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Original poster

Considering buying a house in France - any advice?

54 replies

BIWI · 20/11/2016 15:39

I will be inheriting money from my dad, who died at the end of September.

I've always wanted to own a place in France, and now it looks like I'll be able to do that. Especially as I've discovered how cheap some property is.

We want a place somewhere close to Eurotunnel, so that we can visit regularly (we're in SW London so not to far to drive at this end), and it's not somewhere we'd rent out.

It's also a possibility that we might buy it with some very good friends of ours (obviously would go through all legal stuff with them too, no matter how good friends we are).

I'm aware that buying property is a different process in France, but don't yet know anything about it - any advice, or words of wisdom - even if it's to tell me what not to do!?

And also, given the whole Brexit fiasco, I'm wondering if it's really a good idea at the moment?

OP posts:
Gfplux · 29/11/2016 17:06

I would not buy with friends.
Not only will there be issues over settee colours fabrics but do consider size.
I mean the size of the people. If there is a difference in size the type of seating, shower tray size, size of bed and type of mattress can be an issue. (Personal experience)

Original poster
BIWI · 30/11/2016 14:03

WTAF?! What a pointless and offensive post.

You'll see, however, that I've already clocked what people have said/advised about buying with friends.

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 30/11/2016 14:36

Yes, I hope your friends aren't fat Hmm

Gfplux · 30/11/2016 19:56

BIWI, I can not let your reaction go un-acknowledged. My post was not meant in anyway to be pointless or offensive.
Most people can imagine the sort of obvious disagreements one might have with joint owners of holiday home. I was trying to add some of the less obvious things that can irritate and annoy.
My personal experience was in respect of height. Just imagine the height of a bathroom mirror/cabinet installed by your short or tall joint owner!

Original poster
BIWI · 02/12/2016 01:12

Well I'm glad you didn't mean to be offensive.

But I've already said on this thread that I really get the whole buying with friends thing.

OP posts:
Iflyaway · 02/12/2016 01:34

Buying a 2-bedroom place with friends??

God no, I'd need at least a chateaux Grin to keep on good terms. Especially when there are kids in the picture.

DS went to France last summer the 6 of them staying in one of their parents' house there. Wonderful kids, treated the place with the utmost respect and the parents were not there but imagine if you clashed on dates needing some peace and quiet.... coming into the kitchen in the morning after they've been out to the village fete after making dinner lol.

And 8 people coordinating schedules would bring that kind of thing up.

I'd rather splash the money having years of the most amazing holidays all around France. But each to their own.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 02/12/2016 02:33

BIWI.

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad 💐 I haven't been on MN that much in a while, so I missed any posts you might have made about it xx. (I've name changed too)

I think buying with friends depends a lot on your own feelings about the property, as much as which friends (😂) I'd love to be looking at doing what you are looking at doing, but I'd want to do it alone because for me part of the enjoyment would be making it my own. I know how I want to decorate/furnish it. I know what furniture & facilities I want. I wouldn't want to compromise, if it was at all avoidable. But you might feel totally differently. Also, I'd want to be able to go anytime I pleased, without having to 'ear mark' the date & to be able to leave my stuff there. Realistically, any friends I'd even consider doing this with, I'd also consider too dear to lose if there was any fall out!

That aside, I think given it's about a tenth of what you'll (likely) inherit (and that you're not relying on it for financial stability in the U.K.) and the fact that you aren't looking at this as an investment, there's nothing much to worry about. Brexit. It's France, our nearest neighbour. Seriously what do people think is going to be the worst thing that will happen? We will have to get a 'tourist visa' in our passports? It's not like your planning on uprooting your life and taking the kids to live there.

I think you are being incredibly practical with the area you're looking at. I'd be heading FAR south to the sun! But it's MUCH less practical!

I hope you get more posts re the practicalities!

Have fun looking!

Original poster
BIWI · 02/12/2016 09:33

Thank you, Annie!

I have to say, to all those of you who are worried about the idea of buying with friends, these are the only friends I would even vaguely contemplate this with. We know each other very well, and have spent many, many holidays together so we're well aware of each others' good points, bad points and particular foibles!

But I do absolutely understand that it could bring all manner of problems.

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 02/12/2016 09:51

BIWI - Please look into the taxes that your secondary residence in France will cost you.

Not only taxe d'habitation and taxe foncière, but depending on the value of the property, there is wealth tax impôt de solidarité sur la fortune (ISF).

There is another tax that hangs over the head of secondary residence owners in France, called Imposition forfaitaire d’un bien non loué, which means the state will expect you to pay taxes at the value of 3x an IMAGINARY rental income. Check it out here if you read French.

Don't do it, would be my friendly advice.

Original poster
BIWI · 02/12/2016 12:33

Thanks Cote - that's really helpful advice

Would that tax apply even if we didn't rent it out? (Which I wasn't planning to do anyway)

OP posts:
PlasticBertrand · 02/12/2016 14:42

There's also the small matter of next year's elections. My money is on Fillon to win, and he's said he'd scrap the ISF, but you never know. If it's Jean-Luc Mélenchon, you'd probably be in for a shock tax-wise!

phoolani · 02/12/2016 14:46

Maybe things have changed in 20-odd years, or maybe I was just too young, carefree and dim to realise, but I don't remember any 'red tape' stuff. Buying my flat in France seemed amazingly straight forward.

CoteDAzur · 02/12/2016 16:05

"Would that tax apply even if we didn't rent it out?"

Sadly, it is specifically for owners who don't rent out their secondary homes.

If you rented it out, you would just pay income tax on rental income.

But because you won't rent, you will pay as if you earned a rental income three times The going rate for a property like yours.

Original poster
BIWI · 03/12/2016 11:34

Hmm. It's not sounding quite as attractive a prospect as I'd thought or hoped.

OP posts:
AnnieAnoniMouse · 03/12/2016 11:51

Cote

What are the rules re actually renting it out to avoid the non loué tax? Is there a minimum number of nights/income/advertising etc?

BIWI. There are a LOT of taxes aren't there, when it's a second home. Could the DS's buy it as their only owned home?

Original poster
BIWI · 03/12/2016 17:31

... only if the selling price was about £3.50 Grin

OP posts:
danTDM · 03/12/2016 17:59

BIWI Hi!, Eating too many carbs at the mo!

Upkeep ,upkeep! If you are not there, someone needs to be 'keyholder' and 'manage' the place, and you will pay dearly. My place in Spain, 8 weeks away in the winter, the whole inside is mouldy. It's incredible, it really is a responsibility having a place abroad.

Burglars, flooding, fire, vandals, constant taxes, fussy neighbours, it's amazing what can happen when you're not there. Truly.

Then there's the cost, the bills for wifi, leccy, council, alarms (have to have one for) ... insurance, bins, go on and on, really.

Badders123 · 03/12/2016 18:14

I take your point about your friends and of course we don't know them but what I would say is that once money is involved, people can change 😞
My Dhs cousin bought in France (near carcassone) in July (justbafter brexit vote) and it was a lot of hassle from what I gather.
They are quite worried about the health care side of things now
It's not something I would consider at the moment TBH
The geo political changes in Northern Europe are going to be pretty seismic I think ...

Original poster
BIWI · 03/12/2016 18:15

Yes, that's something I find really concerning, Badders. Both generally, but also in relation to this particular pipe dream of mine.

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 03/12/2016 21:59

"What are the rules re actually renting it out to avoid the non loué tax? Is there a minimum number of nights/income/advertising etc?"

I don't think so, but I am no French tax expert. My understanding is that what matters is who has the right to use the property - if you are not renting it out with a bail (rental contract), then it is you the owner who has use of the property, regardless of whether you rent it several weeks of the year on AirBnB.

The thing is, EU nationals don't have to pay this tax as of 2014. Following Brexit, I would not bet on UK citizens having continued immunity to it.

Badders123 · 04/12/2016 08:26

Oh Blush I forgot to say I'm sorry about your dad Flowers

Jinglebells99 · 04/12/2016 08:37

I have two friends who have second homes in France. One has been trying to sell hers for four years. It's beautiful. She hasn't had much luck renting it out either. The other friend is converting an old farm and plans to retire there.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 04/12/2016 12:13

Thanks Cote that's good to know.

There seem to be quite a lot of MNers wth holiday homes in France though, it would be interesting to see how much these things actually cost them?!

Original poster
BIWI · 04/12/2016 12:23

Thanks Badders

OP posts:
Gfplux · 04/12/2016 13:36

Yes we have a holiday home in FRANCE. It would be interesting to know what it costs.