French Homeowner’s Checklist: Your To-Do List

• Ensure all the mandatory diagnostic surveys have been carried out on your property before you sign the Acte de Vente.
• If you are purchasing a rural property with a fosse septique (septic tank) or non-collective sewage treatment system, be sure that the SPANC report has been carried out and that your system meets the required standards.
• Visit your local Mairie to get a copy of the plans cadastraux detailing your property’s land boundaries and find out about any maintenance requirements, public land or rights of way, or water sources on your land.
• Check which utilities your property uses – for example, are you connected to mains gas, are you connected to the mains sewage system of is there a fosse septique, and what kind of heating system is in place?
• Consider the heating system at your French property – heating accounts for around 75% of energy consumption in the average home, so you’ll want to make the best choice for your needs. You might even need to budget for the installation of a different central heating system.

• Take out a French home insurance contract to cover your new home. If your property is a second home, you might need to take out a special holiday home insurance policy.
• Set up the utilities, including gas, water, and electricity.
• Be sure to shop around for the best deals on electricity tariffs and suppliers and gas at your French property.
• Set up your TV, internet, and landline phone connection.
• Visit your local Mairie to find out about waste collection services and recycling requirements in your commune.
• Ensure that your property meets legal safety standards, for example, that it is fitted with a smoke detector. If you have a swimming pool, be sure that it also meets the legal security recommendations.

• Organise for your utility bills to be paid monthly or quarterly – if your income or financial assets are in a foreign currency, you might also want to consult our Currency Exchange zone.
• Carry out general maintenance tasks on your home and garden – remember that it is your responsibility to maintain any trees or hedges that border your neighbour’s property.
• Organise for your boiler to be serviced and your chimney (if applicable) to be swept once a year – failure you to do so might invalidate your home insurance policy.
• Pay your French property taxes (Taxe Foncière and Taxe d’Habitation), which are typically sent out in September each year.
• If your property has a fosse septique or sewage treatment system, have a SPANC inspection carried out every four years to ensure your system meets current regulations.
• If you are a second-home owner, consider hiring a property management company to look after your property during your absence.

Our Essential Reading articles cover everything you need to know as a French homeowner from property taxes and home insurance to paying your bills. Perhaps you also need recommendations on removals to France, advice on building and renovations, or tips for managing a second home? FrenchEntrée is here to help! We can even advise on selling your French property.