Category: Property

THE inheritance tax problems faced by same-sex couples registered in a civil partnership from outside France are to be raised in the European Parliament.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MEP Elspeth Attwooll has joined a number of colleagues in launching a Written Declaration (number 0076/2008) in the European Parliament to urge the Commission to draw up guidelines for mutual recognition between Member States.

While the UK recognises the French equivalent of its own civil partnership, the pacte civil de solidarité (PACS), the reverse is not the case.

(more…)

A CHANGE to the way tax is calculated on those running a gite accommodation business is slowly progressing through the French parliament.

Here regular contributor to the site, lawyer Guillaume Barlet, takes a look at the possible implications for those who are considered to operate a location en meublé professionnel or non professionnel.

(more…)

PARIS, the City of Lights, can inspire and thrill, as well as make people do the craziest of things at the drop of a hat.

And Maria Anton is one such person, as she was inspired to write a book about her adventures in buying a small flat that all started during a mobile phone conversation whilst in the toilet.

“I was in Paris visiting my daughter, Nikki, walking around the shops when I just had to go to the toilet, so we dived into a small bar and I rushed off to the smallest room,” Maria said.

(more…)

THANKS to a comment on the forum an advice page in English about electricity in France was highlighted that features some useful basic information.

The page is part of the EDF website and provides a quick overview of payment methods, meter readings and a couple of pointers about different voltages.

And whilst other pages linked to are in French, the English language page may prove helpful for people who are planning a move.

Related article: Electricity tariffs in France

A SERIES of maps have been released by the civil aviation authorities charting the noise levels of aircraft around the major airports of France.

The maps from the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile outline current levels, but also cast an eye forward to the future and estimate the areas around airports that may be affected by increased flights.

The airports concerned are Bâle-Mulhouse, Bordeaux Mérignac, Lyon Saint Exupéry, Marseille Provence, Nice Côte d’Azur, Paris – Charles de Gaulle, Paris – Orly and Toulouse Blagnac.

THE inequality that the French inheritance tax system has towards same-sex couples from outside France could see many people face bills totalling 60 per cent of the value of their assets.

At present the French system does not recognise couples who have registered under civil partnership arrangements in their own countries, so on the death of one the surviving partner is treated as an individual and will be charged inheritance tax.

Campaigns have been started in both the French parliament and Europe to change the current set up, but surviving partners have already faced tax demands at a time when they are still grieving.

(more…)

THERE is no doubt that the internet has helped balance the advantage those with information had over those without, and this is especially so when it comes to property prices.

Being able to get an idea of what has been paid for property, from small city apartments to larger homes in the countryside, can really help in your search for a place in France.

The Immoprix website, which is part of the Notaires de France, draws together figures from sales over the past years to provide you with average property prices for locations across the country.

(more…)

AS our figs start to shrivel I am realising that our first French summer is blending into autumn and soon the wasp spiders will abandon us to the winter frosts, writes Frances Penwill-Cook.

One thing that I will look forward to this year is leaving the house in the right clothes and staying in them.

Gone are the days of cladding myself in knitted jumpers and scarves, to brave the cold walk to the Tube, only to strip off on the sweltering train, handbag in hand, hitting people around the face as I unravel my scarf.

(more…)

IF you run a gite in France then there is a good chance that you are taking a few weeks rest after a busy summer.

But if your mind is already drifting to next year and you want to make sure your website is pulling its weight, then here are some very simple tips you can use.

Some will involve making tweaks to the site, or asking those overseeing it to do the changes, but the smallest of changes and simple promotional steps can really make a difference.

(more…)

THE inequality that same-sex couples from the UK, and elsewhere, face in France can see people have to pay massive inheritance tax bills.

Here a reader of the site, Jerry, who has owned a property in France for nearly four years writes about his own experience of the system following the death of his partner.

(more…)