THERE is a good chance that once you have bought somewhere in France you will want to do some work on it.
Depending on the size of the project it may be necessary to apply for a permis de construire or building permit.
Applications for the permis are free and can be made either by yourself, or the builder or architect handling the work in you name.
Your plans are sent with your application to the local mairie and should show the scale of the work, the surface area involved and any changes to the exterior of the property.
If it is quite a small job then you could provide the details yourself with the assistance of staff at the mairie.
Larger projects might be best left in the hands of your architect.
Around two weeks later you should receive a registration number and a date by which you can expect to receive a decision.
Details of your plans will be placed in the mairie and on the actual plot so that neighbours can contest the application, which must be done within two months.
Make sure you get notice of approval for the work, as it could be an expensive job to have to take it all down again.
Plus you have two years to carry out the approved work and the option to extend this by 12 months if required.
A lesser document is also available for work of low importance such as swimming pools, which is called a declaration de travaux.