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Living in France
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"Hi
We live in La Rochelle 
Bisous "
Any advice, we are considering moving from the uk. Did it take you long to find the area you wanted, did you keep the house in the uk. Huge step, don’t know where to start |
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By *lex7509Man 44 weeks ago
Chesterfield |
Don’t live in France, but work there a lot. Just about to head over for 8 nights in Paris and Lyon.
My 17th trip this year!! Plenty of Eurostar and Accor points 😂
Male half of a couple, (can’t update profile?), partner is French and spends her time either in La Rochelle or Paris. |
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By *coptoCouple 40 weeks ago
Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth |
“… considering moving from the uk. Did it take you long to find the area you wanted, did you keep the house in the uk. Huge step, don’t know where to start”
For me, a condicio sine qua non is a reasonable knowledge of French, otherwise you’ll struggle with things like estate agents, lawyers, town hall, driving licences etc. And, of course, you won’t then be restricted to “Brits Abroad” enclaves like Brittany, Normandy, Charente and “Dordogneshire” where house prices are more expensive than the French would pay for something better somewhere else.
In our own case, we’ve had a gaff in the South of France for nearly forty years, holiday home until BREXIT/COVID, now live here permanently (I’ve a Titre de Séjour so no faffing about having my passport stamped, missus is German so no problems).
You’re probably buggered with the 90-day visiting restriction, my own feeling is that you’d be better buying a small, cheap place in an area you fancy, get known there and become a French Resident. You’ll then be able to move up to better things... |
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"..enclaves like Brittany, Normandy, Charente and “Dordogneshire” where house prices are more expensive than the French would pay for something better somewhere else.
.."
What complete and utter bollox. |
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By *coptoCouple 40 weeks ago
Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth |
Possibly the contributors to this site are more “at home” in France than most of the people I meet in the UK, in which case I apologise.
But my UK acquaintances include neighbours who paid a fortune for a gaff in the arsehole of Normandy and returned home ‘cos nobody talked to them (in English ffs?), a family with a very expensive villa in Ciutadella who don’t speak a word of Spanish, and even my uncle had a place in southern Spain so my aunt could cross into Gibralter for shopping (Tetley tea bags from Tesco?).
Living here and having integrated seamlessly with the “natives”, I’m perhaps a little TOO dismissive of those who find it more difficult… |
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Latest figures I can find for Manche house purchases 2023.
Majoritairement, des gens d’ici : 71 % sont originaires de la Manche. La part de Franciliens reste stable (8,6 % des acheteurs) et préfère la côte sud (16,5 %). Marginaux avec leur 2,2 % dans la Manche, les étrangers ont un net penchant pour le pays d’Avranches (5,7 %). La progression la plus notable est celle des Français, ne venant ni de Normandie ni d’Ile-de-France, passant la barre des 10 %.
So 71% are Normans
9% Parisians, they do like an expensive Maison secondaire on the coast.
2% are foreigners, that's all foreigners not just British. I'd say at least as many Dutch as British buying at the moment.
10% are other French, not Norman or Parisians moving to Normandy.
Makes a nonsense of your inference that British pay over the odds and are affecting house prices causing French to buy elsewhere. |
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By (user no longer on site) 39 weeks ago
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Oh dear
You do have a chip on your shoulder.
"“… considering moving from the uk. Did it take you long to find the area you wanted, did you keep the house in the uk. Huge step, don’t know where to start”
For me, a condicio sine qua non is a reasonable knowledge of French, otherwise you’ll struggle with things like estate agents, lawyers, town hall, driving licences etc. And, of course, you won’t then be restricted to “Brits Abroad” enclaves like Brittany, Normandy, Charente and “Dordogneshire” where house prices are more expensive than the French would pay for something better somewhere else.
In our own case, we’ve had a gaff in the South of France for nearly forty years, holiday home until BREXIT/COVID, now live here permanently (I’ve a Titre de Séjour so no faffing about having my passport stamped, missus is German so no problems).
You’re probably buggered with the 90-day visiting restriction, my own feeling is that you’d be better buying a small, cheap place in an area you fancy, get known there and become a French Resident. You’ll then be able to move up to better things..."
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By *istalloverCouple 39 weeks ago
Pays de la Loire -Normandie -Brittany borderFrance |
In your 1st comment you are considering relocating to France then your living here and integrating
Your comments are all about 3rd party people aunties acquaintances uncles and neighbours .
France is what YOU make it NOT anybody else, It's not for everybody and alot move back but surely that is their problem and not for you to judge.
And I'm sure from memory Gt Yarmouth is more of an arsehole place than the whole of Normandie.
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By *coptoCouple 38 weeks ago
Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth |
Kistallover,
The “1st comment” was actually quoting Ukguy4444’s post … we ourselves have owned property in France for over 40 years. And our only connection with Great Yarmouth is that we have family who work in the James Paget Hospital. |
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Maison secondaire 86. Love it here. Love speaking French. Fairly regular visitor on my own to Alina sauna in Poitiers. Ms L2L here. Comme tous, je suis en train de renovation, so the sauna is a welcome treat x |
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We live permanently near the Cap but finding now that many second home owners are selling up because of high taxes and not just the Brits.
Talking this morning to some Swedish neighbours who are in this position, because if you are not a permanent resident you are obliged to pay both the Taxe d'habitation and the
Taxe Foncière.
For them, they pay 6000 euros p.a. whereas ours is 1800 euros for a similar size house.
In our town, the mayor has increased the second home tax (taxe d'habitation) by 60% to cover shortfalls in the town budget.
Along the coast taxes can be high and many in land pay a lot less but you should be aware that having a secondary home anywhere in France will double your council tax compared to permanent residents.
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By *coptoCouple 32 weeks ago
Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth |
That must be some gaff!
We've an apartment near St Trop, just paid our Taxes Foncieres, 929 euro.
As you say, permanent residencies are no longer liable to Taxe d'Habitation, we last paid ours in 2022, 894 euro.
Still cheaper than the UK though, the Council Tax for our house in Great Yarmouth is £278 a month. |
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By *oufouCouple 29 weeks ago
Somerset |
"Oh dear
You do have a chip on your shoulder.
“… And, of course, you won’t then be restricted to “Brits Abroad” enclaves like Brittany, Normandy, Charente and “Dordogneshire” where house prices are more expensive than the French would pay for something better somewhere else."
Richard the Lionheart has entered the chat… |
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By *W55Man 29 weeks ago
Brecon |
I am in Dept 50 near Coutances, unfortunately I do not live in my cottage full time, bloody brexit Grrr, always looking for local couples, singles to meet up with even just for a social, nothing going on around here, does anyone know of any local dogging spots to visit????? |
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As we all know there are some really beautiful parts of France and you can pick up lovely homes for a fraction of what you pay in the UK
We were always aware of this through friends living in their romantic dream houses.
Of course the downside is that many places are dead for much of the year even if you’re not a swinger.
This greatly influenced us when we bought by the coast 10 years ago.
We like our place but it wasn’t cheap nor ‘romantic’
It is however very lively throughout the year with lots and lots of celebrations and festivities plus the deciding factor for us, we’re 15 mins drive from the Cap Village.
Even in the depth of winter there’s fun to be had. |
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Had an offer accepted in Soudeval, looking to stay there regularly and possibly relocate permanently. The house needs a lot of work though, so if anyone knows where I can source preformed attic trusses and a decent supplier for roof tiles that’s cheaper than chausson please feel free to let us know 😂 |
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"preformed attic trusses and a decent supplier for roof tiles "
For the wood try SARL Tumoine.
Builders merchant, get a devi from Vimond. You will get a discount if you open an account.
Wherever you go you'll be in for a nasty shock how expensive materials are  |
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"Had an offer accepted in Soudeval, looking to stay there regularly and possibly relocate permanently. The house needs a lot of work though, so if anyone knows where I can source preformed attic trusses and a decent supplier for roof tiles that’s cheaper than chausson please feel free to let us know 😂"
We are starting our renovation at Tinchebray in the Spring. Bought the place last year - the wheels grind slowly in France so we now have full planning permission.
The roof we will get done - it is too big and high to do by myself and by the time the difference in VAT (plus the builder’s discount) on materials is taken into account it isn’t worth the pain of carrying thousands of slates up there.
As another poster has said materials are ridiculously expensive. We are still looking for reasonable suppliers for electrical, plumbing, timber, windows, doors, lime, sand and gravel.
We have found that materials can be twice the price when compared to the UK, particularly for finishing and sealing stuff.
If you’re planting your garden then try Molly & Val’s for bare root plants.
Brico Cash at Flers is a bit rough but some things are reasonably priced. |
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By *coptoCouple 26 weeks ago
Côte d'Azur & Great Yarmouth |
B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Dépôt etc. are all owned by the same company (Kingfisher), sell the same items at pretty much the same price in France as in the UK.
Shame about the shitty GBP/EUR exchange rate, though! |
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By *deepdiveMan 25 weeks ago
Canterbury and France (26) |
"As we all know there are some really beautiful parts of France and you can pick up lovely homes for a fraction of what you pay in the UK
We were always aware of this through friends living in their romantic dream houses.
Of course the downside is that many places are dead for much of the year even if you’re not a swinger.
This greatly influenced us when we bought by the coast 10 years ago.
We like our place but it wasn’t cheap nor ‘romantic’
It is however very lively throughout the year with lots and lots of celebrations and festivities plus the deciding factor for us, we’re 15 mins drive from the Cap Village.
Even in the depth of winter there’s fun to be had."
You are correct about choosing a location where there is life all year round!
We live about three hours from Cap in a lovely area (about one hour south of Lyon and by the Rhône) but, in the winter it can be pretty dead!
Summer is fine as the weather is lovely (too hot at times) but I can't simply walk out my front door and be entertained - I have to drive!
Fortunately we are well integrated locally and play golf, ski, bridge and keep ourselves occupied. I also do a lot of motorcycle touring all over the World so am often away exploring but, if moving to France, choose where you move to carefully to suit your lifestyle rather than simply on price! |
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By *hant22Couple (MM) 23 weeks ago
BOLTON |
"B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Dépôt etc. are all owned by the same company (Kingfisher), sell the same items at pretty much the same price in France as in the UK.
Shame about the shitty GBP/EUR exchange rate, though!"
I find Castorama is quite a bit cheaper than B&Q. Easy to compare as the same company and products. |
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"Merry Christmas to all that live here,have a lovely time xxx
Merry Christmas to you and to all our fellow piss poor French speakers here in France.
A bonne santé 🍻🍻🍻"
Bah Humbugmass from Normandie.
Although I would point out my French is actually fluent after a bottle of red! |
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400 year old stone Presbytery, love the house but not a great investment. Recently valued at same price we bought 10 years ago. Wife is fluently bilingual I can order an open tray of frites at the weekly food van! |
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