countrygrooms

Thanks you everyone for your hoenst and useful replies. I now that the whole buying a french property and renting a gite is a long told 'dream' of people moving over. Luckily my husband and i have good business heads and have already considered the 'niche' market options and ways to make the best imcome possible from such a business. Plus my husband is a landscaper and i am a qualified riding instructor/ groom so although neither of us want to be 'employed' we do have strings to our bow that can be put to use to increase our income (I.e i currently buy and produce horses, selling them on for profit- not sure what the requirement for nags is in Limousin but potentially something along these lines could also be continued). I have thororughly researched the Limousin region and know it is very rural and quiet. Yes, the cheap properties are attractive, but to us also the area seems to suit us as we are somewhat old before our time- get on much better with older people (i.e retired old farts haha!) than people our own age. We are not into going out clubbing and partying and our idea of a good time is a nice walk and nice food- something it would seem more than available in France! With regards to finances we are not millionaires (sadly) but my husband runs his own business here so the plan in between now and the move to use this income to save as much as possible, pay off all of our debts and the intention to move to france 'debt and mortgage free' to the best of our abilities. The other possibility would be for my husband to retain his or another similar business over here in the UK to add to our income but i am not sure if the logistics and commitment back in the uk would be what we wanted long term. I do agree renting would be an idea as although we like Limousin it is a big region and i am unsure exactly of where we would want to be. It is a toss up between finding the right property in the wrong area or vice versa.

Hi, we are looking to relocate from Hampshire, UK to France- likely the Limousin region- within the next year or so, taking along with us our two sons who by then will be approx. 2 and 7. I am now aware that health insurance is a priority thing to be considering prior to moving yet i am struggling to find any concise info as to costs, how it is applied for and so on. I.E is it something that needs to be in place by the move or sorted after and generally where can i find more information. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

My French is pretty good, OH's is pretty basic but this wil be remedied before we move with the intention that we both undertake French lessons- i am already doing an online course to improve! We have (unfortunately) not won the lottery but do have considerable funds to fund the move and by the time we move over will have fully considered how we will support ourselves (possibility of OH retaining his business in the UK or having holiday cottages... something anyway!) We have been considering and researching this for the last 18 months and are just waiitng to be in the right place financially before buying a property so it is not something impulsive or on a whim!! How do you start finding out about the health insurance- costs etc- as this is one aspect i have found conflicting and confusing information about?

Hi, we are looking to relocate from Hampshire, UK to France- likely the Limousin region- within the next year or so, taking along with us out two sons who by then will be approx. 2 and 7. We are not intending to undertake 'employment' in France but would more like to become self employed. I am a qualified groom/ riding instructor and my husband is a landscaper so potentially we both have the potential to 'potter' about and take up self employment when in France under our respective experience- gardening, riding lessons etc. Alternatively we would look at buying a property with outbuildings/ gites which can potentially be used as holiday rentals- thus providing us with an income. How easy is it to become self employed and declare earnings in France- are there various ways to go about it, and how easy is it to set up tax wise compared to the UK. I know it is reasonably simple in the UK and just a case of declaring yor earnings over the financial year- is it like this in France and what are taxes like compared to the UK. From what i have researched so far i believe taxes are quite high and it seems quite complicated as social care etc is linked to your income and the info i have found so far seems to be conflicting and confusing!! Any advice on becoming self-employed would be more than useful just so we can be prepared and decide what we will definately be doing upon our arrival!

Hi, we are looking to relocate from Hampshire, UK to France- likely the Limousin region- within the next year or so. It is likely we are to buy a property with the potential to renovate outbuildings/ gites to provide rental accommodation. We are not intending to undertake employment in France and the initial idea is to set up and run a gite and use this as our income. How do you go about registering such a business- I.E is it easy to set up insurance, registering the business and so on and how do you go about declaring income (i.e do you register self employed as you would in the uk?) Basically what is the easiest and legitimate way to go about setting up such holiday rentals and how easy is it. I know this is jumping the gun a bot but we will start looking fo a property soon and therefore need to have it straight in our minds about what the rpoperty needs to have. Any advice appreciated.

Hi, we are looking to relocate from Hampshire, UK to France- likely the Limousin region- within the next year or so. I am aware vaguely of what we need to plan ahead with personally (i.e schools, passports, driving licences, medical insurance and so on) and with regards to buying a property as i have done considerable internet research but finding it difficult to get accurate advice about 'living in' france and making the initial transition- becoming a citizen as it were. However i am trying to find out what should be the priority things we have to consider before making the move and starting a property search. It is likely we will buy a property to renovate over a period of months and then move over permenantly when completed. Basic situation is i am 25, my husband is 34, sons will be approx 2 and 7 when we move. We intend to renovate a building with potential for B&B or holiday rental (in a seperate gite or renovated barn) so not looking to work. I know there is lots to consider but i am finding it difficult to work out what is deemed to be most important so if anyone can point me in the right direction, or point out good websites or good reading which can help us along a little further this would be much appreciated. Many thanks

Hi, we are looking to relocate from Hampshire, UK to France- likely the Limousin region- within the next year or so, taking along with us out two sons who by then will be approx. 2 and 7. Has anyone experience of moving to the UK with young children and starting school with them. Where it is a rural area i am worried about finding schools and how the schools will deal with an english speaking child. By then my son will have attended a school here for about 2 years but i am not sure how different the french 'national curriculum' is compared to the uk and the way of learning. I know it will not be so bad with our youngest as he will be at nursery beforehand but even so what is the settlement like with british children in french nurseries. In the meantime we are looking to send our eldest to french club so he should hopefully be someway to speaking french by the time we move but i have this worry that they will find it difficult going to an institution where they are the only english speaking children?! Any experience and advice would be appreciated!!