UK tradesmen working in France?

[MarianForrester]

We have a small house in France in need of some work. We hsve tried to get local tradesmen to carry out the work with no success.

A friend from here has offered to go with fellow tradesmen to finish it all off for us. I have heard that this may flout French law. Does anyone know about this?

Having work done 'on the black' ie not declared can land you with a fine of ?45,000. Also, if you sell the property within 10 years, you can be expected to show the decennial guarantees that all workmen are supposed to give.

Before doing any work on your property any workmen should be prepared to give you a copy of his insurance 'attestation' which guarantees the work and includes his professional liability cover - ie if he drops a pot of paint onto the roof of next door's brand new car, falls off a ladder and breaks his leg being unable to work for 6 months etc etc. They should also be siret registered and the siret should cover them for the work they are planning to do.

It's a minefield. Our plumber was crap and didn't show us his insurance. Another of his clients took him to court when their wooden house started to singe around the boiler flue. Turns out he didn't have insurance.....

Also, if you are paying tradesmen, they should be declaring it and paying tax and social security contributions on the income from the work.

There is a grey area - where 'friends' help you out with diy on the house, but think you would have to have cover for them on you insurance.

Have you asked on the forum on www.frenchentree.com or similar? There is a poster called pomhorn who is very knowledgeable, and lots of British but working in France artisans who can perhaps help.

It might or it might not, depending on whom you speak to, in which office.

From experience, I would go with it and get the work done. (As long as friend's friend is reliable, of course, and as long as it isn't a huge job.)
To anyone who asks (baker, postman, mayor, random stranger...) workers, or at least leader should say they are personal friends of yours/related, doing you/ giving back a favour/looking forward to coming back there on holiday.
Should be ok as long as it's not a big team of East Europeans -really no offence meant- working for weeks without any obvious leader (again from -bitter, long story, experience). French workmen generally vaguely agree to do the work, then don't come and do it, but are very "aware" of East European taking jobs away from them, if the job is too big, long and obvious, questions might be asked, offense taken and "control" might follow. Which is not good, but going the obvious way is soooo frustrating...
Is it a big job?

Thanks for the advice. The job is stuff like plastering, fitting kitchen, bit of plumbing and replacing bits removed by, but not replaced, by current builders!

Electrician also appears to have bailed halfway through . We have tried to use local people as we want to get on with our neighbours, apart from anything else, but are just fed up as the job seems abandoned now.

I am happy to pay tax and would prefer it all to be above board. Never thought for a minute it would be so difficult when friend here offered!

And a definitive answer seems really hard to find; knew MN would be help tho