Discussions

Hello everyone. I was wondering whether anyone had the details of a specialist mortgage broker in 13. I need someone with expertise in finding finance for non-residents but also connections to banks in Pay d'Aix.  I've been living in France (in Aix) since 2017 and despite being fiscal resident for all this time, I am considered non resident by French banks. This is because I still work for an English company and I am paid in pounds into a UK bank account. If anyone has the details of a mortgage broker that could potentially help then could they let me know. Thanks,Oliver. 

We have a second home in South of France (Aix-en-Provence) and issues with the management company managing the short-terms lets in our apartment for 2+ years is progressively getting worse, to the point now they are not maintaining our apartment and it's in disrepair. They are not adhering to the terms of the contract signed; i.e.  not doing emergency and non-urgent/property maintenance repair works (we have had to chase for months to get basic repair works to be completed, even after we accepted extortionate prices for the quotes), and they fail to send photos of the repair work needed, etc. This has been going on for 2+ years and we are fed up at this stage. Our emails are not being answered until we chase for a response for weeks, and my last email highlighted their contractual obligation as they now want us to take over any repair works related to water leaks through our insurer and have blocked the apartment and cancelled existing reservations until we manage the repair works ourselves through our insurer. Again when I highlighted the T&Cs of the contract the company manager has not responded. Any advice on this would be highly appreciated, as well as any recommendations to an expert lawyer on this topic

My husband and I have wills made in France governed by British law and therefore we can leave our estate to who we want (i.e. each other) Has anyone had a negative experience of this arrangement? I ask because I am going ahead with the clause Tontine in order to buy a property with my husband. However I have just been advised that the Tontine is not a good idea. and it doesn't fill me with great confidence because of its inflexibility but it gives us what we want i.e. for either of us to be in control of the property on the death of the other.This is the arrangement we have also made in our wills (which we did only because at the time we were not married) but I am still not convinced that an English will made in France will hold up or be executed according to our wishes. I am very sceptical about cross border arrangements. I got my french nationality in spite of people telling me it was a waste of time and money because we were part of Europe. That was 15 years ago and thank goodness I didn't listen!  Peoples experiences would be much appreciated on both subjects: wills made under the 2015 agreement i.e. under chosen country and tontine clause. Thanks Have a good day!

I was hoping someone out there could please help me. I would like to create a really simple information page website and was wondering if there is an easy way to do this without a huge cost involved? Would really appreciate some help/ideas in English please.

Hi, we're three months into a year in France, debating whether to stay in Nice or try Aix. Even taking the weak pound into account, things feel incredibly expensive, often for pretty low quality; here in Nice you can easily spend 7 euros on a large beer (£2.80 in UK pub last week), the most basic restaurant lunch seems to work out at 30 euros a head, we were just wondering if this is a Nice thing, a Cote d'Azur thing, or a France thing? Certainly I wouldn't recommend this part of the world for November - January. Its like a wet weekend in Eastborne in 1953. We're looking forward to coming next week to see if Aix is friendlier, livelier or more modern. Any thoughts gratefully received! Vyv

HelloI have just bought a second french apartment in the south of France and the two apartments are in the same building (probably not relevant)I live in one apartment and do short term lets in the other so I pay both sets of taxe d'habitation.If I pay for a TV licence in the apartment where I live, do I need to pay it again in the second apartment or in my second home?both have TVsAny advice is very welcomethank you in advance.regardsjames

You may be an expat but many of us have started with a second home. The recent case of squatters occupying a French couples' second home as they were selling the first to move into it raises the question fo what to do? The limited information, helpfully from France24, is that the owner has 24 hours to prove ownership, presumably to a court or the police, but after that removal becomes difficult. Has anyone a more thorough source of information if squatting occurs.

I’m a UK Ltd company consultant looking to set up in France. I’ve found a thread from 7 years ago on here but would like to get this topic active again. As most I take minimal PAYE and remainder via dividends. I’m looking for advice on how to set up best possible way. Just stating that we have me and wife as directors living in France and also our son living in UK.One French accountant told me to ditch the UK Ltd and start either SAS or SARL. I have had initial discussions with Setti-Ltd also, but did not get an answer to all questions. Equally looking to info on whether I can do French structure setup (depending on what it is of course) myself. I’m fluent in French. 

Hello. My wife and I are American and are seeking to move to Provence in June 2018. We are preparing to apply for the long stay visa/visa de longue-sejour/type D visa. The closest consulate to us for a visa interview is in San Francisco. We hope to be as close to 100% sure that we will get the visa so that we don't have to travel to San Francisco twice. We can meet all of the requirements (see https://sanfrancisco.consulfrance.org/spip.php?article2703), but have a question for others who have been through this process about the proof of accommodation requirement.In our ideal scenario for our year, we aim to live in a few different towns/cities. So, when we apply for the visa we will have our first accommodation worked out, but we may not have our second location secured. Will this be acceptable for the interview?The requirements do not state if we need to have proof of accommodation for the entire year. Does anyone know if there is a time length requirement for the proof of accommodation? Does it have to cover the entire time that we will be in France under the visa?Not all consulates have the same list of requirements for the proof of accommodation. For example, in Vancouver BC the proof of accommodation section states that you can have a temporary residence (https://vancouver.consulfrance.org/Long-stay-visa-for-Visitors). Yes, I know that the rules for Canada may be different than for the U.S., but I'm wondering if this indicates that temporary residence is acceptable for all long stay visas.Any insights from people who have been through this application process would be very helpful. Thank you. 

I hope someone can help I am finding it hard to find the information i need.I would like to set up an association in France and pay a member of staff on a non regular basis for example school holidays etc. But i am completely put off by the idea i may be paying double to the French adminstration. E.g 1000 to the employee 1000 to the administration. I really need some help please to understand how to pay an employee and if it is a mindfield that i don't want to get into. Thanks 

Hi - I'm looking for financial advice - I have an amount of money (small inheritance) I would like to put away for a while and am looking for a tax-efficient home for it; i.e. not subject to social charges.  I am aware of Luxembourg-based Assurance Vie (in £) but am unable to find a genuinely independent financial advisor to set one up for me.  (I would like to choose my own funds in which to invest).  The only supposedly IFAs I have come across are restricted and limited in what they can suggest.I'd also consider an alternative to an Ass V. as long as it is exempt from S Charges. (Livret A already up to its limit)Have any of you either - suggestions for a home for the money, or, better still, a truly independant IFA .Thanks in advance.

Hello, I am moving to France in July and have sold my UK property.  From the day I leave the UK, I therefore have no rights to NHS treatment. It takes 3 months minimum to gain access to the French system. What happens in the interim 3 months?

Does anybody know how a UK SIPP is treated in relation to Wealth Tax.  I have heard that whereas a UK occupational pension is exempt, a SIPP is included in the wealth tax assessment as its capital value is an assett. This would seem strange as I cannot access the full capital value without paying a hefty income tax bill. The entire value cannot therefore be an assett. Any knowledge on here?

Hi everyone, long time reader first time poster.Looking for some advice from people who may have had the same problem with getting planning permission.Land size 10,000 sqmThere has been back and forth with the local Mairie over the last several years with nothing getting done. My father who has been trying to get planning for building his house in Aix so he could finally retire there but has all but given up having been unable to make any progress the way we have been doing it by meeting with the Mairie several times over the years asking about getting planning on the site but always getting told it was not possible.There are houses to the left of us, the right of us, above us and below us all within 50 metres so I cannot understand the logic of how planning is decided. On a side note, if anyone knows a professional who deals with this type of legal matter I would be happy to get their details for advice on the matter.What people should we be talking to about this issue or do we have to keep going through the Mairie?Thanks all

Hi everyone,Would really appreciate some info / help in case anyone hasexperience in thisSmall bit of background: My Mother is currently renting inToulon area (in La Garde) but it is very hard to find people that will rent toher since she has no income and not so much savings left now. Long story shortit looks like I am going to need to look into buying somewhere for her, which Iwould need a mortgage for. I am a UK citizen (now living/working in Geneva),cannot speak French and have never bought a property before even in UK..So I am not too sure where to start but know in the UK it isgood to speak to a mortgage broker who will compare the deals available in themarket, I guess it is the same in France? Does anybody know of any in Francethat are English speaking? Many thanks in advance for any thoughts / comments at allBrgdsJoe

Hello, does anyone have an English translation of the H1 form required for the local tax fonciere?Thanks for your help.

Does anyone know where a person can excange/ buy foreign currency i.e US dollars or other currency for holiday spends without having to rely on a Bureau de Change at an airport etc.I have made various enquiries about this and no one can come up with a helpful definitive answer.!

I am starting a renovation in Provence actually Goult in the fall. Does anyone have any experience opening a compte non-resident account recently ( from the US)  or have a recommendations for me? I am told it is difficult to find a bank that will open an account with a US citizen since the FATCA law 

Hello.  We have a completely self-contained newly converted annexe and are thinking of letting it via booking.com/airbnb etc.  Obviously we would adjust our insurance accordingly, but I'm told I should also advise our local Mairie (in the Luberon) as we may be required to pay a tax - is this correct?  Does anyone know approximately how much that might be?