Investing in a ski chalet

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My husband wants to invest in a ski chalet in France. We would plan to use it max 2 weeks a year, the rest of the time let it out. Long term plan would be to use it a bit more when we are older. I think this will be more hard work than its worth.
Does anyone have any experience of this?

I don’t know if 2 weeks worth gives you enough use. My relatives have got a property and they are always having to do things when they are over rather than having a pure holiday. That’s fine because they tend to have at least 3 months of use a year so doing jobs doesn’t ruin it. They also found they had to open and close it up for the season but that might be different for a ski challet.

I think you'd be much better off just renting one when you want it. There's a lot of bother involved in owning and renting a holiday property, especially in another country.

Have you run some numbers? Do you know how much it would cost you each year? Can you keep up with French bureaucracy? have you thought of the tax implications? You might probably have to declare the rental income to both France and the UK. Would you pay two separate accountants for that? How much would that alone eat into your profits?

Many ski resorts are losing significant amounts of snow. Renting may be a safer bet www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/climate-change-global-warming-swiss-glaciers-alps/112531

As an accidental owner of an alpine chalet, I'd advise against it as an investment. The maintainence costs can be high, there's taxes and bills to deal with ( and my French is very good) and it's a headache to find people to do work ( ours' needs reroofing, but all the local builders commute to CH, or want to build chalets), not to mention dealing with joint running and decisions if it's in a co-prop. Houses overseas really are often more trouble than they are worth and rarely a shrewd investment. Some friends have an apartment in a ski resort on a leaseback scheme and that seems to work well. We will soon be selling our chalet ( inherited), and will invest the money with a view to buying another when we are retired and can give it the time it needs and deserves.

We have a ski apartment in France. The lettings are pretty good but after tax won't ever pay the mortgage. We have around 12 weeks of bookings a year and obviously the peak time is Jan to March. We also have some summer bookings.

One big problem for us is that cleaners are very hard to find and VERY expensive- like 150 euros for a small apartment. So it's hard to manage the Saturday turnarounds unless you have family there like we do. The maintenance charges are high and we have roof repairs to pay for. Snow clearance from the roofs and walkways is a huge cost.

We love our little place though and see it as a long term investment.

I think ‘investment’ is a misnomer. 2nd properties are luxury items.

Aren't all investments luxuries? Our little apartment is definitely an investment as we plan to move there in retirement and sell the family home in the UK. OP it depends on your personal circumstances but it will be expensive, holiday letting is lucrative but a hassle, and you have to pay tax in both countries on the earnings. If you will love it and use it and can afford it then do it. Don't forget to calculate exchange rate changes into your mortgage budget.

Aren't all investments luxuries

Hardly, I use mine to keep pace with inflation.

can afford it then do it

That’s the key, ie it costs, it doesn’t pay

One other thing to consider; do you want to ski the same resort every year? I wouldn’t.

look up inheritance laws. they are very different in france compared to uk.
the distance would worry me, both for holidaying and for maintaining the property.

Mulling over becoming an alpine chalet cleaner/handy woman/caretaker !

@redchocolatebutton why would the distance worry you for holidays?

HeronLanyon in the village where our chalet is located there are a couple of ex-pat families ( one English, one Dutch) who have relocated to do exactly that job. They maintain the chalets, do 'handover' cleans, source workmen etc. They are thriving businesses and provide a good living and a wonderful quality of life. One lady makes more than she did as a deputy head in the UK, and is super healthy, tanned and seems so happy.