The Bereavement Support Network
A group of volunteers offer support to the bereaved or the terminally ill and their families…
health
What you need to know about health insurance in France
There are many things to enjoy about living in France – the excellent food, the culture, the climate. It is also a country that boasts a very high standard of healthcare, but if you’re planning to reside in France long-term,…
Lead in Your French Home
When do you need a mandatory inspection? Throughout France, an inspection for the presence of lead in paintwork is mandatory when any building built before January 1949 is sold (both common areas and/or areas for private use). The inspection must…
Do I Need a Building Survey?
There is no requirement in France to have a pre-purchase ‘building survey’ done. There are laws requiring a vendor to provide diagnostiques including: termites, asbestos, lead paint, energy efficiency, electrical and gas installations, plus environmental risks such as earthquakes and…
The stress of living the dream
Having lived here for three years, I’d forgotten what a shock it can be coming to live in France. But I’m witnessing at close hand a friend who has just made the move and how hard it is for them to adjust. Any suggestions how I can help?
Universal healthcare in France: the PUMA reform
In January 2016, the old CMU system was replaced by the new Protection Universelle Maladie known as PUMA for short. Here’s what you need to know …
Asbestos in Your French House
Asbestos is considered to be a lethal product in France and the use and manufacture of asbestos-based materials has been forbidden since 1997…
Small business in France: the former auto-entrepreneur becomes ‘micro-entrepreneur’
The structure is aimed at simplifying administrative formalities for the self-employed in France.
Be covered: An introduction to insurance in France
While you will be familiar with home and car insurance, in France you also have to know about civil liability and other policies that may be new
France Calls Ban on Sales of Roundup Weedkiller
France’s Minister Ségolene Royale has called for a ban on over the counter sales of the weedkiller Roundup, as part of a larger offensive with regards to the banning of pesticides.
Learning French: Give your gym vocabulary a workout
Gym equipment can be confusing at the best of times – even more so when instructions are in French. So welcome to our essential guide to vocabulary for la salle de sport.
Retiring to France? What you need to think about
The New UK Pension Regime and Expatriates in France
The new UK pension regime came into effect from 6th April, 2015. This is a major change for retirees, with the restrictions on how much income and lump sum you can take being removed for defined contribution schemes.
English speaking? Affected by cancer in France? CSF can help
When we pack up and set out for a new life in France, full of eager anticipation, none of us expects to become ill. The medical culture is different, the language barrier becomes even harder, friends and family are far away. CSF can help.
French onion soup recipe from the Cévennes
This is what they eat to warm themselves up in the Cévennes mountains in winter … if it works for them, it could help us through our cold winter too. Here is a delicious French bistro staple.
The best gardens and parks of Paris
At times we all need to escape the frenetic pace of city life, and luckily France’s capital has no end of green spaces. Read on to discover Florence Derrick’s top three parks in which to steal a breath of fresh air in Paris.
Pre-approval Is the Perfect Preparation for Viewing Trips
For British people, the prospect of purchasing a new property in France can inspire excitement and apprehension in equal doses. Owning your own little corner of France is often a dream waiting to come true, but the process of completing…
Pet passport procedure
A pet passport means that your much-loved animal can easily travel with you to France, but getting your pet ready for travel can take weeks or months. Vet Diana James takes you through the process, step-by-step.
Top French Tax Tips
Baffled by the French tax system? Preparing to leave the UK to set up home in your dream French home? Already here? Here’s some handy advice…
Useful French phrases: season’s greetings and more
Whether it be season’s greetings in French on Christmas, Easter, birthdays or any other occasion, here is what you need to say. Plus other useful phrases…
Non! France to show chocolate the red card
A proposed labelling system could soon mark foods according to their “health” factor.
Healthcare
Healthcare in France Welcome to our comprehensive guide to the French Healthcare System. Here, you can find answers to your questions about health cover in France, accessing l’Assurance Maladie, getting your carte vitale, the S1 form, or your rights in early…
Loi ALUR Complicates Apartment Sales in France
The new law that came into effect on March 24, the loi ALUR (Accès au Logement et à un Urbanisme Rénové) has added new steps to the contract…
“Le Burnout” In the Land of the 35-hour Work Week
There’s been quite a bit of noise lately in the French media about the phenomenon referred to as le burn-out, following calls to recognize it as an official medical condition under labour law. Although exhaustion is nothing new, the lack…
French Word of the Week: “Ennui”
For all the good intentions and inescapable cheer, the holidays can be followed by indefinable hollowness. There’s no need to fight the feeling; you can wear it with style and choose to view it as a trés chic état d’esprit.
Peak Demand for Oyster Farmers in France
It’s not a French Christmas or Réveillon without oysters, and these two weeks account for 69% of annual revenue for oyster farmers. Despite reports earlier this year of a mystery disease killing off oysters in droves, and an expected increase…
French Rules on Septic Tanks
Certain rules apply to properties which are not connected to mains drainage. French Law Solicitors Heslop & Platt, look at what this means for residential property buyer and sellers.
The cost of going to the doctor in France
Need medical attention? Take a look at our guide of what you can expect to pay when you visit a doctor in France.
UPDATE: When are you entitled to free universal healthcare CMU?
The French authorities have confirmed the cases when free state healthcare cover CMU is granted.
Running a chambres d’hôtes in France
Offering guest accommodation in France, such as running a chambres d’hôtes, can be an effective way to supplement your income, respecting certain conditions.
Specialities from Vichy
Take a trip to the thermal spa town in Auvergne and you’ll find a lots of local delicacies on the menu. Here’s our at a glance guide to what to eat and drink in Vichy, whether you are on a health kick or need to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Healthcare in France – An Introduction
Introduction: Although being expensive to maintain – the World Health Organisation has stated that France spends 11% of GDP on healthcare and outranks major countries on this basis – France offers a wide choice of general practitioners and healthcare specialists.…
Noisy Neighbours
Clients are generally very happy with their French properties and we seldom hear about noise disturbance and the annoyance and stress this causes. But one particular case has encouraged us to write this article…
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Take a Closer Look at the Limousin Tree Population
A thought provoking piece from professional tree surgeon Darren Edwards that helps us better understand the importance of trees in our lives …….. “we can learn a lot about the condition, health and life of a tree just by studying its body language.”
Who You Need to Inform When Moving to France from the UK
There will be many things to do in arranging a move to France and a lot of people to tell. Here’s how to avoid unnecessary delays in getting your UK pension income paid to you gross and how to ensure that you receive any medical cover that you are entitled to in France.
‘Contributions Sociales’ or ‘Social Taxes’
Since the Contribution Sociale Généralisée (CSG) were introduced in 1991 they have been the source of much confusion for tax residents in France. Many expats who are now classified as tax residents of France would have received bills for Contributions Sociales in October and may been wondering exactly what they are.
What advertisers say about FrenchEntrée
FrenchEntrée advertising works, but don’t just take our word for it… Come and see what our advertisers say, from directory advertisers to exclusive sponsors.
Providing Furnished Property Rental
Furnished property rentals bring many benefits but have you also thought about your obligations and the tax implications? Below you will find a brief summary of the main points you need to consider when running furnished property rentals in France.
Tax, pensions, healthcare – what you need to know
Image not found.Fine wine, exquisite cheeses, access to one of the best healthcare systems in the world… and a totally different taxation system await you.
Nikki’s veggie poem
Nikki Emmerton from ‘Under the Lime Tree’, a vegetarian B&B in the Charente, has written this poem to inspire vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
The Stress of Living the Dream
Having lived here for three years, I’d forgotten what a shock it can be coming to live in France. But I’m witnessing at close hand a friend who has just made the move and how hard it is for them to adjust.
Accessing the French healthcare system
The WHO regularly rates the French healthcare system as amongst the best in the world. So for UK nationals planning a move to France, the question is not “can France offer me the same standard of healthcare as the UK?” but “how will I get access to the benefits of the French health service?”
Get your five a day the French way
Amongst the ever changing array of fruit and vegetables on offer at France’s markets and restaurants, expatriates might discover produce unknown to them.
Income Tax in the UK and France Compared
Early April in the UK sees the end of one tax year and the start of another. While in France, the end of April brings the delivery of annual household tax forms for return to the French taxman by the end of May.
French healthcare – are you covered?
When it comes to healthcare in France, ‘Be Prepared’ is the motto. Johanna Matthews explains why keeping your fingers crossed and hoping for the best is asking for trouble.
Chats Du Quercy
The purpose of Chats du Quercy is to find permanent, safe homes for homeless cats and kittens with responsible and caring owners. We aim to provide quality, short term housing in a safe, disease-free and stimulating environment…
Can you live in France and work in the UK?
French culture is very family-orientated and it is therefore not surprising that moving to France has an increasing appeal to young families with dependant school-age children. But how to adopt a French lifestyle and maintain the necessary household income to…
Veggie food for dogs and cats
Many vegetarians think that vegetarian food is not produced for dogs and cats. This is not so….nutritional food for both dogs and cats, that provides all the essential ingredient they need for a healthy life, can now be bought here in France.
Two natural ‘miracle’ paints
Although recent EU legislation had limited the VOC contents of paints this does not mean that all paints are now “green”, safe and natural.
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Dog Links
A new organization has been set up working across France to help rehome dogs, many of whom have had a terrible past, some of who are no longer able to live with their current owners through no fault of their own and some who face certain death within the over stretched SPA pounds.Please take a minute to read through the information from dog links, even if you are not in a position to offer a dog a permanent home there are still many things you can do to help.
