral to the Loire.
Often village houses are in a poor state of repair; expect to pay around €100,000 for a renovated one. You also find pretty little farmhouses (fermettes) in Cher (and Nièvre), with living area and barn next door for possible conversion into gîtes – €150,000-€250,000.
MAINE-ET-LOIRE
In the centre of Les Rosiers-sur-Loire, terraced houses (one storey plus attic) are built from local tuffeau stone (pale fine-grained sandy limestone) generally with attractive rear gardens, says Nathalie Vincent of Albert Immo. You may still find a few for renovation. Expect to pay €250,000-€300,000 for a maison de bourg in good condition with garden. There are some small food shops here and you walk across the bridge to the supermarket at Gennes.
This is not really apartment country. “People who buy here absolutely want a garden otherwise they go to Angers or Saumur,” says Nathalie. For around €250,000 you could buy a little country longère, a long stone building with ground floor and first floor under the eaves. For a larger one, 180m² say, prices can rise to €400,000-€500,000. On this northern bank heading down river, Nathalie says St-Mathurin-sur-Loire is a “petit village sympa,” and mentions too La Ménitré, also on the river. Both are Unesco-listed.
Prices are a little higher as you head towards prefecture Angers. Nathalie points out that on this northern bank, you can buy a property with Loire views but you’ll have the Levée in front of you. It’s agricultural plain here whereas when you cross over to Gennes on the southern bank, there are hillsides so you get a view of the Loire without the road. Let’s stroll across the bridge to Gennes – it has a similar layout to Les Rosiers but no main road so life is quieter here. Small terraced village houses and larger properties with a rear garden sell at similar prices to Les Rosiers.
In the undulating wooded countryside with lots of hiking paths, you’ll find longères and also larger former farms, which you don’t find north of the river. “The Gennes countryside is more sought after than that of Les Rosiers,” says Nathalie, so property is a tad more expensive. Pretty hamlets include upstream Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault, a Petite Cité de Caractère made up of three villages with a rich architectural heritage including the medieval priory at Cunault, a chef-d’oeuvre of Romanesque art. Downstream you have a magnificent view of the Loire at Le Thoureil and from the 9th-century St-Maur abbey.
The train from Les Rosiers gets you to Angers in 20 minutes. Another not inconsiderable advantage is the vignoble ligérien. This useful adjective, meaning relative to the Loire, comes from Liger, the Latin name for the river. The Anjou, Saumurois and Touraine vineyards are nearby. And yes, they too are Unesco-listed.
The Loire continues its journey but we have reached the end of ours. I hope it may help you find your ideal home in Somewhere-sur-Loire.
mairie-aurec.fr/loire-semene.fr/gorgesdelaloire.fr/lacharitesurloire.fr/lacharitesurloire-tourisme.com/gennesvaldeloire.fr/parc-loire-anjou-touraine.fr
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
French has been named the world’s fourth most spoken language, a free webinar for UK residents planning a move to France is just days away, and Air France is preparing to launch a new London Gatwick to Paris route. Elsewhere this week, homeowners in some parts of France are being reminded of undergrowth clearance rules ahead of the warmer months, Americans living in France are approaching key US tax deadlines, and teachers’ unions are preparing for industrial action at the end of March. Here are the headlines from France this week.
French overtakes Arabic to become world’s fourth most spoken language
French is now the world’s fourth most spoken language, according to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie’s 2026 report, with 396 million speakers across five continents, meaning it has moved ahead of standard Arabic to take fourth place behind English, Mandarin and Spanish. The figures are a reminder that French is not just the language of France, but a truly global language with growing weight in education, business and digital life. The same report notes that French is also the fourth most used language on the internet and is studied by almost 170 million learners worldwide, underlining its continued international reach and influence.
Last chance: Moving to France in 2026 free webinar
Last chance to register for FrenchEntrée’s upcoming webinar, Moving to France in 2026: Essential Information for UK Residents, taking place on Thursday March 26 at 4pm GMT. Aimed at UK residents planning a move to France this year, the session will offer practical guidance on the key questions to consider before relocating, from finances and property to visas, legal matters and healthcare, making it a useful one-stop overview for anyone hoping to make the process smoother and less daunting.
New Air France London – Paris route
Air France is launching a new twice-daily service between Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Gatwick on the 29th of March. The route will be operated by Airbus A220 aircraft and adds Gatwick to Air France’s existing London network alongside Heathrow and London City. Elsewhere on the 2026 schedule, new France links are also due to launch from London Stansted to Paris Charles de Gaulle, Manchester to Montpellier, Birmingham to Nice and, from summer, London to Toulon. Across the Atlantic, Paris Charles de Gaulle is also adding Las Vegas, while Nice is set to gain a new nonstop connection from Boston.
Undergrowth clearance rules
Property owners in fire-prone parts of France are again being reminded of the rules on débroussaillement, the legal obligation to clear undergrowth around buildings. The requirement can apply to properties located within 200 metres of woodland, scrub or moorland, and the clearance zone usually extends at least 50 metres from the building, sometimes beyond the boundary of the plot. Find out your obligations as a homeowner here.
US tax deadlines for Americans in France
Americans living in France are approaching two key US tax deadlines: the 15th of April remains the standard date for paying any federal tax due for the 2025 tax year, while those living abroad receive an automatic extension to the 15th of June to file their return. Many people will not actually owe US tax because they can use provisions such as the foreign earned income exclusion, which is $130,000 per qualifying person for tax year 2025, and the foreign tax credit, but they still generally need to file in order to claim those benefits. Anyone with non-US financial accounts totalling more than $10,000 at any point in the year may also need to file an FBAR, which is due on the 15th of April but is automatically extended to the 15th of October. Americans abroad who need more time to file their return can also request a further extension to the 15th of October by submitting Form 4868 by the 15th of June.
Teacher strikes planned
Industrial action is set to return to France at the end of the month, with several major teachers’ unions calling a nationwide strike on Tuesday the 31st of March as part of a wider week of action running from the 30th of March to the 3rd of April over education budget cuts. Wider rolling strike notices also remain in place across parts of the public sector, including a civil-service notice running until the 31st of March, allowing local stoppages to be called at short notice. On the transport side, the clearest current disruption linked to industrial action is on some TER services in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where train timetables may be adjusted because of social movements, while several upcoming interruptions on the Paris network are being presented as engineering works rather than strike action, including planned closures on Metro lines 13 and 14 later this week.
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Paulette Booth explains how visa health insurance and state healthcare works…
Moving to France is an exciting adventure, but navigating the administrative and healthcare requirements can be daunting. Here we outline the steps you need to take before you leave, on arrival, and once you have settled into your new life in France.
PHASE 1: BEFORE YOUR MOVE-SETTING THE FOUNDATION
The preparation for a move to France begins months before you actually board your plane, boat or train. For UK citizens, the post-Brexit landscape means that moving to France now requires careful visa planning and a clear understanding of your healthcare rights. The priority during this phase is securing the legal right to stay and ensuring you have immediate health protection.
1) Secure visa-compliant health insurance: For most long-stay visa applications, providing visa applications, providing proof of health insurance is a non-negotiable requirement. It is essential to have this in place before you even submit your application to the French consulate. To be accepted, your insurance plan must meet specific criteria:
- Minimum coverage: It must provide at least €30,000 in medical coverage.
- Medical repatriation: The policy must include emergency repatriation.
- Duration: it must cover your entire stay.
Important note: One of the most common reasons a visa application is rejected is insufficient health insurance; for example, a standard annual travel insurance rather than a specialist long-stay policy.
While an annual policy might seem convenient, it fails to meet a fundamental requirement for French consulates: providing continuous cover for the entire duration of your stay. Most standard travel insurance policies are designed for holidaymakers and are strictly limited to a maximum stay of 30 to 90 days per individual trip.
Because they do not offer uninterrupted protection for a full 365 days, they do not satisfy the essential criteria for visa-approved insurance. To ensure your application is successful, you must secure a plan that guarantees comprehensive medical coverage and repatriation for every single day you are in the country.
At Lonemi we ensure your plan is fully compliant, avoiding delays or potential visa rejections.
2) Understanding the S1 form (for eligible EU/UK citizens):
If you are relocating from the UK and have reached state pension age or receive certain exportable benefits, you may be eligible for an S1 form. The St is a European health entitlement form that enables individuals who have paid social security in the UK to access healthcare in France. It is issued by the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services in the UK.
Important note: In France, the healthcare system generally operates on a reimbursement basis where the state (social security) covers a percentage of the costs, and you or your top-up insurance (mutuelle) -covers the rest. If you are hospitalised with an S1 but have not yet received your French social security number, here is how the financial responsibility works:
- Liability for the difference: Even with an S1, you would typically be liable for the ‘co-payment’ or the difference not covered by social security.
In France, the social security system usually refunds an average of 70% of set medical fees. Without a mutuelle (top-up insurance) in place, you are personally responsible for the remaining balance, known as the ticket modérateur. - Reimbursement delays: Obtaining a social security number can take several months. During this ‘gap’, you must pay for medical services upfront and collect paper receipts called feuilles de soins, commonly known as the ‘brown form’. You can only claim your 70% refund once your social security number is finally issued.
- Importance of private insurance: Because of these potential gaps in coverage and the long administrative wait times, it is strongly advised to maintain temporary private health insurance during the application process. It provides:
- Comprehensive protection: Coverage for the areas not fully protected by the social security or an S1.
- Accident and emergency cover: Specialist plans are specifically designed to bridge this exact gap until you are fully integrated and can switch to a mutuelle top-up.
3) Submit your visa application: Once your insurance is in place, you can finalise your visa application.
PHASE 2: ARRIVAL AND INITIAL SETTLEMENT
The first few months in France involve significant administrative tasks as you transition into the local system.
4) Manage initial administrative tasks: Upon arrival, your first priority is validating your visa (if required) and handling immediate logistics like housing and banking. While Lonemi focuses on your health, we work with a specialist partner who can assist with broader administrative requirements during the initial move, including banking and home and car insurance.
5) Bridging the healthcare gap: Access to the French healthcare system, known as l’Assurance Maladie, is not immediate. While many individuals must wait until they have been residents for three months before applying for a social security number, in some cases, you may be able to apply right away. If you are arriving for work, are self-employed, or have an S1 form, you may be eligible to apply for a social security number immediately upon arrival.
Important note: Regardless of when you apply, the administrative process can take several months. During this time, it’s essential to maintain your private health insurance, which offers a strong safety net and quicker access to medical services.
PHASE 3: SETTLING IN-JOINING THE FRENCH HEALTH SYSTEM
6) Apply for a French social security number: This is a critical step that can take several months to complete.
- The process: You submit your application when you arrive or after three months of legal residence in France, depending on your circumstances.
- Keep your records: During the waiting period, keep all feuilles de soins (the brown forms given by doctors). Once you receive your social security number, you can add it to these forms and send them to your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) for reimbursement.
- The ‘carte vitale’: Eventually, you will receive a request for a photo to produce your carte vitale, the green card that confirms your social security status and streamlines medical payments.
7) Secure a ‘mutuelle’ (top-up insurance)
Once you have your social security number, you can officially switch from your international private insurance to a mutuelle top-up policy, completing your integration into the French health system. The mutuelle is then automatically linked to your social security account to make reimbursements seamless.
- Coverage gaps: Social security sets a fee for each procedure and typically refunds a percentage – the average is around 70% – of this amount.
- The role of a ‘mutuelle’: A mutuelle policy covers the difference between the actual cost and the social security refund.
- Enhanced benefits: A mutuelle can also provide coverage for private hospital rooms, complementary treatments, and higher-tier dental or optical care. It often includes additional services such as home help, pet care and study support.
Important note: It is important to understand that the French social security system does not cover 100% of healthcare costs. Relocating to France is a life-changing journey, and while the administrative path may have its twists and turns, you don’t have to navigate it alone. By ticking off these milestones and ensuring your healthcare is secured at every stage, you can focus on what really matters: enjoying the vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and incomparable lifestyle of your new home.
Your new life starts here!
Paulette Booth is the Manager at Lonemi, which provides tailored insurance solutions, paving the way to a seamless visa application lonemi.fr
Lonemi will be at The French Property Exhibition in Birmingham on the 16th & 17th of May, which is a ‘must attend’ for anyone who wants to buy a property in France.
Want more help with your France property journey? Join Membership, search our Property Portal, subscribe to French Property News, and follow our YouTube channel for the latest advice and updates. Join us at the French Property Exhibition for expert advice and property inspiration.
A fairytale in Alsace Californian Ashley Sorci took the long way round to put down roots in Molsheim, where she found the perfect blend of countryside charm close to Strasbourg’s international energy…
How did you discover your village?
I first landed in Bordeaux in 2012 to do my sociology degree. Five years ago, I was looking for a life change and chose Strasbourg because it was very different and central to the rest of Europe. I was just fascinated by the international aspect. You have the Council of Europe and the European Parliament there. After living in the city for a few years, I bought a home in Molsheim, a village just outside, because I prefer the countryside but still with easy access to the city.
What aspects of the local lifestyle do you enjoy?
I love this blend of German and French culture; Alsace really marries the two quite well. There’s a small community vibe, I’ve actually gotten to know my neighbours quite well, but I can get to the city on a train in 15 minutes.
What is there to see and do in your area?
In Strasbourg you have the most amazing cathedral in Europe, the Petit France area is very charming, and Molsheim is on the Alsace wine trail. I can be walking in the vineyard in five minutes. The half-timbered houses are so unique and very beautiful. A fun fact is that Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was actually inspired by the village of Riquewihr. It feels like you’re stepping into a storybook, it is stunning. Colmar as well, all those little villages that make you feel like you are in Disneyland, but this is real. In winter the Christmas markets are fun, there’s tons of castles to visit around here and towards the Vosges mountains where I love to hike. And then Germany is just 15 minutes away, so I can go grocery shopping there, I can go to the Black Forest – and I can enjoy a good schnitzel.
How was your French when you arrived?
Terrible. I had taken nine years of French and thought I was set. But I remember arriving and I couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying to me. So, it took time, and a lot of trial and error. Eventually I got up to speed, so my French now is fine. I’m able to get along professionally and personally. But it was really an uphill battle, there were days where I’d feel like I was making progress, and then I would fall back, such as trying to tell the doctor what’s wrong.
How do you find interacting with the locals socially?
I’d say it’s like the coconut versus the peach analysis. The locals have the harder outer shell, so relationships take time to grow, but once you’re in their circle, you’re really in. You have fewer casual relationships and more deep ones that take time to grow. At first my neighbours had a lot of questions about a Californian living next to them.
Now we’re invited to have a tarte flambée in the garden, and we’ve helped each other with little tasks around the house.
How have you found working in France?
I’ve had different jobs, but in general a French office environment is definitely more of a hierarchy. There’s more formality and work-life balance, keeping private and work life separate. Of course, now that I work solo and with collaborators it is different.
What type of work do you do?
I work as a relocation concierge, not just for Americans but English speakers in general. I help people in Alsace and other parts of France with administrative things, phone calls, doctor’s appointments. I’m quite busy now because there’s a lot of people who have been thinking about it for a long time, and now they want to make that leap. I collaborate with real estate agents, notaries that I’m putting my clients in contact with. In these five years I have grown quite a network of people.
Any local speciality that you’ve developed a taste for?
I wasn’t a big wine drinker, even living back in Bordeaux, but Alsatian wines are the best I’ve ever had. I love their white wines; Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Cremant, you name it. I love a tarte flambée (also known as flammkuchen or flammekueche) – it’s sort of a religion here, everyone has an oven in their backyard, they’ll have parties and everyone can make their own, but the traditional is onion, little bacon pieces and crème fraîche. A new love of mine is Munster cheese, it’s highly recommended, you just have to get past the smell.
What has surprised you the most about living in your area?
Bilingualism. Other areas of France, such as Brittany, also have two languages, but it’s not so much part of their everyday life. Here people speak Alsatian on the street, my neighbours speak it almost exclusively. I was also surprised by the people because they are so warm and friendly once you get past the proverbial coconut shell.
What is your favourite French saying?
I like the concept of saying “on est bien ici”. It’s not translatable. In English, we don’t say “I’m good here”. It’s this simple, warm way to say: I’m happy, this is good, I’m good right where I am. I think, especially in American culture, we’re rushing, we’re pushing, and this embodies an idea that France in general, but this region in particular, is really good at, of bringing you back and living in the present moment.
To find out more about Ashley’s life in France and relocation services visit chezmoialsace.com
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
Vintage clothes shop owner Skye McDonald tells Annaliza Davis about building her business as a teen in Brittany…
The French Brit Vintage shop in the corner of the town square in Morlaix, Finistère, is an unexpected burst of colour. Its British-born owner, Skye McDonald, is equally surprising. Aged 26, she has already been running the shop for eight years. “I grew up in Newquay,” she explains, “then, in December 2007, my parents decided to move to Huelgoat in central Brittany.
“There were lots of British families living there at the time, so the local primary school had a few other English-speaking children. Even back then, aged eight, I
can remember the class talking about what jobs they wanted to do, and I said I wanted to be a fashion designer.” Three years later, the family moved to the coastal town of Plestin-les-Grèves, 45 minutes east of Roscoff, but Skye’s plans didn’t change. At 16, she started a ‘CAP Mode’ fashion course in nearby St-Brieuc. However, she decided not to pursue it as the course turned out not to be what she expected.
“One of the downsides of the French school system is that there’s zero flexibility for anyone like me who has symptoms of ADHD or dyslexia,” says Skye. “I couldn’t understand why even though I’d chosen to do a vocational course, only 14 of my 31 teaching hours were actually about fashion and the rest was still really academic, including French, English, science and maths. You can’t just choose to focus on the subject you want to do and for me the balance wasn’t right.”
Real Life-Shop exterior 2-CREDIT-Annaliza DavisCC
TEEN BUSINESSWOMAN
Real Life-Shop entrance-CREDIT-Annaliza DavisCC
In August 2017, aged 18, Skye started her own online business via Etsy, selling jewellery, handbags, scarves and clothes. It was a much better fit than her college course, but she found it hard working on her own, so decided to open a physical shop, choosing Morlaix for its proximity to Roscoff and direct train links to Paris.
Seven months later, Skye found a property in Place des Jacobins, Morlaix, which she was able to buy thanks to a loan from a family member, paying it back through monthly instalments with interest. She took a one-week business course and registered as a self-employed micro-entreprise business, renovated the property with help from her parents, and finally opened French Brit Vintage in 2019.
“At first, the shop was partly a brocante with clothes on the ground floor and artwork for sale upstairs, painted by my mum, the artist Melanie McDonald,” explains Skye, “but after about a year, I realised that we really needed to focus on clothing and accessories. To start with, 40% of my sales were clothes and the rest was artwork and brocante items, but now my sales are 90% clothes.
“I was still living with my parents, which really helped me to save money. The shop finally broke even after three years. As well as the shop in Morlaix, I have been listing items on Vinted since July 2021, and I still sold on Etsy, but a big percentage of my sales was to the US and I had to stop when Trump changed the tariffs in 2025. It’s all part of adapting the business.”
Opening a shop requires a lot of stock upfront, and when Skye started out, she was helped by the generosity of family and friends, donating items from various decades and even different countries including Thailand.
“My dad gave me a loan to start with and whatever money I made from a sale went straight back into the business to buy more stock,” explains Skye. “Now, I source items on Vinted, from local vide-greniers, which are similar to car-boot sales, and through charity shops both in France and the UK. I have been known to buy an extra suitcase while on a trip to England just to bring back all the stock I’ve found!”
Real Life-Morlaix Place des Otages-CREDIT-Scott DavisCC
LIFE AS A SINGLE MUM
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Life changed in 2022 when Skye realised she was pregnant, which presented a practical challenge for her business, but also tested her friendships. “The stigma around being a single mum is still very strong here, especially among men,” says Skye, “and a lot of my friends didn’t understand why I’d choose to be a mum at 23. I was told that I was too immature, that having a child in this economy was selfish, even that I should think about World War Three.
“It hurt at the time, but this is how I learned who my real friends were. I guess it’s not surprising, but the people who judged me for choosing to keep my baby were the same ones who used to make me feel bad if I talked about my business. I’ve kept my true friends and through the shop I’ve met new people so it turns out I was just in the wrong crowd.”
FAMILY SUPPORT
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Skye faced a difficult pregnancy and became very ill, but as a micro-entreprise, her potential maternity pay would have been very low, so it made more sense to continue the online businesses rather than take maternity leave. Her dad, Rod, stepped in to look after the shop for nearly two years and Skye’s little boy, Karadoc, was born in December 2022.
After being a single mum for a couple of years, in 2024 Skye met her French boyfriend, Jean, who runs his own business in Morlaix. “I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have the shop without my family’s support,” says Skye. “Mum helped me to look for business premises in the first place and supplied her artwork for sale in the shop, while dad helped me with all the legal stuff so I understood what I was signing at 18. He still helps me with the paperwork, he’s basically like an accountant for me.
“I’m sure if I’d gone to a bank for a mortgage, they would have said no because, based on my Etsy takings, I wasn’t making enough in 2019 or 2020 to pay them back monthly – so the loan from a family member is what made it possible for me to buy the property.
“Even now, my parents still help with picking up Karadoc after school or minding the shop and I don’t make enough money to pay an employee. I’m very lucky and I’m very appreciative of the help I’ve had from those around me.” Having moved out of her parents’ house and into her own studio flat in 2024, Skye now has a home life with Karadoc and Jean, a good base of regular, loyal clients and a group of genuine friends.
THE RIGHT FIT
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“For a long time, I felt like I never truly fitted in,” she says. “During my teens I struggled with not feeling accepted, I’d always had this sense of being too English for the French, and too French for the English. When you’re 18, most people your age are focused on parties, drinking, drugs, learning to drive, travelling or going to uni, so opening my own shop when I was so young seemed to reinforce those feelings of being different. In the end, I learned to just not talk about it. When I began my business, it gave me something of my own to focus on, something I could be passionate about. I wasn’t put in a box anymore, I could do it my way and make my own rules doing something that I enjoyed.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Real Life-Morlaix bandstand viaduct-CREDIT-Annaliza DavisCC
“The majority of the friends I have now are bilingual, multicultural, self-employed or creative and/or parents. These days, when people ask me about my work, it comes from genuine curiosity and their reaction is a lot more positive.” Skye remembers back to her school days. “Just before our exams, one of my teachers went around the class asking each of us what our plans were after our CAP fashion course. Some wanted to go into commerce, others to take a Fashion Bac Pro or something completely different but most wanted to carry on studying. When it was my turn, I told her my plan of selling secondhand clothes online and her reply was, ‘I don’t think you’ll make much of a living doing that’. I’m really glad that I proved her wrong!”
Now her business has been open for six years, Skye is focused on growing her sales and is looking for a little home with a garden for herself, Karadoc and Jean.
“In France children can start going to school at age start going to school at age three,” she says, “so my son has just started primary school nearby. Jean runs his own café in Morlaix, with plans to open another business, so I can’t see us moving anywhere else in the near future. I love what I do. I appreciate the flexibility of it and I’m truly grateful to be in this situation.”
Find Skye in Morlaix or on Instagram @FrenchBritVintage
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
France has confirmed the opening date for the 2026 income-tax declaration campaign, preparations are continuing for the rollout of the EU’s Entry/Exit System at French borders, and municipal elections are heading to a second round in major cities including Paris and Marseille. Here are the headlines from France this week.
Income tax declaration calendar
France’s 2026 income-tax declaration campaign for 2025 income will open on the 9th of April. The 2026 tax simulator went online on the 10th of March, allowing people resident in France to estimate both their income tax and their revenu fiscal de référence ahead of the filing period. The simulator is available in both simplified and full versions, while the full declaration campaign and the detailed filing deadlines are still to follow.
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Entry/Exit System rollout
The EU’s Entry/Exit System remains on track for its next rollout stage, with all eligible travellers crossing French external Schengen borders due to be checked from the 30th of March and the system due to be fully operational from the 10th of April. The system records passport data, fingerprints, facial images, and the date and place of entry and exit for non-EU nationals travelling for short stays. French frontier checks carried out on UK soil, including Dover, St Pancras and Folkestone, are part of the same rollout.
Municipal elections
France held the first round of its municipal elections on the 15th of March, with the second round scheduled for the 22nd of March in communes where no list won outright. Voting took place in about 35,000 villages, towns and cities. In smaller communes, most contests were settled immediately, but many large cities remained open after the first round, including Paris and Marseille. Turnout was reported at about 57%, higher than in 2020 but lower than in 2014.
The elections determine the composition of the municipal council, which then elects the mayor. Communes in France oversee a wide range of local responsibilities, including nursery and primary schools, parts of social housing management, individual building permits, aspects of urban planning, municipal police, local cultural and sports funding, and elements of the local environment and heritage. They also draw revenue from local taxation, including taxe foncière, taxe d’habitation on second homes, and waste-related charges such as TEOM. In areas classed as zones tendues, any surcharge on second-home taxe d’habitation applies after a decision of the municipal council.
Fuel prices
TotalEnergies announced a temporary cap on pump prices at its mainland France service stations. The measure set petrol at €1.99 per litre and diesel at €2.09 per litre, taking effect from the 13th of March until the end of the month, with the company saying it would reassess the situation in early April. The announcement came amid sharp volatility in global oil markets.
Michelin Guide France & Monaco 2026
The Michelin Guide France & Monaco 2026 has been unveiled. This year’s selection brought one new three-star restaurant, seven new two-star restaurants, and 54 new one-star restaurants. Michelin said the France & Monaco guide now includes 31 three-star restaurants and 668 starred restaurants in total.
The only new French restaurant to receive a third star this year was Les Morainières in Jongieux, Savoie. Michelin also confirmed earlier in the cycle that the 2026 Bib Gourmand selection added 75 new restaurants, taking that list to 430.
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Sarah Bright-Thomas reveals some of the property slip-ups that await a DIY buyer…
I often refer to buying French property as the ‘ballet of the banana skins’ – a performance in which we attempt to lead our prima property-buying ballerinas safely across a stage strewn with slippery obstacles.
This article is for the bold, confident, gung-ho expat who wholeheartedly believes they are a wily DIY buyer. As a French lawyer specialising in French property law for longer than I care to admit, I have met many expats who fall into this category. They arrive at my door in various stages of despair, not understanding how the purchase could have gone so askew and asking whether I might possibly help them get back on their feet and resolve their problem. And I do, because getting expats out of trouble is part of my job. But it doesn’t need to be like this.
Although there is no legal obligation to take independent legal advice when buying in France, you would practically need to be an experienced, bilingual French lawyer yourself not to benefit from doing so. The banana skins are everywhere. As a little springtime treat, allow me to reveal 10 of the most treacherous ones – potential slip-ups that proper legal guidance can help you sidestep.
1. BEGINNING THE SEARCH WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE FRENCH PROPERTY MARKET
Many British buyers begin with the cheery assumption that the French system is simply a ‘continental version’ of the UK’s. It isn’t. France has no centralised property database, no universal listing site and no guarantee that you won’t see the same charming farmhouse advertised in three different agencies or that it is even still for sale. The result? Wasted journeys, duplicated visits, wildly differing prices, plus a creeping suspicion that the French are playing a practical joke on you. Alas, they are not. That’s just the market.
2. MAKING AN OFFER TOO QUICKLY – AND WITHOUT GRASPING ITS CONSEQUENCES
In France, even a simple written offre d’achat can bind the buyer more tightly than expected. I meet many clients who made their offer while in a haze of holiday
enchantment – rosé, sunshine and the irresistible scent of woodsmoke from an ancient stone fireplace.
Only later do they realise the barn is about to collapse, or that the roof is older than the Last Supper. Retracting an offer can be messy, awkward, and occasionally expensive. Breathe first, signature later.
3. SIGNING THE COMPROMIS DE VENTE WITHOUT INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE
Ah, the mother of all banana skins. The compromis de vente is not a friendly handshake; it is a binding contract with penalties, deadlines and obligations. And yet buyers routinely sign it after the briskest of skims. Hidden within may be clauses on septic tanks, co-ownership rules, access rights, planning breaches, zoning classifications, mortgage conditions, and a list of annexes longer than the average French lunch. By the time you bring it to me – usually with a hint of panic – it is too late to renegotiate.
This also goes for vendors: it is the main contract with the buyers, so the correct legal advice before signing to understand what you need to do and say can prevent very complicated and expensive litigation down the line French law allows buyers to protect themselves by inserting conditional clauses into the contract. But these clauses must be drafted specifically, precisely, and in advance. A vague intention to ‘obtain a mortgage’ is not the same as a legally enforceable financing clause. Likewise, if you plan to convert the attic, run a B&B, install a pool, or keep a herd of rare alpacas, the contract needs tailored conditions.
Many DIY buyers omit them entirely and then discover that without conditions, they are stuck – financially, legally, and occasionally with a herd of animals they never intended to own.
4. SKIPPING PROPER DUE DILIGENCE ON THE PROPERTY’S CONDITION
Expat buyers often assume that the French diagnostic surveys are equivalent to a full structural survey. They are not. Diagnostics are designed to provide limited safety information, not to reassure you that the house won’t fall down during a stiff breeze. Asbestos, termites, structural movement, out-of-date wiring, lead in the pipes are included but ancient plumbing, barn stability and roof integrity are not. A qualified surveyor is worth their fee; repairing 18th-century stonework is not.
5. MISUNDERSTANDING FRENCH PLANNING RULES (ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS)
France adores regulation, and nowhere is this more apparent than in planning law. Your dream of transforming a picturesque barn into a gîte empire may rapidly collide with heritage-protection rules, zoning restrictions, agricultural land classifications, or simply the commune’s personal dislike of skylights. Many buyers only discover these limitations after completion, at which point their grand renovation plans must be replaced by something more modest, like repainting the shutters.
6. OVERLOOKING BOUNDARIES, ACCESS RIGHTS, SHARED AREAS
Nothing spices up a move to France like discovering that your charming driveway belongs partly to your neighbour, who reserves the right to park his tractor on it. Or that a pedestrian right-of-way runs precisely where you planned to place your pool. Boundary maps (cadastre) can be imprecise, and rural deeds often contain historic easements written in beautiful but baffling 19th-century French. Independent legal review is essential unless you enjoy surprises.
7. CHOOSING THE WRONG OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE
France’s inheritance rules bear only a passing resemblance to those in the UK. Choosing between indivision, tontine, an SCI, a marriage regime or cross-border estate planning can significantly affect inheritance tax, capital gains liability and future sales. Too many buyers sort it out ‘later’, only to discover that restructuring ownership after completion is slow, costly, and occasionally impossible without selling the property
8. PROCEEDING WITH INADEQUATE FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
Some buyers assume that a French mortgage can be arranged in a fortnight, in August, during a national holiday, while everyone is at the beach. This is optimistic. Others neglect to include a proper mortgage clause in the contract or fail to account for fluctuating exchange rates, resulting in thousands of euros in unexpected costs. A little planning goes a long way; a little naivety goes straight into your budget.
9. BELIEVING THE NOTAIRE IS YOUR PERSONAL LEGAL ADVISOR
The notaire is a public official who ensures the transaction complies with French law and that the taxes are correctly collected. Ideally, they should also be informed of your exact situation as a buyer and this will invariably be taken into account allowing them to act in the best interests of the transaction. Alhough many gladly will, notaires are not required to advise you strategically, and if they are not made aware of every aspect of your individual legal situation, they cannot protect you from a bad deal, and they are certainly not responsible for interpreting the finer points of cross-border lega issues. To expect a notaire defend your interests is like expecting the referee to help you score.
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10. ASSUMING THE WORK ENDS AT COMPLETION
For many buyers, the champagne cork pops and the mental switch flips to ‘holiday mode’. Meanwhile, essential administrative obligations quietly pile up: property insurance, tax declarations, drainage compliance deadlines, utility registrations or co-ownership rules. Neglecting these can lead to fines, disputes, or – in one memorable case – a furious neighbour and a court order about hedge-cutting. French bureaucracy may be slow, but i never forgets.
Sarah Bright is an avocat at Bright Avocats, a bilingual low firm located in Toulouse brightavocats.com
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Ian Morris recalls a scenic (and memorable) journey the length of France in Poppy, his 51-year-old Citroën 2CV…
I have lived in France for over 15 years and try to get over to the UK once a year to visit family and friends. However, last autumn I thought I’d make the trip more interesting by going in Poppy, my 51-year-old Citroën 2CV, in which I do much of my local running about. There are, of course, quicker and more comfortable ways of travelling between France and the UK, but this is something I’d thought of doing ever since I acquired her, just over seven years ago. During that time, I’ve added a little bit of extra comfort and convenience, such as reupholstering the seats, installing wiring for a GPS and mobile phone and (to the amusement of my friends) fitting a basic cruise control!
I get around France quite a lot in connection with my work as a building surveyor, using my ‘regular’ car, and much of that is undertaken on motorways. For this trip, however, I decided to travel mostly on N and D roads (the routes nationales and routes départementales) – partly because I wanted to see a little more of the countryside and villages in areas that I seldom get to. In addition, the top speed of a 2CV is not much more than 100kph, so the benefit of driving fast on motorways doesn’t really figure in the equation. And, oddly enough, travelling from A to B using motorways is often longer in distance than the journey using N and D roads.
THE SCENIC ROUTE
Being based close to Béziers, almost on the Mediterranean coast, I have long since given up trying to rush across the length of France in a single day. Usually, I arrange an overnight stop halfway, but for this trip I had to work out a route that would take account of the somewhat lower average speeds that I could expect to achieve, both on and off motorways.
And anyway, I intended this to be an enjoyable journey, not a competition. So, I decided I’d drive perhaps five to six hours a day which, with the occasional stop, came down to planning a journey that would cover perhaps 300-350km a day. In other words, it would take three days to get from my home to the north coast of France.
I booked Logis hotels, as I always do when travelling across France. Unlike most other groups of (mostly modern) hotels, nearly all of the Logis are independently owned – some run by the same family for several generations. All are very different, and some are very old with their own particular character. They do have to adhere to minimum standards set by Logis de France, the umbrella organisation for marketing purposes. They are almost always excellent value for money, and I was very happy with those I picked this time.
Wherever you travel in France, I always think it’s a good idea to try and do some of the journey between the hours of 12 noon and 2pm, or after 7pm.
You can almost set your watch by French mealtimes and you’ll find there is much less traffic on the roads at these hours!
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve driven up the motorways through Toulouse, so for the first day I decided to skip Toulouse altogether and head off through St-Chinian and the Haut-Languedoc regional park. I continued across the Tarn department through Mazamet and Castres, some way east of Toulouse, and on to Gaillac.
FIRST STOP: JAYAC
I then joined the A20 motorway at Caussade for a steady one-hour drive across the Lot department, leaving the motorway at Souillac to travel half an hour into Dordogne and my first overnight stop in a small village called Jayac. The scenery across Tarn, Lot and Dordogne is magnificent.
For my second day’s drive I avoided motorways altogether. Travelling north from Jayac, and running almost parallel to the A20, I took the D road up through St-Yrieix-la-Perche. I skirted the west side of Limoges, then took the N147 to Bellac and from there headed along the D roads again through the Brenne National Park. My second overnight stop was in the medieval town (or rather the ‘Royal City’) of Loches, although sadly I didn’t have enough time to visit the château.
I thought I’d prepared Poppy pretty well before departure, including a full engine service, but a day or so before I set off, I noticed signs of wear around the walls of the rear tyres and, although the tread was good, I thought they ought to be replaced. It’s almost impossible to obtain the narrow tyres used on older vehicles from the usual providers, and unfortunately, I didn’t have time to order new ones from a specialist supplier before setting off. As luck would have it, I was able to make a little detour from my planned route on the second day of my journey, stopping off at the specialist 2CV garage Rénov’2CV in Châteauroux, where they fitted two new tyres while I waited. The tyre fitter said he’d noticed an oil leak at the front of the engine. More about that later…
Still avoiding the motorways, the third day of my journey continued northwards through Amboise on the Loire and La Ferté-Bernard to the east of Le Mans. I then travelled on D roads across the department of Orne, narrowly missing the famous village of Camembert, and crossed into the Calvados department just to the north of Vimoutiers. I was now within striking distance of the English Channel and it only remained for me to skirt the east side of Caen to arrive at the ferry port at Ouistreham.
I had some time to spare before catching the overnight ferry. I’d toured the Normandy Landing Beaches several times previously over the years, but had never before managed to visit Café Gondrée at Bénouville, so made a point of doing so on this occasion. I was rewarded by being able to shake the hand of, and being served coffee by, Arlette Gondrée, who witnessed the events of D-Day in 1944 as a child. Hers was the first family in France to be liberated and she remembers the occasion well.
The overnight ferry made a late departure so I just had time for a meal, which included a generous portion of moules marinières at a restaurant aptly named La Moulerie And so I arrived at Portsmouth. But I was not popular when, on the morning after my first overnight stop in Oxfordshire, my friend pointed out a puddle of oil on the drive. It was Sunday morning and I set off to Hereford where I had arranged to meet up with my sister-in-law and niece. At lunch I briefly explained the problem and to my astonishment my niece said: “I’ve heard there’s a garage just outside Hereford that specialises in 2CVs!”. And indeed there is.
OIL BE DAMNED
Dave Sparrow of Sparrow Automotive proved to be a hero. With over 30 years’ experience of working exclusively on this type of car, it took him just seconds to identify the problem – a fractured pipe on the oil cooler. He was kind enough to drop what he was doing and set to work with a replacement. I should imagine you’d have to travel several hundred miles across England to find anyone else with a 2CV oil-cooler element on their shelf!
He also said the car would run better with slightly larger jets in the carburettor, so he enlarged these and fitted a new flasher unit for the indicator lights while I was there. A real star! The rest of the English leg of my journey, taking in visits to friends in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Wiltshire, passed without incident and Poppy’s little 602cc engine ran like an electric sewing machine.
My only other misfortune was on my return to France. Leaving the ferry port before daybreak and driving through heavy rain in the French rush-hour on the outskirts of Caen, I accidentally exceeded the 70kph speed limit, costing me a fine and the first ever point on my French driving licence. I can understand getting flashed for speeding in a Ferrari, but in a 2CV?!
So, would I do the 3,000km return trip in my 2CV again? I certainly would. This wasn’t just driving, it was ‘motoring’ in every sense of the word, passing through beautiful French towns, villages and countryside, and I enjoyed every minute.
lan Morris is a property surveyor working in France french-surveys.com
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
How to add authentic touches and give your guest rooms that je ne sais quoi, by Susannah Cameron…
Being a guest in a French home is unlike staying anywhere else. It is not concerned with formality, but with a considered balance of comfort and intention. Nowhere is this felt more keenly than in Provence, where old farmhouses, village houses and converted barns share hallmarks shaped by the region’s architecture: thick walls dampen sound, timber beams hold centuries of life, and light changes with the progression of the day. In this setting, a guest room becomes more than a place to sleep. It offers welcome, rest and a sense of belonging.
What makes such a room feel so instinctively right is rarely opulence. Instead, it is the thoughtful coexistence of old and new, the presence of objects with history, and the confidence to mix them without self-consciousness. The Provençal guest room lets each piece breathe – an antique armoire beside a simple writing desk, a boutis quilt against time-worn wood, the fragrance of fresh stems or a candle. These gestures feel effortless, though they are the result of choices made with care.
This atmosphere can be created anywhere, but it draws its richest cues from Provence. Here, interiors evolve over generations rather than seasons, and the rooms guests occupy often hold traces of the people who have used them before: a stack of books, a framed engraving, a lamp converted from an oil burner, or a confit pot planted with narcissus Paperwhite on a bedside table. Such details anchor the room in its setting. Here are a few aspects that help shape a guest room with genuine warmth and depth, rooted in Provençal sensibility.
BESIDE THE BED
The bedside provides a clear starting point for the room. It sets scale, establishes light and signals whether the space leans towards rustic, elegant, or an instinctive blend of both. In Provence, mismatched bedside cabinets feel entirely natural. A simple farmhouse table paired with a more refined guéridon can be far more charming than a matching pair. The contrast brings structure and character, as though the furniture has been gathered over years rather than purchased all at once.
Lighting is crucial. Lamps should give a gentle, amber glow that feels calm rather than clinical. Provence is a region where lamplight is favoured over strong overhead lighting, and your bedside lamps should reflect that. A switch that can be reached from the bed is a courtesy your guests will notice immediately.
Small, functional details reinforce the welcome. A vide-poche for jewellery or a watch saves guests from balancing items on the edge of a book or leaving something behind. Fresh stems enliven the room, especially when picked from your own garden: narcissus, a single rose, a few stems of dried lavender or immortelle. A confit pot makes an ideal vessel, its glazed upper half and earthy clay base grounding the arrangement in local tradition. If your guest room has an en suite, echo the same flowers or scent there, creating a subtle connection between the different spaces.
THOUGHTFUL SEATING
A room feels more coherent when there is a place to sit apart from the bed. Even a modest French guest room benefits from a bench or trunk at the foot of the bed or under a window, offering somewhere to set a folded blanket or to perch while dressing.
If the room allows, a comfortable armchair gives your guests a spot to read or make a phone call. Pair the chair with a small guéridon or tripod table – marble-topped, gilt-edged, or plain wood -somewhere to rest a glass of water, morning coffee or evening book. A well thought-out guest room offers both practicality and invitation: a place to sit, a place to set things down, and a place to retreat. These touches help the room feel considered, as though time has been taken to anticipate what a visitor may need.
PRIVATE CORNER
Many French homes include a small writing desk in the guest room, and it is a custom that deserves revival. A secrétaire à abattant or simple oak writing table gives guests a private corner to write a postcard, read the newspaper, or check emails. When open, the desk offers a small world within the room; when closed, it contributes its patina and proportions to the overall aesthetic to the space.
Keep the surface uncluttered. A notebook, two or three postcards and a pen are enough. The aim is not to stage a desk but to make it usable. Books placed nearby – on Provence, art, gardens, local history or architecture -provide an immediate sense of place and will allow guests to engage with the region in their own time.
Storage is equally important. A solid walnut armoire, typical of the region, gives guests the opportunity to unpack and settle in. Even if they are are staying only briefly, a few empty drawers, wooden hangers and a blanket basket make the room feel prepared for them specifically, not hastily arranged.
DECORATIVE DETAILS
A Provençal guest room is defined by the pieces gathered within it, rather than by symmetry. Artwork is rarely hung in strict alignment; instead, portraits, engravings and landscapes accumulate over time. They can be arranged informally, some hung and others resting against furniture. This creates a composed, collected character that complements the room’s antique pieces.
Portraits in salvaged frames, 19th-century landscapes and engravings softened by age bring nuance and distinction to the space. A large, foxed mirror over a commode can widen the space and bring in shifting reflections from a nearby window. These are not decorative additions so much as pieces that serve to tell the story of the house.
Books add similar warmth. A library wall beside the bed, or a stack of books on a table, suggests that guests are welcome to explore the intellectual life of the home. Volumes on local history, art or French writers sit ready for guests to browse at leisure.
Decorative accents, too, play a role. A carved wooden figure, a sculptural fragment or an old oil lamp converted for electricity all contribute to the atmosphere of a room that has grown organically. Provence has a tradition of using what is at hand, preserving objects with purpose and allowing them to continue their usefulness. A guest room that follows this ethos feels grounded rather than styled.
SENSORY EXPERIENCE
Much of Provence’s charm lies in how it appeals to the senses. A guest room should do the same thing. Textiles matter deeply here. Crisp linen sheets feel cool in summer and insulating in winter. A boutis – a lightly padded Provençal quilt, stitched in intricate motifs adds softness and pattern without weight. Its origins in Marseille and surrounding towns give it cultural resonance as well as beauty.
Fragrance should be natural and subtle. A small spray of lavender for the bed linen, a candle with herbal or resinous notes, or a vase with a single rose from the garden ties the indoors to the landscape. Lighting must be layered. Use a gentle overhead light only if necessary and allow lamps to take priority. Their warmth creates the intimate ambience typical of older Provençal houses, particularly those with smaller windows or thick stone walls. Guests often remember the glow of the bedside lamps long after they have forgotten other details.
THE FINISHING TOUCH
True hospitality is revealed in small observations. A carafe of water and two tumblers on a tray. A cosy wool blanket placed within reach. A basket for spare cushions. A handwritten note that welcomes the guest. None of these gestures seek attention, yet each contributes to a sense of ease and belonging. The most accommodating Provençal guest rooms feel neither staged nor newly arranged. They are simply shaped by the life of the house and offered generously to the people who enter it.
Antiques play a central part in this. Artisanal workmanship combined with years of use gives these pieces a substance far beyond anything newly made. More importantly, they carry continuity. Every scratch, every notch, every worn surface reflects its age, allowing guests to feel part of something enduring. When these elements come together – textiles chosen for comfort, furniture chosen for use, objects chosen because they matter – the room finds that particular je ne sais quoi. It is not found in perfection or excess. It comes from generosity, intention and the assured ease of a home that has matured over time. In Provence, that feeling is almost second nature, but it can be created anywhere. All it requires is attention to the details that make guests feel welcome: not only into a room, but into the life of the house.
Susannah Cameron is the Director at Chez Pluie Provence, an online boutique selling French antique and vintage pieces
Tel: 0033 (0)7 84 56 02 37
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
France attempts to control the surge pricing of petrol and diesel at 500 petrol stations across France, the government are tightening rules around modified scooters and Macron visits Cyprus amid political and war tensions in the region. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
French Authorities Launch Petrol Price Checks
In response to the global surge in oil costs linked to recent attacks in the Middle East, French authorities will carry out spot checks at 500 petrol stations between March 9-11, to ensure fuel prices haven’t surged excessively.
These visits, conducted by the direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes(DGCCRF), France’s consumer fraud unit, hope to prevent stations from unfairly raising their prices of petrol and diesel.
Government Cracks Down on Modified Scooters
France has begun new inspection tests for small scooters and mopeds to detect illegal modifications that let them exceed the legal 45km/h speed limit. These vehicles, known as 50cc scooters, are designed to be low-power bikes commonly used by teenagers and urban riders.
Many scooters remove the factory speed limiter (known as débridage) to make them faster and go over the legal limit. Beginning 1 March, technical inspection centres must check that these scooters cannot exceed the legal limit and must be returned to their original specifications in order to pass the inspection.
These vehicles must undergo testing every three years once they are five years old, and drivers could with modified scooters risk a €135 fine.
Macron Visits Cyprus Amid Maritime Tensions
President Emmanuel Macron visited Cyprus this week to discuss regional security in response to rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. During his trip, he met Cypriot leaders and emphasised cooperation to protect the island and nearby maritime routes after recent drone and missile threats.
Macron announced that France would strengthen its military presence in the region, including a planned visit by the French aircraft carrier ‘Charles de Gaulle’ as a show of support for Cyprus and stability in the region.
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Supporting families is an intrinsic part of life in France, on both a personal and governmental level, and this includes extensive state benefits – in part one of this two-part series Catharine Higginson explains some of the key child benefits…
When I’m chatting to people about their reasons for moving to France, three words always stand out and those are ‘quality of life’. Talk to people with children and an extra word always comes up: ‘family’ life. And it’s absolutely true. France places huge importance on family life. The repas de famille (family dinner) is an institution in France and even adult children will hightail it home when maman announces there is a repas de famille. Presence is non-negotiable and quite rightly, family events take priority over almost everything else.
Supporting families is an intrinsic part of life in France, on a personal and governmental level, and as a result, families receive extensive state benefits. The benefits system has been designed to support those in need of help and assistance. There is a huge range of payments and grants available and understanding what you are entitled to and how to claim can be daunting. However, the system has been set up to enable anyone who needs help to be able to access it.
All the various benefits are known as ‘allocations’ and this is often abbreviated to ‘les allocs’. Obviously to qualify for any type of benefit you must first of all be living in France and ensure that any particular conditions relating to your visa/residence permit have been met. So before you even think about making a claim, it is sensible to ensure that all your paperwork is in order.
YOUNG CHILDREN
Photo: Shutterstock
Once you are registered with the CAF (les Caisses d’Allocations Familiales) the French equivalent of UK child benefit (known as allocations familiales or AF) kicks in automatically on the arrival of your second child. However, there are numerous other benefits that parents will qualify for even if they only have one child.
The benefit known as PAJE or la prestation d’accueil du jeune enfant is a benefit paid on the birth or adoption of any child. It’s divided into four parts: the benefit payable at birth or adoption, the basic allowance, and then what’s known as la prestation partagée de l’éducation de l’enfant (PreParE) and le complément de libre choix du mode de garde (CMG).
The PreParE is payable to parents who give up or reduce their working hours in order to look after their children aged three and under, or aged 20 and under in the case of adoption. The CMG is a benefit paid to parents who want their child aged six and under to be cared for by a registered childminder, either in their home or that of the childminder or an organisation providing childcare or a crèche. The payments vary according to family circumstances and whether the child is in a crèche or with a childminder. The amounts drop when the child is aged three or over as the expectation is that he/she will be in school, but the amounts currently range between €203 and €984 per child.
Then there is l’allocation de base; this is paid to parents with a child aged three and under, or for the first three years after the adoption if the child is older. It is calculated according to family income, can be paid at either a full or partial rate (taux plein ou taux partiel) and is currently €196.
Le complément familial is paid to families with at least three children aged between three and 21 years old. This payment is dependent on family income; both partners’ revenues will be factored into the calculation as will any other people the family is financially responsible for (disabled or elderly relatives for example) and can also be claimed by adult children still living at home.
Single parents can claim the ASF (l’allocation de soutien familial), which applies if one of the two parents is unable to provide financial support for the child. This benefit is often referred to as ‘alloc parent isolé.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Photo: Shutterstock
While the back-to-school payment known as l’allocation de rentrée scolaire (ARS) is also means tested, the income platforms are generous and almost all families in France on ‘normal’ incomes receive this. This is a one-off payment made in August to enable parents to purchase all the clothing, equipment, stationery and so forth that the children need for the coming academic year. Current amounts start at €416 for the 6-10 age group rising to €454 for the 15-18 year olds. This payment is a real bonus for families on low to moderate incomes and enables parents to ensure that their children have everything they require without worrying too much about the cost.
The CAF is also there to support families facing any kind of emotional as well as financial difficulties. If you are separated or in the process of separating from your partner, the CAF will provide support services to help you determine the amount of child maintenance (pension alimentaire) you should be receiving, organise payments and if necessary, help you recover unpaid maintenance.
If you have separated and the childcare arrangements are ‘one week on, one week off’ (garde alternée), you can choose to have any CAF benefits split between the two households. The CAF can also provide emergency financial assistance to allow victims of domestic violence to get away from their abuser. This is known as l’aide d’urgence pour les victimes de violences conjugales.
They will also provide help with administrative tasks, family mediation and are a hugely useful source of support and information in the case of divorce or separation, and will be able to advise on accessing different benefits as your personal and financial circumstances change.
LEISURE TIME
Photo: Shutterstock
Holidays and leisure time are seen as being vitally important in France so of course the CAF has a role to play here too. Parents whose children aged 11 and over who take part in a holiday camp (colonie de vacances) can apply for le Pass’colo – a state-funded grant which covers part of the cost -and the CAF also provides an aide aux vacances for families.
Like almost all benefits, this is income dependent and there are conditions; at least one parent must go on the holiday with the children and the holiday centre needs to be at least 200km away from the family home and on the official VACAF list.
Payments are generous and can be up to 80% of the cost of the stay with a €700 limit. Extra funding of up to €200 is even available if you travel further afield.
Families can obtain reduced train fares too, ranging from 30-75% if they apply for la carte familles nombreuses. This card also gives discounts and offers with various partners including supermarkets, museums, clothing stores, holiday destinations and car rental, and even restaurants. Offers change all the time so if you have a card, do check out the official website and see what is available.
The CAF provides many other benefits and services to people of working age and over (which we’ll be covering next time) but their raison d’être is supporting families and they do an excellent job.
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
Matthew Cameron looks at inheritance issues…
We live in England and have a house in France. We have English and French wills, and have just prepared lasting powers of attorney. Should we do something similar for the French house?
Broadly, a lasting power of attorney (LPA) is an English legal document that works to authorise someone to represent your interests in the future, should you lose the ability to do so yourself.
There are two types of LPA: one allows your representative to make decisions about your health and welfare, but here we are considering the second version, under which you confer authority on your attorney to manage your property and financial affairs.
It is sensible for UK residents to complete these two documents, even though they may never be needed. If, for example, you lose mental capacity, you might need someone to manage your bank account or even sell your home to cover care fees. Without an LPA in place, the only option would be to apply to the court of protection for a deputyship order. This application can be slow, and expensive.
Loss of capacity can be problematic for a French property transaction. In that case, a notaire would need to see a suitable document of authorisation before someone can sign on your behalf. There is a French equivalent of an LPA, known as a mandat de protection future (MPF). An MPF must be completed by a notaire so you may wish to discuss it with your local notaire on a future visit.
It is, in fact, possible to implement an English LPA in France, however, the procedure for this is burdensome. An LPA is a large document, which would have to be translated into French, which in itself would be costly, and as the notaire may not recognise the document, or its validity, it will probably be necessary to obtain a legal opinion from a solicitor, also produced in French. It may never be necessary to use one, yet knowing they are in place might offer you some peace of mind. If you decide to complete both types, make sure the same people are named as attorney in them both.
My father died in the home he had lived at in France. The notaire has told me that he did not have a will and I am the only beneficiary, but I do not want anything from him. Can I refuse it – the notaire is asking me to sign a power of attorney to finalise the succession?
Even if you are the only child, you are not obliged to accept a succession in France. There are many reasons why someone may not wish to accept a deceased parent’s legacy. One relatively common example is where there is a risk that the deceased had debts: in accepting a succession, the beneficiary takes on the liability for any debts as well as the assets.
It may be possible to accept the succession subject to an inventory being produced of the overall value of the estate, so that you can decide whether it is in your interests to do so. Of more importance, though, is the consequence of a renunciation. If you choose to renounce an inheritance from a parent, you are deemed to have died before the parent.
The children of a predeceased parent take the place of their parent in an inheritance coming down through the direct family line. This means that if you renounce, your children will inherit in your place. Your children would then have to decide for themselves whether they would want to choose to accept the succession or renounce it themselves. However, they are only able to make such a choice if they are adults: if they are not 18, then a court would have to take that decision for them. Furthermore, if the children are UK nationals, then it would be for the English court to take that decision on their behalf.
The cost, time and stress of asking an English court to authorise a renunciation of a French inheritance would have to be considered.
These rules of representation, where a child stands in place of a predeceased parent, only work in the direct line. That is to say, the grandchild would only have to inherit where the inheritance comes from the estate of a grandparent if you have renounced. In this particular case, the legacy is from your father, so if you have children they would inherit in your place should you decide to renounce. Had the legacy come from a sibling, for example, the situation would be different.
Suffice to say that you are not obliged to accept a legacy, nevertheless, you should consider the consequences of renouncing. This can prove particularly complex, and detailed advice should be sought.
This article was first featured in French Property News magazine. Matthew Cameron heads the French legal services team at Ashtons Legal
Tel: 0330 1914450
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
16-17 MAY 2026 – NATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM
If you missed the recent London dates of the French Property Exhibition, you may feel like you’ve missed an opportunity. For anyone dreaming of owning a home in France – whether as a holiday retreat, retirement haven, permanent relocation or investment – the exhibition is the most valuable event in the calendar. But here’s the good news: if you couldn’t make London, you haven’t missed out. The Birmingham exhibition is coming up, and it promises the same expertise, inspiration and practical guidance that made the London event so worthwhile.
So what exactly did London visitors experience – and why should Birmingham now be firmly in your diary?
- The top French property experts under one roof
- Direct, face-to-face access to professionals who specialise in helping UK buyers purchase and settle in France.
- No need to spend months browsing portals, chasing emails or coordinating calls across multiple regions.
- Estate agents from across France showcasing rural farmhouses, character cottages, seaside villas, city apartments and ski chalets.
- The ability to compare the different areas – discussing pricing, lifestyle benefits and investment potential.
- A level of interaction and insight that online research simply cannot replicate.
- Professional support beyond the property search
- Access to bilingual legal advisers explaining the French buying process step by step.
- Guidance on notaire fees, contracts and inheritance laws – areas that sometimes surprise British buyers.
- Early conversations that can help prevent costly misunderstandings later.
- Expert financial and tax advice
- Specialists outlining cross-border tax implications and capital gains considerations.
- Guidance on ownership structures and long-term planning strategies.
- Currency experts advising on managing exchange rate fluctuations to protect your budget.
- Practical strategies to reduce the financial risk of transferring large sums internationally.
- Relocation and residency support
- Up-to-date advice on evolving visa and residency regulations.
- Professionals experienced in handling applications and documentation.
- Removals companies explaining the logistics of moving to France.
- Free, informative seminar programme
- Step-by-step breakdown of the French property purchasing process.
- Advice on choosing the right region based on lifestyle and investment goals.
- Guidance on visas, residency requirements, healthcare and taxation.
- Structured, educational sessions – not sales pitches – with opportunities to ask questions directly.
Perhaps the greatest benefit London visitors experienced was the power of personal, face-to-face conversations, discussing their individual concerns, from timeline to budget, family circumstances and long-term ambitions, receiving tailored feedback.
There was also an undeniable sense of momentum. Visitors left not just inspired, but equipped – with brochures, contact details, notes from seminars and a clearer understanding of next steps.
The great news is that everything described above will be available at the Birmingham exhibition. If London wasn’t convenient, Birmingham offers a second chance to gain the same insights, at a convenient site at the heart of the UK.
And even if you attended the London exhibition, coming along to the Birmingham event could place you in an even stronger position, armed with clearer questions and renewed determination. Whether you are casually exploring the idea of a French holiday home or seriously planning a permanent move, the exhibition provides a rare opportunity to gather reliable information efficiently and confidently.
Birmingham isn’t just a repeat – it’s an opportunity to take the next step toward owning property in France, with expert guidance to support you at every stage.
Register now for your free tickets to the French Property Exhibition at: The French Property Exhibition, Birmingham May 2026 Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite
Here’s the latest currency news from our partner Moneycorp, to help you find out what your money is worth.
UK CPI inflation expectations remain sticky, but a Bank of England cut in March is still possible
Yesterday’s Decision Maker Panel inflation expectations data will have disappointed the Bank of England. The figures suggest inflation could remain sticky and were collected before the conflict in the Gulf broke out. This raises questions about whether the Monetary Policy Committee could delay a rate cut in March.
However, Chief Economist Huw Pill noted in Treasury Select Committee testimony that the Bank intended to look beyond the inflation trough, just as it looked through the peak in 2022, so shouldn’t it ignore short term price movements driven by external shocks. These would not be influenced by interest rate changes in any case, which reduces the likelihood that recent events meaningfully alter the Bank’s view.
Sterling has struggled against the US dollar this week while holding firmer against the euro. Experience tells us that periods of GBP resilience against the EUR often fade. Markets may have misread the risks around the March MPC meeting, which could leave GBP vulnerable to renewed pressure versus the EUR.
Euro pressure persists as shipping slows and energy costs continue to rise
The euro’s recent weakness has not stemmed from domestic economic fundamentals alone. Two conflicts on or near the Euro Area’s borders — Russia–Ukraine and the US/Israel–Iran escalation, have increased both energy‑supply risks and geopolitical uncertainty.
At the same time, risk‑averse sentiment has limited any further shifts from USD FX reserves into other currencies or gold.
The outlook for the euro remains uncertain, and the balance of risks still appears tilted to the downside. EURUSD could extend its slide, possibly searching for support near $1.15.
GBPEUR may be closer to its near-term peak. Each GBP rally has struggled for momentum, and the pair’s trajectory could hinge on whether markets have over-priced the likelihood that the Bank of England delays policy easing.
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British MPs are pushing for more flexibility in the 90/180-day short-stay rule, a massive cyberattack in France has exposed personal data from up to 15 million patients. France will expand ticket-free motorways from this spring, and the municipal elections are approaching. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
UK MPs Call for Flexibility in 90/180 Day Rule
Several British MPs want the UK‑EU 90/180-day short‑stay rule, which limits visa-free visits for UK citizens to 90 days within any 180 days, to be revisited at the next UK-EU summit in May. Campaigners argue the rule complicates family visits, work and cross-border stays and should be relaxed or replaced with more flexible arrangements. The EU has signalled it may explore extended short‑stay rules, but any change requires member‑state agreement.
Massive Healthcare Data Cyberattack
A cyberattack on software used by about 1,500 doctors in France has exposed the personal data of up to 15 million patients. While core medical records remain intact, administrative details, including names, contact info and some sensitive notes on orientation, infidelity and assaults, were accessed.
Around 164,000 records contained sensitive information, officials have said. The Health Ministry and prosecutors are investigating, and authorities warn of potential phishing scams using the stolen data. Doctors have criticised shared cloud systems for raising security risks.
Ticket-Free Toll Motorways to Expands in France
Plans to open additional ticket-free motorway sections across France will begin in spring 2026 to ease traffic, but the changes are already causing headaches for drivers. On the autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône and Autoroutes Rhône-Alpes motorways, traditional entry toll booths will be replaced by automatic gantries that record vehicles.
However, motorists are unsure how to pay correctly, when charges apply, or if they might be fined by mistake. While drivers still owe tolls based on their exit points, the new system’s rules can be confusing and unclear for many.
Who’s Running for Mayor in your Commune?
With France’s 2026 municipal elections approaching (two rounds on March 15 & 22), candidates in all 34,875 communes have now been declared. Residents can access an interactive list showing all local candidates, their party affiliations and lists. Mayors in France hold significant local authority, including budget setting, infrastructure oversight and civil registry responsibilities.
Find out who is running in your commune here.
It is often stated that complaining is part of French culture. After living in France for over eight years running La Grue Gîtes in the gorgeous Charente, I am beginning to really understand that to ‘push back’ and to dare to complain gains respect, despite clearly going against the grain. In the UK, complaints in public are rarely made. Now we are established locally, and people either know us or our reputation, the confidence to complain is growing– in my own polite franglais way! So, why is complaining in French almost seen as a national sport?
It could be linked to the French Revolution, where challenging authority for the good of the masses first became embedded in the national psyche. Being united over a shared grievance does trigger bonding; moaning about the weather or the price of a baguette can create a sense of solidarity. Or could a well thought-through argument demonstrate a level of critical thinking and therefore intelligence that is valued in French culture?
Whatever the reason, how might you go about complaining in French? A good starting place could be the everyday noises of disapproval. These do differ. ‘Hop, hop-hop’ or ‘Oh là lore’, ‘Bof’ and ‘Bah alors?’ are heard regularly in the Charente to signal disapproval or shock. A shrug works wonders, as does a sort of breaking-wind sound from your lips coupled with the shrug.
Useful Phrases
A good start when you want to râler (to complain or grumble) is:
C’est pas possible! – it’s not possible
C’est pas vrai ! – you have got to be kidding me!
C’est n’importe quoi! – this is ridiculous!
J’en ai marre! or J’en ai ral-le-bol ! – I have had enough of this!
C’est une blague?– Is this a joke?
C’est inadmissible! – This is not acceptable!
Complaining in Different Settings
Wherever you find yourself, it is advisable to begin with ‘excusez-moi’ – there are always rules of etiquette and levels of politeness required in any culture.
On attend depuis un petit moment…. – a polite way of saying, we have been waiting ages.
Ce n’est pas ce que nous avons commandé – This is not what we ordered.
On croit qu’il y a une petite erreur sur l’addition – There is a mistake on the bill.
C’est dommage que… – It is a shame that – This is a great way of complaining without causing upset – It may keep the staff on your side.
On va jamais arriver! – We are never going to get there – A great saying to bring out when public transport is delayed.
C’est pas possible, ils sont toujours en grève ! – This is not possible – they are always on strike!
Il y a un monde fou – There is a crazy amount of people!
Bonne courage with your complaints and remember to be direct, factual and unapologetic. This approach, coupled with tenacious persistence, should be a winning combination.
When Helen Tait-Wright went to France alone to oversee a renovation project, she never dreamt she’d end up driving the Dakar rally, she tells Gillian Harvey..
When Helen Tait-Wright and her husband Chris bought their first French house in 2002, it was to fulfil Chris’s long-held dream of living in the country. “We’re both on our second marriage, and when we got together in 1998, we laid all our cards on the table,” Helen explains. “Chris told me he’d like to go and live in France. At the time, my only experience of the country was coming to Le Mans each year for the 24-hour race. But, I thought, why not?”
Little did she know that the move would be life-changing in unexpected ways. The pair initially bought a run-down stone farmhouse with land in Bouillé-Loretz, Deux-Sèvres, and began to make plans to renovate. “We decided to drive out for one week in each month to work on it,” says Helen. However, with progress relatively slow, the couple eventually decided that one of them had to move to France permanently to oversee the builders and artisans and be an on-site presence.
ALL CHANGE
That decision proved to be transformative for Helen, who relocated to France in January 2005 and met soon-to-be best friend Marcella almost immediately. “Shortly after I arrived, I almost had a head-on collision with a woman at a junction. We both apologised and went on our way. But then, a few days later, I went to a dinner party at a friend’s house and she was there!
“Marcella was over in France with her son Sam while her husband worked in the UK, so we were both in a similar position,” explains Helen. “We found that when you’re a relatively young woman living by yourself people seem to look at you as if you’ve got three heads, so we teamed up.”
With both husbands working away, the pair were able to navigate establishing their lives in France together. “It helped to have Sam, too, as he went to school, which meant we were able to make inroads in the local community,” says Helen.
The house Helen and Chris had purchased was an old farmhouse, with three hectares of land. As Helen had grown up on a farm, she felt quite at home. “It was a typical old French farmhouse, completely rundown. From upstairs, if you dared stand on the old floorboards, you could see through the roof! There was electricity, but no running water in the house. By the end, we’d fully renovated it, added a big extension and a garage big enough for seven cars.”
The latter may sound like overkill, but when the pair first moved to France they had a large collection of vehicles. “We owned around 14 sports cars in the UK, and when I first turned up I brought a Jaguar XK and a Land Rover with me. Chris’s pride and joy at the time was a Ferrari Testarossa.”
PETROL HEADS
Helen’s obsession with all things automotive – one she shares with Chris – began in childhood. “My mum would tell you that as a small child going out in the pushchair round our little village in the UK, I could name every car. I still have my 1968 Ladybird book of cars, which was my favourite thing,” she says. Living in France, however, had its share of challenges.
“Sadly, French roads and sports cars don’t go together. We evolved. One by one the sports cars had to go.” Instead, the pair turned their attention elsewhere.
“To me Land Rovers were more of a work vehicle and something I associated with the farm, rather than racing. But that would soon change.”
In 2012, despite working hard to create a beautiful rustic home, they decided to sell up, in part so they could take on a new challenge, but also because the amount of land in Bouillé-Loretz and the care it needed felt overwhelming. “Although I grew up on a farm, I never really realised the amount of work that went into looking after land. My father had always done that,” Helen says.
So, in September 2012, they bought their current property in Val-en-Vignes, which started out as an almost derelict barn. “We needed a new project. And this was the biggest we’ve tackled. It has 409 square metres of living space, and we’ve renovated the majority of it ourselves. It took us 10 years to complete.”
While many retire to France to live a quiet life, it seems Helen is doing just the opposite. “The house we’ve renovated is now for sale. I think when I’ve finished a project, I’m always looking for the next thing,” she admits. “My background is in design, I originally trained in fashion design and later interion design. I really enjoy planning a beautiful renovation and bringing it to life.”
RALLYING ROUND
Over the past 10 years, Helen has also been busy taking on another, unexpected challenge. “Visiting a friend in Morocco in 2015, I was talking about my love of cars and he asked me why I’d never done the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc. It’s a French-organised women-only rally that happens each year.
“The conversation sowed a seed, and four years later I was in Morocco competing!” Helen’s first taste of rally driving turned into a whole new series of adventures. “The desert sand gets under your skin and calls you back!”
The Rallye des Gazelles is an endurance event, eight days in duration and covering thousands of off-road miles. As it’s a pure navigation rally, drivers and their navigators are not allowed to use GPS, just a basic compass and a black and white map on which they plot the checkpoints that mark their route.
MORE PLANNING
Meanwhile, Marcella, whose relationship had sadly broken down, moved back to the UK in 2010. However, she and Helen kept in regular contact, and during a visit to her friend in early 2022, a plan was hatched.
“The visit came on the back of a couple of horrible years,” Marcella explains. “I had a health scare in 2020. This resulted in a hysterectomy, which left me feeling shaken. My business also suffered during Covid times.”
As Helen relayed stories of rallying life to her friend, an idea started to form. “I was talking about how I was struggling to find a good navigator, and Marcella said, ‘can’t I come?’. I was astounded, as I’d never considered she might want to do it, but she was really keen.”
Soon after, Helen took Marcella to the local quarry, near Doué-la-Fontaine in her Land Rover and showed her the realities of off-piste driving. “She did really well – there were some very steep drops, but she coped admirably.”
Then, in September 2022, the pair undertook their first rally in Morocco. “Eight consecutive days of driving was a test of our friendship, but luckily we came through. I’d had other navigators before, but driving with Marcella was completely different,” says Helen. “Doing the rally with someone I know, and with whom I get on so well, made the whole experience a thousand times better.”
Moreover, as the rally was French run, the pair found that living in France proved a real advantage. “The Road Book is written in French, and the majority of the communication is in French. We have a massive advantage as a British team as we can understand what is going on before it’s translated. Being familiar with French culture also helps: like knowing that you won’t get any dinner until 9pm, so making sure we take our own food, as we prefer to eat earlier.”
DREAMING OF DAKAR
After undertaking a second rally the following year, where they finished as the second all-female crew, Helen and Marcella signed up for their biggest challenge to date. This was the Dakar Classic, which took place in January 2026, and in which they were the first-ever British all-female team to compete.
“Chris, who moved over to France permanently in 2009 after retiring from his haulage business, worked with me to build a custom car to the exacting standards required for Dakar,” says Helen. “It’s something we’d never done before, but it’s amazing what information you can discover on YouTube!” she adds. The event was a 14-day endurance rally, covering 7,281km, 4,162km of which was off-road.
And Helen, whose initial move to France was to fulfil Chris’s dream, has now well and truly fallen in love with life across the Channel. “I love the space. I go back to Suffolk where I used to live, but so much of the farmland has been sold for new developments. Living in France feels like going back in time to Suffolk 50 years ago.
“In terms of motor sports, it’s a great place to live. Rallying, particularly endurance rallying, is part of the French DNA in a way it isn’t in the UK. People in the UK think I’m insane to want to drive the Dakar rally, but the French people I know seem to understand.
“Coming to France alone made me stronger; and maybe in some ways that resilience has helped with the endurance part of the rallies. But more than anything, if I’d not done it, I may never have heard of the Rallye des Gazelles, and might never have met Marcella.”
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Every issue of French Property News delivers in-depth regional buying guides, sound and trusted advice from leading experts, inspirational real life stories, renovation tales and lots of lovely properties to browse.
A château can be visually extraordinary and still struggle commercially. The difference lies not in the façade or the architecture, but in the structure behind the project.
Every year, investors from around the world fall in love with a château in France, with the ambition of turning it into a profitable wedding and event venue. The potential is real. The demand is strong. But success is never determined by beauty alone.
As a Venue Advisor, my role is to analyse properties and identify the factors that make the difference between a château venue that thrives and one that struggles. The ambition may begin with a dream, but long-term performance depends on clear thinking and strategic planning.
If you are considering a château purchase for weddings or events, you can learn more about our approach here.
Infrastructure: The Most Commonly Underestimated Factor
Many buyers focus on the main building and overlook the infrastructure, yet the infrastructure is the backbone of your business. Access, parking, utilities, and logistics flow must be carefully assessed, and if done incorrectly, could severely limit your potential.
A château may look impressive, but if guests, suppliers and teams cannot move through the property easily, operations become difficult and growth becomes restricted. Weddings and events take expert coordination: managing deliveries, timing, and all the moving parts behind the scenes, so everything feels seamless and effortless on the day. If the site cannot support that movement smoothly, the experience becomes compromised. Infrastructure is not always visible, but it does determine what the property can realistically deliver as a venue.
You can explore our venue feasibility reviews here.
Avoid Unnecessary Investments
A lot of owners end up pouring money into after the purchase—often into things that don’t actually boost profitability. It is easy to focus on decorative improvements or aesthetic upgrades without considering commercial impact. Every investment should improve the client experience and strengthen pricing power. Strategy must always guide investment decisions.
Renovation alone does not create success. Investment must serve the business model, not just the aesthetics. When capital is allocated with intention, it enhances both perception and positioning. When it is reactive or emotionally driven, it can quickly dilute financial clarity.
The Swimming Pool: A Strategic Asset
A well-designed swimming pool is more than an attractive feature. It becomes a social hub and enhances the guest experience. It directly increases the perceived value of the venue.
When integrated thoughtfully, it contributes not only to atmosphere but also to positioning. Guests gather around it, photographs are taken beside it, and it becomes part of the narrative couples share when choosing a venue. In this way, a pool is not simply a leisure element. It becomes part of the commercial identity of the property.
Activities and Guest Experience
Clients today seek experiences, not just venues. The more experiences you offer, the more desirable and valuable your property becomes.
A château must be evaluated not only as a building, but as a complete guest journey. From arrival to departure, every moment shapes perception. Buyers should consider how the property supports that journey and how the environment encourages connection, celebration and immersion.
Client Experience is Everything
Your château is not just a building. It is an experience. Every detail contributes to the client’s perception and ultimately to their decision. Flow, atmosphere, comfort and coherence all influence confidence. When clients feel aligned with the space, they commit with clarity.
Visits are Critical
The visit is the decisive moment. It is not about showing a property, but about creating emotional projection.
Clients must be able to imagine themselves there. The visit is where strategy and atmosphere come together. It is the point at which interest turns into conviction. A château is not simply a real estate acquisition. It is a business. Success depends on strategy, infrastructure and experience. Beauty may attract attention, but structure sustains performance.
This is the role of a Venue Advisor: to unlock that potential and ensure that the dream is supported
by a model that works.
To find out more, visit www.thevenueadvisors.com
France’s national bank account register has been hacked, MaPrimeRénov has relaunched with a new budget, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has restricted the U.S. ambassador’s access following a diplomatic faux pas, and France’s busiest airports are predicting delays of up to four hours due to EES systems during the peak travel season. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
Over one Million Affected by National Bank Register Data Breach
The national bank account register fichier national des comptes bancaires (FICOBA), which lists all bank accounts held in France with their details, was hacked in late January, the French Ministry of Finance has confirmed.
The hackers are believed to have had access to the FICOBA database for several days, during which they accessed over 1.2 million active bank accounts. Compromised data includes account details such as IBAN/RIB numbers, identities, addresses and the user’s tax identification number.
Holders of compromised accounts will be contacted by the Ministry of Finance in the coming days.
France’s Home Renovation Grant Relaunches
MaPrimeRénov, the state eco-renovation grant scheme, reopened on Monday, which allows homeowners to claim financial aid to contribute to the costs of eco-friendly renovation projects. Made available through Agence Nationale de l’Habitat, the scheme is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of properties.
The scheme is open to households at all income levels, with the amount of aid scaled according to your revenu fiscal de reference from the previous year. Very low incomes could receive up to €32,000, whereas high incomes are capped at around €4000, covering around 10% of the total costs.
The property must be your main home, the work must improve energy efficiency, and only homes with a DPE energy rating of E, F or G qualify. There are also cost limits (€40,000 max. for improvements of three energy classes or more and €30,000 for two), and work must be done by an RGE-certified professional.
France Restricts US Ambassador’s Access After Diplomatic Snub
France’s foreign ministry has blocked United States Ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, from having direct access to government ministers after he failed to attend a scheduled meeting at the Quai d’Orsay.
The meeting was called by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to discuss comments by the US administration, which were amplified by the US embassy, about the fatal beating of a far-right activist, Quentin Deranque, in Lyon.
Barrot criticised the embassy’s role and said Kushner’s absence from the meeting violated basic diplomatic norms, which led to the decision to restrict his access to senior French officials. France has said the restriction could be lifted once Kushner explains himself and meets with the foreign ministry.
Popular French Airports Request EES System Delay
Paris Orly and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airports, which are managed by Aéroports de Paris (ADP) group, has urged authorities to delay the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) at airports until after the peak tourist season.
The border security system is currently due to be fully operational by 10 April, but ADP has warned that this could cause delays of up to four hours at France’s two busiest airports, which together handled over 107 million passengers in 2025.
European airports where EES is fully implemented have already reported an 70% increase in wait times, before the start of peak season.
Read more about the EES Systems here.
In search of a glittering coastline, packed with elegant resorts, Sarah Daly heads to the Côte d’Opale in Pas-de-Calais…
Every stretch of coast in France has an attractive and often evocative name. Originating in the late 19th century to attract tourists by means of the then new-fangled railway system, these still give a flavour of what to expect when you dip your toes in the water. The Côte d’Opale, or Opal Coast, is no exception: most of this shoreline faces west and, as you watch the sun begin to set in summer, you can pick out shimmering pinks, yellows and purples, while a moody winter seascape will offer opalescent greens, greys and blues.
Stretching from the Belgian border in the north to the Baie d’Authie in the south, the area is characterised by wide sandy beaches backed by acres of sand dunes and dotted with chic, elegant resorts. You’ll also find fishing ports, fabulous markets and interesting towns to explore. I must confess to bias: I moved here nearly seven years ago and have come to know and love this coast in all its many and various moods.
LET’S GO FLY A KITE
One of my favourite coastal towns is Berck-sur-Mer. Over the Easter period it’s home to a spectacular festival that draws competitors and crowds alike to its long, sandy beach to watch colourful kites perform aerial stunts in the spring breeze.
For a quieter experience though, the south end of the beach is famed for its grey seal population. A groyne allows you to walk out at low tide and admire these creatures as they bask on the sand banks. The town also houses a fascinating museum that brings alive the past of this whole coast and its inhabitants, from archaeological finds to the work of artists who were drawn to paint here from the 19th century (including Manet and Boudin). The sea air was believed to be so good for the health that many hospitals were built here over a century ago, often with rooms and balconies right on the beach. Some are still in use today, while others have been converted into luxury flats.
FISHING HERITAGE
Further along the coast, Étaples-sur-Mer centres around fishing. Known to Brits as ‘Eat Apples’ during the First World War, it was home to numerous hospitals behind the frontlines and now has a very moving military cemetery with more than 15,000 headstones. The town itself bustles. Its twice-weekly market was voted the best in France in 2021 and I can attest to the quality and variety of the produce on offer.
Along the waterfront, you can buy seafood direct from the boats on market days. or from two dedicated fish markets at other times. If you want to discover more about sea fishing, Maréis is the place to go. Its bilingual exhibitions explain what is caught and how it is sold and invite you onto the reconstructed bridge of a trawler. There’s even a chance to get up close and personal with rays and some of the other fish found along this coast. Exploring the Baie de Canche by boat tour from the quay nearby offers another perspective on the Opal Coast and its waterways.
The best-known local seaside resort is, without a doubt, Le Touquet. Also known as Paris-Plage, this is very much a year-round playground for the well-heeled, but that doesn’t stop us mere mortals enjoying the beach, wandering the shopping streets or looking at the elegant homes tucked into its wooded hinterland.
JET-SETTERS
With its own airport, residents, second-home owners and tourists can jet in from Europe and a number of UK airports like Lyd, Southend and Biggin Hill. It’s also one of the few small airports in France to have permanent customs and immigration officials, making it a stop-off point for many aircraft en route elsewhere in France. Renamed recently as Aéroport International Le Touquet-Elizabeth II, it reinforces Le Touquet’s strong links with the UK. In 2024, the airport was bought by the town, which is breathing new life into it and planning to introduce commercial flights to the south.
We rented electric bikes here. You can easily follow La Vélomaritime north to Étaples or south to Berck, but instead we to headed into the town to explore. Le Touquet has a fascinating lighthouse, which is a surprisingly long way inland. We then passed the five-star Westminster Hotel. A meal here isn’t cheap but ordering a drink to watch the world go by from the terrace is a more affordable option.
FILM HISTORY
The hotel has seen hundreds of famous faces over the years, including Sean Connery, who famously signed the contract to play 007 here in the early 1960s.
Ian Fleming was a regular at the hotel and he allegedly based Casino Royale on the town’s famous casino. North of the busy fishing port, bustling commercial area and historic city of Boulogne, is the elegant Belle Époque resort of Wimereux. Its colourful houses and the pretty blue and white beach huts along the town’s seafront give this town a very distinctive feel.
Like so much of this coast, Wimereux has strong links with England, which is visible on a clear day from its beach. Henry VIII stayed here during the first Siege of Boulogne in 1544 and the town’s Grand Hotel was home to the British Army Medical Corps hospital in 1916, when it was damaged by fire.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
New-Zealander Diana Hounslow has just retired after 38 years of working near Boulogne. She lives in Hardelot with her husband Jean-Paul. She says: “I was studying French at Newcastle University and imagined my year out would take me to the south of France. I ended up as an English assistant in a school in Calais, but I loved it straightaway.
People in this area are so easy to get on with and soon I was working in tourism, eventually becoming the director of Pas-de-Calais Tourism. “I’ve seen a huge number of changes and a real shift in attitude towards this coast since I started. This part of France was quite overlooked in the post-war rebuilding, but in the past few decades there has been a huge amount of investment in tourism and real political will to improve the towns and protect landscapes along the coast. Improvements are still happening and it makes it a very special place to be.”
Diana herself was instrumental in attracting substantial European funding. changing the area from somewhere that visitors pass through to a destination in its own right. She also set up a NYC-inspired system of “Greeters’ locals who befriend visitors, introducing them to the towns and villages in which they live. Hardelot was developed in the early 20th century by English architect John Whitley.
“He created the first golf course and the first tee was on a turret of his home, Château d’Hardelot in Condette,” Diana says. “He also planted hundreds of trees to stabilise the dunes and it gives the homes here a really distinctive feel. In summer the population is five times higher than winter, but the area has plenty of space for everybody.
“Jean-Paul and I recently bought fat bikes to make the most of the 15km-long beach, and horse-riding, sand-yachting and sea-walking are really popular. In the town itself, there are all sorts of activities and it feels very safe. Members of the royal family are also occasional visitors. “This is a small town, but it has everything we need and there’s a good motorway network connecting us to Paris, Belgium and Holland. Since 1 moved here, the preservation of the coast has increased dramatically with a lot of protection for nature.”
EXPERT OPINION
Julien Coutheillas owns Agence Hardelot estate agency (agence-hardelot.com) and has lived in the area for 15 years. He says: “You can really breathe here: we are surrounded by nature and it’s very peaceful. At the same time, we have three capital cities – Paris, London and Brussels -all within a couple of hours of this coast. People buy property here for the great quality of life and for that ease of access. Particularly since Covid, more people work remotely and it makes it viable to live, or spend a lot of time, here. The resorts used to be empty outside a few weeks in the summer, they’ve become year-round destinations.”
Property prices have risen steadily for the past 15 years, Julien tells me, making this a great place to invest. “If you want an immaculate home bordering the golf course in Hardelot, with an indoor pool, wine cellar and gym, you’re looking at over €2m, but prices vary widely along the coast. A detached three-bedroom house here in need of work could be €550,000, whereas a similar property a few miles inland would be €300,000.” If you want to buy in this area, Julien advises taking time to compare resorts, as each has its own identity, and to shop around in order not to buy too high.
As the climate warms and southern Europe becomes increasingly unbearable in high summer, this coast is gaining in popularity, with holidaymakers and property buyers looking for a more temperate and balanced way of life. Rarely freezing in winter and often escaping the worst of the heatwaves, it’s a beautiful place to live.
While the original 19th-century railway connecting its seaside towns disappeared a long time ago, much of this coast is still accessible by train. It retains the beauty and charm that first attracted visitors all those years ago.
Find out more about the Opal Coast visitpasdecalais.com
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.
The French government has updated its language requirements for residence permits, cards and naturalisation applicants, but what does it mean?
Coming into effect on January 1, 2026, foreign nationals must prove a minimum A2 level of French understanding to be eligible for multi-year residency permits. This new requirement increases to B1 for applicants for 10-year residency cards, and the requirement rises again to B2 for citizenship applicants.
What does it mean?
‘A2’ and ‘B1’ form part of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. The CEFR scale runs from A1 to C2 and is used to assess language ability, ranging from a basic user at A1 to a proficient user at C2, which is widely considered fluent.
The CEFR is an international standard for recognising language skills, assessing reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. It provides a clear way to measure proficiency across languages and countries, making it widely used for education, exams, and professional qualifications.
Previously, multi-year residence permit applicants were only required to prove they were learning French through a government training programme or through other means. However, under the new rules, which stem from the 2024 comprehensive immigration law, applicants must pass official tests at an approved examination centre.
New Visa Requirements
Official exams, such as the Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF) and the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF), offer recognised language certification, unless applicants can present an official diploma or prior accredited qualification in the language.
A2, the minimum level required for residency visa applicants, is the second-lowest tier on the CEFR scale. This level demonstrates a basic, upper-beginner proficiency, enabling learners to understand everyday expressions, handle routine social interactions, and describe familiar aspects of their daily life in simple language.
For French citizenship, applicants must demonstrate B2-level French, meaning they can understand complex texts, follow detailed conversations, and express ideas clearly in both speaking and writing. At this level, they can handle professional and social situations, use a broad vocabulary, and apply correct grammar, showing they are capable of functioning independently in everyday life in French.
Read more about the TCF here.
Possible Exemptions
The French government has put these new rules in place to encourage greater integration of foreign nationals, making previously optional language skills compulsory and reflecting a shift toward tougher immigration policies.
These new exams apply only to first-time applicants and don’t affect renewals of existing multi-year permits. Some applicants may be exempt: those 65 or older applying for residency cards, people with medical conditions, disabilities, or cognitive issues that make learning a language difficult.
Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are also exempt, as are foreign students and researchers with a convention d’accueil, and holders of passeport talent permits. Applicants with certain French diplomas or degrees that already prove the required level of French may also be exempt.
If you’re unsure whether the new language and civics requirements apply to you, check with your prefecture, and prepare to study the material anyway – it’s better to be prepared than risk your residency.
Read more about the road to French residency here.
British Airways launches new £2 flight scheme for Avios members, French families have begun proceedings against contaminated baby formula, car insurance is set to rise again, and heavy flooding continues across France. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
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British Airways Launches £2 Flight Avios Scheme
The airline company, British Airways, have launched a £2 flight scheme for its Avios members this summer. Flight routes from London City Airport to Toulon and Madrid. All seats on the promotional flights will be reserved for Avios members, who need 21,500 points for a flight to Toulon, and 28,000 for the Madrid route, plus £2.
The Avios-only Toulon service will operate as a limited seasonal route, departing on June 13 – June 20, 2026. Seats are available to book on British Airways’ website now, and each ticket will include one checked bag of up to 23kg.
French Families Sue Over Contaminated Baby Formula
A group of 24 French families is suing the state and baby‑formula manufacturers over toxin‑contaminated milk powder, claiming authorities failed to ensure proper, independent testing. Many infants fell ill after consuming the formula, and the families demanded independent lab analyses. The complaint was filed at the Paris judicial court amid ongoing criminal investigations.
Car Insurance Fees to Rise
Car insurance premiums in France are forecast to rise by about 4–6 % in 2026, following an 8% increase in 2025, reflecting a long-term upward trend. The national average premium is €751 per year, which is about 36% higher than in 2010, and in some regions like Corsica and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, averages approach €950. Analysts say the rises are well above inflation and driven by rising repair costs — parts are expected to cost about 6% more in 2026 and labour around 3.5% — along with more frequent extreme weather events affecting claims.
Flooding Across France
France is facing historic flooding after days of heavy rain, with red flood alerts still in place in parts of the southwest. The worst-affected areas include the departments of Gironde, Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne, particularly along the Garonne River, where water levels have exceeded previous major floods.
Emergency measures are underway in several regions, including around Angers on the Loire River, where authorities have closed riverbanks and flooded certain roads to ease pressure on waterways. More heavy rain is expected, keeping flood risks high.
Here’s the latest currency news from our partner Moneycorp, to help you find out what your money is worth.
UK data deluge to shape expectations for the BOE
The UK enters an important run of releases this week, with policymakers likely to scrutinise the data as they prepare for March’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting. Last week’s Q4 GDP figures disappointed, largely due to weak services and construction output. Markets now look for signs of improvement across a broad set of indicators.
The week begins with labour market data, which has shown early signs of stabilisation. Vacancies appear to have levelled off, although the more meaningful signals for the BoE will come from the split between public and private sector wage growth and from HMRC payrolled employee numbers for January.
On Wednesday, the January CPI, RPI and PPI reports follow. Inflation has eased steadily since late summer, and forecasters expect a further decline in both headline and core CPI. Toward the end of the week, January public finances, retail sales and preliminary February PMIs all feature. Markets will look for an improving budget position, a rebound in retail volumes and tentative strengthening across the services and manufacturing sectors.
For sterling, this concentration of data could generate volatility without providing material direction. If inflation continues to soften, it may reinforce expectations for monetary easing later this year.
Eurozone industrial production and PMI signals in focus
This week, eurozone data on industrial activity will focus on not if, but by how much, it contracts by. The scale of the weakness is important for future interest rate decisions.
Survey data introduces slightly more uncertainty. Germany’s ZEW index may show further gradual improvement from a low starting point. The PMI releases at the end of the week could point to modest recovery after several subdued quarters, although progress remains slow and uneven.
The euro has held up reasonably well against most major currencies, despite slipping against the yen and Canadian dollar in recent weeks. Domestic data this week may support a period of consolidation rather than prompt a more decisive shift.
US dollar waits for GDP to offer clearer direction
Recent US data delivered a complex picture. Headline payrolls strengthened, although significant downward revisions to previous readings tempered that signal. December retail sales came in weaker, while inflation printed slightly below expectations. Together, these releases increased the pressure on the Federal Reserve to consider rate cuts at its March meeting, although market pricing remains more cautious.
This week brings several notable events: January industrial production, the minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s January meeting and, at the end of the week, Q4 GDP. Recent comments last week from President Trump suggested the potential for exceptionally strong growth, although consensus expectations sit closer to a still‑robust 3 percent annualised pace. Upside risk exists, but not to the levels some have speculated.
A stronger GDP figure could offer the dollar some support, though a significant reversal of recent moves appears unlikely. With US markets closed for Presidents’ Day today, trading may start slowly.
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For some, having extra space to keep animals is one of the drivers for moving to France – Gillian Harvey meets three such people…
WE WANT EVERYONE TO ENJOY OUR ALPACAS
Ken and Jane Walker, Manche, Normandy
When Ken Walker, now 64, and his wife Jane, 63, moved to Normandy in 2001 with their four children Lucy, then 13, Katy, 11, Jack, 7, and Ben, 5, they were already animal lovers. “We had a small three-bedroom semi in the UK, but still managed to have chickens, rabbits and two dogs: a poodle and a golden retriever.”
While the move was made largely for lifestyle reasons they wanted a quieter way of life and a more traditional upbringing for their children – having a large house and five acres of land also meant they could fulfil Lucy’s dream of owning a horse. “My mum had always had ponies and we promised we’d get Lucy one when we arrived,” says Jane.
When they got there, qualified builder Ken soon started his own business, while Jane worked on the house when she could. They also acquired two milking goats and later investigated creating a cheese-making business. “I learned to make cheese, and began tackling the legislation involved in starting the business, but it proved harder and more expensive than we’d thought. In the end we had to abandon the idea.”
Then, in 2012, the family acquired a rather different type of animal. “We saw two llamas for sale. They’ve always fascinated me, and we decided we’d buy them – almost on a whim. Initially they were just for pleasure and for walks with family and friends.
“In 2021, we decided to purchase some alpacas – three at first, as they are herd animals. Shortly afterwards, a local man got in touch to say he was retiring and wanted to sell his own flock of alpacas. There aren’t many people keeping alpacas in this area, so he’d been pointed in our direction.
“We said yes, as they are such lovely, tranquil animals,” says Jane. “They give out such a peaceful energy.”
The couple came to love their animals so much, they felt it was only right to share them with more people: “We decided to open things up so people can come and visit, and enjoy a bit of tea and cake when they do!” Bisou d’Alpaga opened in 2023.
As well as their nine alpacas and four llamas, the pair also have four pygmy goats, a cat, a Great Dane and a Basset-and lots of time is spent each day caring for them. “To actually keep the alpacas in good condition, including feeding them and cleaning their field, takes two to three hours each morning and another two at night,” says Ken.
The business is continuing to evolve and the couple are looking into different ways to support the local community. “We get a lot of enquiries from nursing homes, and we’re looking at getting disabled access organised so that we can cater for everyone. We’ve had some children’s parties here and also get a lot of enquiries from schools.”
Jane also makes hats and scarves, which she knits from alpaca wool, to sell at Christmas markets as the business is closed for a period over the winter.
While it may not have been their initial plan to keep a herd of alpacas, the couple are more than content with their choice.
“We’ve realised our dream. Many people who visit say how much they’d love to do it. It’s such an escape, so tranquil, no passing traffic, no urban noise. It’s great being able to give people this experience.”
OUR CHÂTEAU HOME HAS PLENTY OF ROOM
Andrew and Sunita McDonald, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie
When Andrew, 45, and Sunita McDonald, 42, moved to France with their three children – Josh, now 13, Austyn, 11, and Annalise, eight – things didn’t quite go as planned. “We’d been looking at properties close to the Spanish border for over a year and bought a run-down château close to Toulouse in 2019,” says Sunita. “We had builders in to make it more liveable, but were not yet ready to move. However, we came for a short holiday in March 2020 and got locked down!”
With only a week’s worth of clothing each and a house that wasn’t yet complete, Sunita and the children made do with camping equipment as Andrew, a key worker, travelled to and from the UK. The family cat was still at their house in the UK, but luckily a friend house-sat and looked after her, until Andrew was able to drive over with her in June.
Missing their cat, the family began to put food out for a wild tomcat they’d seen in the driveway. Until, there was a surprise. “Andrew called me and said, ‘You know the cat? It’s female, not male’,” says Sunita. “How do you know?” I asked. “”Come and see’, he replied.”
The builders had discovered two kittens under a floorboard, being cared for by their mother. Five more followed a few months later. “We wanted to get the cat spayed, but could never catch her,” said Sunita.
Since that time, the family has become used to seeing lots of furry felines. “I also acquired a kitten who fell pregnant before I could get her sterilised,” says Sunita. “She had six! It was a bit of a shock. But the château is so big, it doesn’t feel like too many.”
Over time, the family have further increased the headcount with a rescue puppy and now rehome ex-battery hens too. They also recently acquired a goat, quite by chance. “When you have space, people offer you animals,” says Sunita. “But he’s been quite good, eating the brambles on the land.”
In fact, all the animals on site have a role to play. “Cats keep the mice at bay and the dog protects the home. The goat eats the brambles and the chickens lay eggs. We also have some geese now and they guard the chickens from foxes and other predators.”
While their youngest, Annalise, would love to add a horse or pony to the family’s menagerie, for the time being mum is drawing the line. “It’s so much work. She’s been asking for the past three years but I’d prefer to take her horse riding somewhere else.”
Growing up with animals has had a beneficial effect on the children. “It’s lovely raising the kids with animals. They learn so much from it. They have their chores, they have to feed the animals, put out clean cat litter. If they do something wrong they clean the chicken house! I think it makes children more compassionate, and they learn responsibility from caring for animals.”
WE MOVED FOR THE HORSES!
Lauren Quiblier, Deux-Sèvres, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
In 2002, when Lauren Quiblier’s parents decided to move to France, one of the main draws was the fact they’d be able to own horses. Aged just 12 when her parents Kate, now 56, and Roly, now 63, opted to emigrate, Lauren has no doubt that the move was life changing.
“We lived in a house in High Wycombe, but my parents wanted more space. At the time, all I wanted was a little pony of my own – which wasn’t possible in the UK at all as it would have been far too expensive,” she explains.
The family eventually settled in a farmhouse in the Vienne near Poitiers that came with five hectares of land. They acquired their first horse almost immediately.
“We were always animal people. In the UK, we had geckos, a dog and a cat, although only the dog came to France with us,” says Lauren.
“But once we were here, we never looked back.” The family currently have five horses, a Shetland pony, 10 chickens, a cockerel, two dogs and several cats that live in the barn some of which are feral.
Still, the family’s main focus has been the horses. To be able to ride as much as she wanted has been life changing for Lauren, now 34. “I’ve competed at dressage to a decent level in France. I’ve had opportunities to travel to big competitions, grooming for a friend who’s an international dressage rider. In the UK, I never had the chance to compete as it wasn’t affordable. Here, because the horses are at home, there are many more opportunities. I also have three competition horses, which is unheard of for an amateur rider in England.”
While it’s afforded a lot of opportunities, having so many animals also comes with a great deal of time-consuming responsibility. While Lauren has now married and moved out of the family home, she still works with her parents to look after the horses every day. “Each day, I get up and feed my own dogs and cats, then spend an hour feeding the horses,” she says. “Doing groundwork and potentially riding takes another three to four hours. My parents do the evening at present, which is another good hour.”
Lauren also juggles caring for the horses with her business as a distributor for a high-end horse supplement, and caring for her young baby, Scarlett. She and her husband Florian, 34, have also bought a house and are currently renovating it with a view to taking over the horses in the coming years.
Roly, Lauren’s father, who commuted to the UK for work as a structural engineer for many years, has now retired due to ill health. Her mother, who formerly worked locally in hospitality, has started her own horse-related business, washing and repairing horse rugs for local owners.
“The downside of having horses is that you can’t go on holiday or travel easily. But my parents are getting to the point where they might want to slow down and go on holiday more. The place Florian and I have bought has three hectares of land and will be perfect for the horses. And I’m looking forward to many years of riding in the future!”
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France runs a census every year, but it does not contact every household annually. Instead, it uses a rolling system where different areas (and, in larger towns, different addresses) are included on a rota. That is why you may hear about the census one year but not be contacted until a later year.
How often does the census happen?
The census takes place annually, but the method depends on the size of the commune.
In smaller communes (under 10,000 residents), the entire commune is counted once every five years. Each year, roughly one fifth of these smaller communes take part.
In larger communes (10,000 residents and over), census work happens every year, but only a sample of addresses is contacted in any one year (roughly around 8% of homes). This keeps population figures updated without needing to contact everyone annually.
When does it take place?
In practice, the census is carried out during a set campaign period early in the year (often across January and February), with exact dates and local communications handled through your mairie.
What is the census for?
The census is used to produce official population figures and to understand how people live in different parts of France. The results help guide local planning and funding, including services such as schools, transport, healthcare provision and housing needs.
What information does it ask for?
The questions are usually split into two parts: details about the home, and details about the people who normally live there.
Home questions are typically straightforward. They may include whether the property is a main home, second home or unoccupied, plus basic information such as the type of accommodation (house or flat) and simple characteristics like the number of rooms.
People questions focus on who normally lives in the household and broad background details such as age, work, education, commuting and household set-up (for example whether people live alone, as a couple, or as a family). The wording can vary, but it stays within these practical categories. Some questions may be optional and clearly marked as such.
Who needs to respond?
If you live in France at your main home and your address is selected that year, you are expected to complete the census. It is treated as an official request.
If you are only in France short term (for example on holiday or on a brief work trip), you are usually counted at your usual home rather than where you happen to be staying temporarily.
If you have a second home in France
A good rule of thumb is that people are counted where they normally live, at their main home.
If you own a second home in France, you are generally not “counted” there in the same way as you are at your main home. If contact is made about a second home, the focus is typically on recording the dwelling correctly as a second home and confirming basic property details, rather than completing full resident information as if it were your main address.
If you rent out your property, or it is empty
If you rent the property out on a long-term tenancy, the tenants normally complete the census household information, because the census counts where people actually live as their main home.
If the property is empty, it can be recorded as unoccupied. In that situation, the questions tend to focus on confirming the status of the dwelling rather than listing residents.
How the process works in practice
Most people are contacted locally and may receive information through their commune, followed by a visit from a census officer appointed by the town hall. A genuine census officer should be able to show an official ID card. If you are unsure, you can check by contacting the mairie.
Replying may be done online using access codes, or on paper depending on what is offered locally. The census is free. If anyone asks for payment or for bank details, treat that as a warning sign.
A quick “what should I do?” guide
- Main home in France selected: complete the home details and the details for everyone who normally lives there (adults and children).
- Second home: be ready to confirm it is a second home and provide basic property details if asked.
- Property let to tenants: the tenants normally complete the census, as they are the usual residents.
- Empty property: confirm it is unoccupied if contacted.
- Short stay in France: you are usually counted at your usual home, not your temporary address.
Useful French terms
- Recensement (de la population): census
- Mairie: town hall
- Agent recenseur: census officer
- Résidence principale: main home
- Résidence secondaire: second home
- Logement vacant: unoccupied/empty home
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The unexpected costs of living in rural France came as a bit of a shock in our first year living in Charente. We had moved from a reasonably large detached 1960’s property in the North-East of England to a three-story Charentaise ancienne maison, three independent gîtes and several barns and out-buildings.
Electricity
This was definitely an eye-opener. Before the UK price hikes for electricity, we came to France and used electricity in the same way as we had back home. Looking back, it was thoughtless and naïve, and we certainly were not as conscious of our consumption as we are now. I remember receiving our first annual bill after the reality had sunk in, and I vomited on the spot. It was a huge amount – equivalent to some people’s yearly wage. Electricité De France (EDF) took it in one go from our bank account; it was certainly a learning curve.
We immediately decided to reduce our consumption – changed to low-energy lightbulbs, removed unnecessary bulbs, installed timers on immersion heaters, removed electric kettles, insulated, installed double glazing, removed electric radiators with newer, more efficient alternatives, and so on and so forth. Working on lowering our electricity bill is always ongoing, this year and next, for example, we are expanding our use of solar panels.
Schooling Costs
Our children attended our local, wonderful state Primary school in Verdille. They began part way through the year in December, and in France, you are expected to provide all school supplies or your children. From all workbooks and stationery to a cup, toothbrush, toothpaste and a serviette for mealtimes, depending on the school’s policy. Every August, families receive money from the State to cover these costs via the CAF.
If you choose to educate your children privately, this may well be a welcome surprise in that school fees are considerably lower than in the UK.
Roofs
Be prepared for leaks! Never in my life have I experienced a leaking roof before moving to France. Even though this had been queried prior to us buying the property, every single roof had problems, the worst being the roof of the main house, which poured water into our daughter’s bedroom that first winter. My advice is to take a local registered maçon with you to view the house you are considering buying, as roofs are an expensive business. By ‘local’ I mean one that the local Mairie recommends. Ask them to assess your roofs (and anything else – wooden floors, cracks in walls, loft timbers), and then you can negotiate any issues before signing on the dotted line.
Depending on the construction of your roof, you may need to budget for an annual révision, where a roofer pushes any slipped tiles back into place, replaces any cracked tiles and does the necessary repairs before it rains in winter.
Heating
We moved to Charente in December. Our house, with its thick stone walls, had been empty for months before our arrival. As anyone who has lived in a stone house will tell you, it can feel like a fridge; it took two weeks for the house to warm up.
Oil-fired central heating is expensive, and the cost of wood per cubic metre has more than doubled in price over the last eight years. Installing a granulated heating boiler is more cost-effective and should substantially reduce your bills. Or research alternative heating solutions that are more efficient and eco-friendlier.
Renovation Costs
Many of us come here to renovate these magnificent properties and to restore them to their former glory, so do your sums first to avoid any nasty surprises. Materials have skyrocketed due to the global economic crisis, and artisans are not cheap because they are usually incredibly skilled, pay comparatively high taxes, and are insured, as registered maçon’s work is guaranteed for ten years.
Many are surprised by the day-to-day costs of living in France, so it is wise to have a ‘rainy day fund’ and then have another one in reserve, just in case these extra costs appear unexpectedly.
Bon courage!
America plans to increase requirements for tourists from visa-waiver countries to include social media account information. Nearly all departments across France have restored higher speeds on appropriate roads, while three departments toughen their penalties for drivers caught on their phones at the wheel. France’s interior minister will review the citizenship rules for foreign retirees. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.
The French Budget 2026 was pushed through last week. Read here about how it will affect you, from our French Tax Expert and Relocation Advisor, Debbie Nye.
US Tightens Travel Authorisation Rules for French Visitors
Travellers from France and other visa-waiver countries, such as the UK, hoping to travel to the United States will soon be required to provide more detailed personal information when applying for an ESTA travel authorisation. Under the updated rules, which are part of broader changes to the US Visa Waiver Programme aimed at strengthening border security, applicants must disclose social media account identifiers, telephone numbers from the past five years and email addresses used over the past decade.
A previously optional section on social media history will become mandatory, increasing data collection and potentially increasing application times. The changes are expected to take effect imminently and follow a recent increase in the ESTA application fee. Critics warn that the new requirements could deter tourists and complicate travel planning to America.
Nearly All Départements Scrap 80km/h Speed Limit on Secondary Roads
France’s long-debated 80 km/h speed limit on two-way secondary roads is being widely reversed, with the department of Eure becoming the 52nd to restore higher speeds where conditions allow. Under a 2019 law, local authorities can raise limits back to 90km/h on eligible rural roads after safety studies are completed. 80 km/h remains the national default where no change has been applied.
Read about driving in France here.
South-West France Cracks Down on Drivers Using Phones at the Wheel
Authorities in parts of south-west France are increasing penalties for motorists caught using mobile phones while driving, allowing police to suspend licences on the spot in a bid to improve road safety. The tougher enforcement applies specifically in the Landes, Lot-et-Garonne and Charente-Maritime departments, which is a step beyond the national rule that previously required another simultaneous offence for such action. Under standard French traffic law, drivers found holding a phone face a €135 fine and a three-point licence penalty, and can already lose their licence if caught during another violation, such as speeding.
French Minister to Review Citizenship Rules for Retirees
France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, has pledged to closely examine how current citizenship rules are applied to foreign retirees, amid claims that regulations introduced by his predecessor and how prefectures interpret them are making naturalisation unduly difficult. The review follows renewed calls from Charente senator Nicole Bonnefoy for more flexible rules for retirees whose income comes from abroad, with supporters saying many long-term residents are being rejected on ‘foreign income’ grounds despite being well integrated. The minister said he would scrutinise the issue in detail and ensure that guidelines are not applied too rigidly at the local level.
After months of delays, disorder, and political deadlock, France’s PM Sébastien Lecornu pushed the 2026 French Budget through the National Assembly. Here’s what we know so far from our Tax Expert and Relocation Advisor, Debbie Nye:
Principal Changes for Individuals
The personal income tax bands on the progressive scale have increased by 0.9% in line with inflation on 2025 income
Retirees will still get the 10% tax-free allowance on 2025 pension income (capped at 4439€ per household)
The level of social taxes (prélèvements sociaux) has increased by 1.4% from 17.2% to 18.6%.
However, it is the general social contribution known as ‘CSG’ that has increased by 1.4% within the overall rate of social taxes, meaning that those only paying the solidarity tax of 7.5% will not be affected by this increase.
As a reminder, social taxes apply to asset income, namely investment income and rental income from property. The solidarity tax, however, is only applicable to taxpayers who hold an S1 bilateral social security certificate and are not subject to compulsory French health insurance through a professional activity in France, as well as to non-resident, non-professional landlords who are affiliated with the NHS or with a national health system in another EU country.
The modest income subsidy known as prime d’activité will increase by an average of 50€ a month, for working people earning the equivalent of the minimum wage, or slightly more than the minimum wage.
University canteens will still offer students meals for 1€
Personal housing allowance (aide personnalisée au logement or APL) will not be reduced; there will be restrictions for non-EU students.
The differential high-income contribution known as CDHR (contribution différentielle sur les hauts revenus), brought in last year to ensure a minimum 20% taxation on exceptionally high-income households, has been extended for an additional year.
A new rental landlord status has been created, called bailleur privé (private rental landlord) adding to the current council housing market. The aim is to create more affordable rental housing in the market in areas where there is a lack of accommodation available.
Details will follow in a separate update on rental activities.
From January 2026, all cryptocurrency platforms will be obliged to collect and automatically send details to the French tax authorities of any transactions made by their users.
Public Spending
The government has increased its defence budget in light of the current tensions with NATO. At the same time, they have promised to reduce public spending across various ministries as well as on the investment programme that had been previously agreed for 2030.
Although local authorities may see a reduction in their budgets, the reduction is not as harsh as was originally suggested. Also, the government is cutting jobs across the public sector, including jobs in unemployment offices, schools and ministries.
Principal Changes for Businesses
There was no reduction in the VAT thresholds for micro-entrepreneurs in the 2026 Budget.
However, a reform is still likely in the near future, particularly with regards to certain categories of activity.
A 20% tax on certain professional assets will be applied to assets owned by patrimonial holding companies with their head office in France, liable for corporation tax, where a shareholder owns at least 50% of financial or voting rights, or where the head office is based outside of France and a shareholder that owns at least 50% of financial or voting rights is tax resident in France.
A surtax will be applied to the very largest businesses from 2027 with increases in various charges and taxes of around 0.3% (increasing to an average of 43.9%).
At the same time, the phasing out of the CVAE (cotisation sur la valeur ajoutée des entreprises), a type of value-added contribution from businesses, has been removed from the Budget, meaning it will still be due by certain businesses.
Running gîtes has always held a certain degree of romanticism for me – being my own boss, being free of Government-driven targets; ultimately, having the freedom to choose what my day-to-day life is like. The reality, of course, is that it is all those things and lots of hard work and we are pretty much tied to our home.
Here’s how we roll with the seasons at La Grue Gites:
Winter
Every year, we welcome house hunters to La Grue Gîtes , and there are lots of preparations involved. All our properties are deep cleaned after the summer season – cupboards emptied and a full états des lieux or stock-take of what we have is done, any required replacements are ordered, and improvements are made. Soft furnishings are steam-cleaned and washed, and out comes all our winter soft furnishings; nothing is missed on our thorough checklist.
We also complete our annual safety checks – the boiler is serviced, chimneys are swept, and electrical wires and pipework are checked too. We use professional, registered local businesses. This is to ensure safety and to try and avoid any breakdowns over the winter period as much as possible.
Wood and fuel deliveries are made prior to guests arriving, ready for the colder weather. You might want to consider cosy extras to ensure your guests are warm and feel at home. The gardens are pruned, and the summer geraniums give way to winter pansies for a splash of colour around the gardens. Christmas trees and decorations go up and come down!
It is also the season of accounting – all our paperwork is filed for the accountant. Courage!
Spring
Spring is a popular time for longer-term rentals, so the thorough deep cleaning in between the longer stays continues.
Spring is a time for spending! As the weather is usually nice, it is a great time for any renovations and painting. All the exterior walls, poolside and around the gîtes are painted. It is pricey, and there is a reason why: there is a French paint designed specifically for this climate, and we have seen it saves work in the long run. Metal gates are sanded and touched up, as are the pergolas.
Anything in need of replacement or ‘project’ work takes place. This year, we are hoping to install more solar panels to reduce our impact on our planet in line with our écogeste status. Spring bulbs pop up and work starts in the gardens – the grass cutting season starts again – and days are spent on the ride-on mower with an occasional beer in hand!
Summer
Summer is characterised by peaks of frenetic activity and lazy moments soaking up the beauty of the gorgeous Charente while our guests are out exploring! We keep a store of ‘spares’ such as loo seats and bath plugs, tablecloths, coffee machines, toasters, microwaves, etc., just in case there is a last-minute issue between the busy summer changeovers.
Days begin with watering the bedding plants from our water butts and making sure everything is looking its best before our guests wake. We must maintain the pool up to three times a day in the peak season – it is cleaned early every morning and checked three times a day to ensure the levels are correct.
Autumn
After being in beautiful Charente for eight years now, I feel summer stretches on forever, and then one day, snap, it is over like the flick of a switch. In Autumn, there are still many beautiful, sunny days, and it is a glorious time for guests to explore food markets, the brocantes and to sample the regional produce. But for La Grue Gìtes, Autumn means prepare for winter – all our summer wooden furniture is stored in the barn, we bring out plastic furniture for our winter rentals for those sunny days.
Roofs are checked for leaks, and repairs are done; walls are pointed if necessary to protect them from the winter wet weather. If you need a professional, we recommend contacting them in the Spring to book them in.
Woodwork is touched up again to protect it from the rain, and the pool is over-wintered. This is a movable feast – it depends on outdoor temperature, and then we are back to the winter months!
In short, there is always something to keep you busy in a customer-focused business that you love. The ideas for development are endless! We have some truly amazing guests who return year on year, and many supporters too, without whom none of this would be possible.
Best of luck with all your gîte-related work this coming year!
Stripping a property back to the facts, and having a clear vision of what those facts could become, are the key to a successful purchase, says planning expert Tom Easdown…
For many overseas buyers, purchasing a home in France begins with a vision – drinks on a sunny terrace, stone walls steeped in history, or the romance of transforming a rural farmhouse into a family retreat. Yet between dream and reality lies a vital, often overlooked process: due diligence.
In nearly every property purchase in the world the principle of ‘caveat emptor’ (buyer beware) exists – that it is the buyer’s responsibility to determine if the property is fit for their purpose.
In the UK, US and many other countries, whole industries exist to protect the purchaser through legal assistance (real estate solicitors or attorneys) and professional assessments (building inspectors and surveyors). In France, however, the emphasis remains on the individual buyer to determine whether a property is truly the right one for them.
BUYING WELL
The key to buying well in France lies in combining rigorous investigation with creative foresight, combining due diligence with visioning to see the reality of a property today and the possibilities it holds for the future. Buying property in France is highly regulated and one of the safest transaction processes in the world but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its quirks.
For many international buyers, getting a building survey is the norm but in France that isn’t the case and, in fact, is a relatively underused service.
What is provided within the sales process is a set of diagnostic reports, which highlight issues associated with thermal performance, electrical system compliance, drainage system compliance, flood risk, subsidence risk, the presence of lead, asbestos and insects, and also gas installations if applicable.
While these reports are useful, they rarely paint the whole picture. For example, a subsidence report may indicat a risk but not whether the property has been affected. A termite report may confirm pests but not whether the structure has been damaged. Commissioning a survey, especially if the building is old or you have significant plans for it, can provide peace of mind and allow you to limit the potential surprises that could affect budgets and timelines.
ZONE IN
Alongside understanding the physical condition of the property, it is also important to understand the planning and legal position. The notaire, during the period between signing of the compromis de vente and the signing of the acte de vente, will ensure that the property title is clear and if there are any issues of rights of way, servitude or charges on the property.
What often gets overlooked, however, is the property’s planning zoning and any future development plans nearby. Once again, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to ensure the planning zoning allows for their development plans and to identify and consider any proposed developments in the area.
A picturesque barn may seem ripe for conversion but if local planning rules prohibit the change of use, the dream can quickly collapse. It is also important to understand if the property is close to a historic monument or is itself protected as this can affect what future development is possible. Financial due diligence should also not be overlooked.
Renovation costs in France vary widely, and buyers often underestimate the scale of investment required to bring older properties up to modern standards. Only recently we did some work on a small château where the costs of improving the thermal performance was more than €200,000; fortunately, our clients had engaged us to undertake pre-purchase reviews and this figure was in the budget, but if it had come as a surprise it could have led to difficult decisions and compromise.
BARE TRUTHS
In essence, due diligence is about stripping away the layers of romance and marketing to reveal the bare truth of a property. Done well, it empowers buyers to make informed decisions, avoid any unpleasant surprises and, ultimately, approach their French property journey with confidence. If due diligence strips a property back to the facts, visioning is about imagining what those facts could become. It means looking past the peeling wallpaper, hay-filled barn or outdated layouts and recognising the potential hidden in a building’s bones.
French property offers so much opportunity and potential but the imagination to see what a property could become must remain grounded in reality: the reality of a purchaser’s budget, the reality of planning regulation and the structural reality of the building. In the end visioning is not about indulging a fantasy but about unlocking an opportunity; when it is combined and interlinked with rigorous due diligence, it allows buyers to see a neglected property not for its flaws but for the real home it could one day become.
Turning due diligence and visioning into action requires structure. The most successful buyers in France follow a clear process, supported by the right team.
Assemble your team early: Estate agents are helpful for finding properties but their role is to sell. Independent professionals, such as architects, surveyors or renovation consultants, give unbiased insight. Legal help in your own language can also be a helpful service to investigate.
Go beyond the legally required diagnostic report: A full structural survey and renovation cost estimate provide facts that enable confident decisions.
Investigate planning and permissions: Visit the local mairie (or appoint someone to do it for you) to confirm the property’s zoning and if there are due to be any changes. Ask about recent planning approvals near to the property. Ensure that your vision is feasible in regulatory terms.
Build a realistic budget: Work through your vision to build a realistic plan for the property, combine this with the information gathered in the survey to develop a budget that includes professional fees and a contingency. Trimming a budget before work commences is a lot easier than trying to do it halfway through because an unknown or unforeseen issue arises.
Take your time: French property purchases can feel slow compared to other countries, but this pace is an advantage. Use it to gather information, ask the right questions and refine your vision.
THE RIGHT BALANCE
Buying property in France is often described as a dream, but in truth it is a decision that demands both head and heart. It comes down to balance, focusing only on the technical risks overlooking the opportunities; relying solely on the romance can lead to disappointment.
The right due diligence equips the buyer with clarity; merging this with the right vision allows for the dream of a barn conversion or a stylish pied-a-terre to become a reality. One without the other leaves the buyer feeling exposed: facts without imagination can feel limiting, but imagination without facts can be ruinous.
For buyers willing to pair rigour with imagination, France offers something rare: the chance to not only acquire stones and mortar but to create a life within them that reflects both ambition and authenticity.
Tom Easdown is an Architect and Managing Director at French Plans
Tel: 0033 (0)6 75 05 36 86
frenchplans.com
The unique mix of legal, financial and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, inspiring real life stories, the best properties on the market, entertaining regular pages and the latest property news and market reports makes French Property News magazine a must-buy publication for anyone serious about buying and owning a property in France.