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Everything you always wanted to know about France |
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News from Pezenas, Languedoc France - Number 84, - 07 December 2003
A regular newsletter from the South of France about visiting, life, living and working in France. There are hundreds of articles in the archives at... http://francevoila.com/archives/ FranceVoila Archives To unsubscribe please use this link http://www.ymlp.com/unsubscribe.php?FranceVoila Unsubscribe This week includes. 1. Ryanair Competition 2. English Yellow Pages 3. Vive La France Exhibition 4. Prompt, Precise and Expert Translations 5. Looking for an Italian Newsletter 6. Book Launch - Notes From the Languedoc 7. Pool Questions 8. Leasebacks Questions 9. Satellite Update and Cats 10. Bringing horses from UK ======= December 7 - Pearl Harbour and my son Jacks' birthday - 9 today. ======= 1. Flights with Ryanair from our travel sites. Starting this week we will be running a series of competitions jointly with Ryanair. Full details will be published in this newsletter and on our websites. Entry is easy, you only have to be a subscriber to this newsletter and to register with us, you can go directly to the registration page.. http://frenchpropertydigest.com/ryanair/ Ryanair Competition Everyone registering gets a bonus of a 10 euro voucher from us, keep this as you will need the voucher number in the competition. The rules are simple to follow and the answers will be found on our websites. So as the winter evenings draw in, you can explore our virtual world and dream of next summer in France. ======= 2. English Yellow Pages Need an English-speaking plumber or carpet fitter? Get the english yellow pages You have bought your new home in France, conquered the move across, even found a local teacher to improve your French and then disaster strikes - the washing machine breaks down. An everyday event quickly solved with a telephone call to a plumber in your home country but another story when your French is not up to discussing appointment times let alone pipes and washers. Such a scenario is behind the success of the english yellow pages, the most comprehensive listing of English-speaking businesses and professionals based in France. The directory, established three years ago on the Riviera, provides thousands of listings of everyday business needs, from property managers to pizza delivery and hairdressing services. Each listing has at least one person on their staff that speaks English and even lists the name of who to ask for. It is published in a handy A5 size and also contains an information section that covers such topics as how to apply for a residents' permit or driving licence to finding a doctor and even a job. It costs EUR 15 and will be launched at The Vive La France Exhibition at Olympia's Exhibition Hall in London from January 16 to 18. To get your copy or for more information see http://www.englishyellowpages.fr English Yellow Pages ======= 3. Vive la France, 2004 Come and meet us on our stand at London Olympia in January from the 16th to 18th - upstairs in the French Property section Stand 314 Why are we there? We have had such a huge demand for information about leaseback property in France that decided to develop our on-line magazine... http://frenchpropertydigest.com/ FrenchPropertyDigest ...into an information and contact service for people wanting to know about the real opportunities and problems in investing in France There are several options for buying property in France, the leaseback scheme where the French Governement repays you the tax is only one. For example - We are careful to explain that any property purchase should be looked at as a committment for a minimum of 10 years and to gain the maximum benefits from the tax allowances and capital gains you should keep the property for 22 years. We also explain that you must invest capital yourself, there is no plan which creates a self financing proposal. All the property we offer are freehold property and you can arrange a loan for this depending on your income, but the amount normally available to someone who is not a French resident is 70% of the purchase price. However, in most plans the guaranteed income will cover the repayments. For all of the plans we can send sample contracts, building specifications and give you immediate current availability and site plans. We aim to help you, our website at http://frenchpropertydigest.com/ FrenchPropertyDigest Is there not only to show the developments currently available, but will give news of all matters relating to property in France, finance, opportunities and problems. ======= 4. Prompt, Precise and Expert Translations LinguaFranca: a niche French-to-English translation house. Specialists in translating conveyances and other contracts. We use only qualified lawyers as translators. tel +44 (0) 7734 110 252 or +44 (0) 1727 866 503 fax +44 (0) 7793 649 462 mailto:sophie@lingua-franca.co.uk Sophie@Lingua-Franca.co.uk http://www.lingua-franca.co.uk Lingua-Franca ======= 5. Looking for an Italian Newsletter Dear Tony, I really enjoy your "France Voila" newsletter but I am curious if you aware of a similar marketing and education service for those who look to travel and set-up residence in Italy by a non-citizen. Anything in the archives on comparing France and Italy as far as real estate, taxes, foreign ownership of property, cost of living, infrastructure and general expatriate issues? Thanks from Canada. === No I don't know of an English newsletter about Italy - I am sure there are some - I will publish this and ask if anyone knows of one. If anyone knows of useful news about Italy please write to me mailto:tony@nizas.com ======= 6. Book Launch - Notes From the Languedoc Here is a review from the http://booksmontpellier.com/ English Books in Montpellier Newsletter == "A book on the Languedoc written by respected journalist Rupert Wright. I've had a sneak look and can report with satisfaction that there is a book I find pleasurable to read because the author isn't trying to be the next Peter Mayle. Satisfying, because I did not like A Year in Provence and didn't actually finished it. Rupert Wright has far too much skill as a writer to want to be like someone else and the stories coming out of the pages are polished, amusing, sometimes moving. His trained insights into the growth of the region and especially his account of an interview with Montpellier's singular Mayor give the book depth in all the right places. Throughout the book- whether he's talking about wine, or history or nature or people, he fills the pages with well researched detail mixed with the curious, the amusing. Erudite but not boastful; comic but not patronising; descriptive but not tedious, Rupert Wright gets it right." == I hope to have time to get to the book launch next Saturday - you can order from our website and I plan to have some signed copies on our stand at Olympia in January Reserve you copy online from our site http://francevoila.com/books/ FranceVoila Books ======= 7. Pool Questions We have put a lot of information on our site at http://francevoila.com/features/pools.html Pools The final standards have to be published next week at the latest === Hello Tony Thanks for your interesting email. We are in the process of installing a fence around our pool and understand the minimum distance from the pool is 1m.Could I ask you where did you obtain the maximum figure of 3m from? Regards John === Hi John, Good question - I read it more than once in journals and will look through all the files - the only quick reference in the official 306 documents I have is this.. RECOMMANDATIONS : il est recommandé d’installer la barrière de piscine ou la clôture de piscine à 1m minimum du bord du bassin / il est recommandé de ne pas installer la barrière ou la clôture de piscine trop loin du bassin afin de ne pas perdre l’efficacité de la barrière ou clôture de piscine. Somewhere the "trop loin" has been specified as 3 meters more than once - I am still waiting on the final AFNOR publication and will buy it as soon as I can - they have until December 16 to publish this. Also defining "barrière ou la clôture ", which is stated all over the rules will be interesting to interpret - the standards for the barriers are precise, but nothing seems to extend this for other existing enclosures, existing house walls etc. As I understand it, the pool should be enclosed, other sunbathing areas, a plage, etc should be outside this enclosure. For example, your sun beds where you read, sleep, etc should be outside of the enclosed pool area. If they are not then a kid can still drown while mum and dad snooze, booze or canooze. I think the 3 meter "rule" comes in to discourage people putting sun beds around the pool, inside the enclosure. We will know the end of next year - but my advice is to err on the side of caution and enclose the pool without any other areas inside the enclosure. Tony ==== Hi Tony, We recently bought a house with a garden bordering the Garonne - actually a 5-8' drop to the fast-flowing fleuve depending on the melt water! We plan to put a small pool in an area of the garden bounded by a hedge and gate and walls on 3 sides, but open to the Garonne on the 4th. As the risk posed to children is greater from the river than the pool, would the hedge, fence and existing walls be adequate do you think? Or would the french law expect us to fence off the Garonne as well? I'd be grateful for your opinion. Regards, Felicity PS As a new semi-resident in France, I really appreciate your newsletters! == Hello Felicity, The specification is clear that a gated barrier must surround the pool, it must be fixed to the ground and not less that one meter or more than 3 meters from the pool edge, the gate, fixings, locks and barrier materials size and construction must comply with the standards. An existing wall or the wall of a house could apply if it is within these limits. A hedge definitely is not accepted, nor are most fences unless they comply to the materials and standards. It may seem daft, but my understanding of reading this stuff a lot in the last 18 months is that the Garonne needs to be fenced off from the pool. You don't have to put a barrier along the river though. Hope this helps Tony ======= 8. Leasebacks Questions We are developing our site at http://frenchpropertydigest.com/ French Property Digest To give advice and opportunities about all types of property sales in France and to be a center for people to communicate and share information. === Hi, I've followed the various q and a about leasebacks in the France Voila newsletter, but one thing that isn't quite clear to me is whether the scheme only applies to new-build properties? We have just bought a 17th century townhouse which we are about to renovate. Might we be eligible once the house is lettable? Michael === Micheal, No, you cannot claim back the vat. The government supported Residence Tourism and Quasi Hotelier schemes are for constructors building specific leisure developments for tourism and the freeholders then licensing these on a 9 year lease to vacation companies like Odalys or Pierre et Vacances. For new building the VAT is 19.6% and about half for renovated older complexes, hotels etc (this is rarer as there is not real tax incentive and it is cheaper to build new). There are no individual plans under these laws. It is possible in some specified areas to get some grants for improvement and for tourism. My experience is that the delays, paperwork and the fact you pay approved builders double the price anyway, make it a waste of time applying. Other plans may tie you to a rental organisation at a low rental or for awkward periods. For really nice properties with pools, both old and new, we do still have some companies who will give good guarantees of rental income. Let me know and I am sure we can help with your marketing Tony ======= 9. Satellite Update and Cats Tony, Firstly, thanks for your newsletter. Two requests please. Can we have an update on the Satellite internet access from Bentley Walkers. (I actually live on Hayling Island, where they are located!) This may be the answer to one of my problems. We have just purchased a property near Colombiers, so could do with advice from people who travel with cats, as to the animals reaction to Ferry or Tunnel. I have highlighted the word cats, as they are such a different animal to a dog, and most articles or advice only deal with dogs. If you need to, then you are welcome to release my email address. Thanks Peter === Peter, Thank you for your mail - I will ask your question in the next newsletter about cats. We are still investigating the satellite options - they are not cheap. Best wishes Tony ======= 10. Bringing horses from UK Hi, my husband and I are contemplating moving out to France, for his retirement. My problem is I have two horses that, ideally, I would wish to bring. Has anyone any advice regarding laws and/or bringing them please. We are also looking for a horse-friendly property, don't mind where, but would prefer the south. We have a dream of perhaps running gites, and althiugh there are only the two of us, + two dogs as well as two horses, we anticipate a growing number of visitors to stay. Somewhere with a spectacular view would, of course add greatly to our choice. Any help, regarding, dogs, horses, house-buying, etc. would b greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Barbara == Hello Barbara, Thank you for posting on our forum. Here is a link which gives you information about bringing horses to France. http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/misc/cins/2002/aeai0232.htm Horses To France If you can give me some idea of your budget, I can help in suggesting suitable properties for you. For an attractive situation, with land for horses and the potential for some gite income, realistically you need to consider a budget starting at 500,000 euro. There is no upper limit of course. Hope this helps best wishesWin Flights with Ryanair from our travel sites Tony ======= Please write to me about anything - We do try to answer everyone but we get thousands of mails a week now so if we don't reply do write louder. mailto:tony@nizas.com ======= |