Evianers

Just come back from two absolutely glorious days in Normandy, one of which visiting Monet's house and garden in Giverney. To say it is superb is an understatement, including the fantastic collection of Japanese Hiroshige [and others] prints for which we were totally unprepared. The gardens were gorgeous, and the gardeners and staff extremely helpful, polite and with a good sense of humour. On the down side, we went for an evening meal in a local restaurant in Vernon run by a young couple. We asked for a glass of red wine: the proprietor brought a 3/4 empty bottle and put a very, very small amount of wine in the glass - certainly not more than 1 dl. So after the entree we asked for a second glass - same miniscule amount. When the bill came, the charge for each glass of wine was 3.50!!!! Is this normal for the region? Seemed excessive to say the least. Perhaps we should have taken a bottle instead.

We have not only learned a lot, but have asked questions, received replies, helpful suggestions and comments, been shot down in flames [fortunately rarely] but by and large the contributors have some really sensible and amusing answers. It also rather depends upon which section one is addicted to - there are sections of the forum on which we rarely look, but it is comforting to know there are other people in our area who are willing to share experiences and problems, and read and answer postings in the post bag - as now.

Posted reply to your private box.

[quote]Never look at property at the weekend - it makes life difficult. 10% deposit is the required amount, you cannot pay less without a struggle. You will be deemed awkward. You make the offer verbally t...[/quote] Unless of course the person happens to be deceased, as in our case which we didn't know and weren't told by the estate agent, causing untold drama and long-drawnout frustrating negotiations. Sounds daft, but just make sure the person selling is still alive because if it is one of those intricate inheritance sales, be prepared to wait two+ years and loose a lot of hair and weight.

With such tragic news as this Fay, it is gratifying to see all the sincere and heartfelt responses you have received from many contributors to the forum. There has been a great deal of talk recently about 'bringing out the worst' in peoples' natures but I for one am happy to see that many of the regular posters have given you their condolences. Easy to say, but keep you chin up.

Because our tenants have quit mid-lease and are leaving us high and dry, we are now considering letting our chalet partly furnished. Can anyone please explain what would be the minimum amount of furniture and equipment required to satisfy the law for furnished rather than unfurnished accommodation? The logistics would be rather horrendous, but it may just be worthwhile if someone who has experience of this could help please. Three levels, laundry, hobby room, 4th bedroom: living, dining, spare bedroom, bathroom [equipped], wc, kitchen [equipped]; main bedroom, bathroom, dressing/3rd bedroom. We are talking about +/- 130 of living accommodation. Garden too. Would this mean providing lawnmower, spade, fork etc.? All sensible recommendations gratefully received. TIA

Under the topic 'abri du jardin' which we posted recently, some kindly soul replied 'you don't have much luck with your tenants do you?" Guess what? they have now quit, 18 months before the end of their lease [which they can do by rights under French law]. So the questions is, we have heard vague rumblings that if one wishes to take possession of one's own property on retirement, a lease can be drawn un with this stipulation, for less than the statutory three years. If anyone at all has any reliable information about this, please would they be so kind as to post it urgently. It really is a pesky nuisance, as we had everything planned in advance, even to our son's probable wedding in Australia to coincide with the end of the original lease on 30 November 2006. Seems a long way off, but such major events in one's life such as retirement and wedding need to be planned months in advance. However, ce n'est pas le fin due monde................

Would you consider the Haute Savoie? Wonderfully sunny in winter, although not that warm but heaps to do. I ask because our long-term French tenants have just given notice and we would possibly like to re-rent for 18 months. Please let us know. TIA

Thank you very much for the tip - let's hope it works: we had given up all hope of someone replying, so are grateful.

You're absolutely right - Evian is a very long way from the area in which you hope to be looking. As you say you have 'done' the Rhone Alps, presumably you have seen this area and know something about the beauty of the Evian area. Please send a PM if you need more information.

Amazing! Thanks for the info. We don't actually live in France yet [our house is rented out to a French family] but still live in Belgium, where we rent one of the houses in the so-called Beguinage [Begijnhof in Flemish]. Sisters used to live here but have now sadly all died out. There is one such in almost every Belgian city and even two in Holland. Each house is named after a saint: ours is Sint Jozef [Saint Joseph] but we would dearly like to live in the house opposite which is called Guardian Angel.

But of course. Our ground is 1374m2 - mostly flat, which is surprising being on the side of a mountain, but the plots are levelled and no-one else's building spoils the next one up the slope's view. Restriction height of 9m height. Gardens of different sizes and shapes.

Evian definitely! Beautiful town, international airport just down the road, boat across to Switzerland in 30 minutes, Lac Leman in front, mountains behind: ski-ing only 10 minutes away, large pedestrian mall to watch the world go by................. but don't tell anyone else!

Our original property in France was in a townhouse development called "Les Mesnils du Golf". Althoug Mesnils seems pretty frequent a name, no dictionary could give a translation. It took weeks to find a French-speaking person who could give us an idea of the English translation. Sort of 'champs' or fields, or links in this case perhaps.

Since our infernal machine had an update, we can no longer see the names of the posters - very frustrating! Can anyone who knows exactly why this has happened take us through the process of reinstalling the names in the relevant bar please? Or even explain why this has happened in the first place? Hope this makes sense - it's vital to know whom one is addressing when replying. TIA

Bravo, bravo Di. Could not have put it more succinctly myself. In fact, I have complained about the comment to the Forum Admin. So far there hasn't been any response..... BTW, we don't actually live in France yet but certainly contribute in taxes, owning a house there.

Am not certain whether this topic has been covered before, but on wonders whether anyone in the government [or even opposition for that matter] has ever asked themselves why it is that so many from the British Isles are upping stakes and leaving for pastures new? It seems it is fast becoming a mass exodus with everyone knowing someone else who has left to settle elsewhere, many of them in France and Spain. There must be some very significant reasons.

Being city born and bred, we decided not to go for the rural retreat and so opted for Evian [er..... natch]. This has the best of hundreds of different worlds: wonderful view of Lac Leman, superb views of the mountains behind, Geneva with its international airport 37 kms away, Lausanne 35 minutes by boat, heaps to do, see, cultural activities, multinational community. But, the downside is the cost: the Haute Savoie is simply fantastic but is one of the fastest rising in price, especially for property. However, if one has sold in the UK for a phenomenal price, then almost any house in France is cheaper.

Being city born and bred, we decided not to go for the rural retreat and so opted for Evian [er..... natch]. This has the best of hundreds of different worlds: wonderful view of Lac Leman, superb views of the mountains behind, Geneva with its international airport 37 kms away, Lausanne 35 minutes by boat, heaps to do, see, cultural activities, multinational community. But, the downside is the cost: the Haute Savoie is simply fantastic but is one of the fastest rising in price, especially for property. However, if one has sold in the UK for a phenomenal price, then almost any house in France is cheaper.

Very seldom, but sometimes it is the other way around. South African Friends who lived here in Belgium for many years did many recces to France and almost bought in Montpelier. However, with three children and a second residence in Cape Town, they finally decided to move to Perugia simply because the tax situation - chiefly inheritance tax - was infinitely simpler than living in France. It obviously does not happen often, but there are one or two cases...............

Hope I am not telling a porky here, but as many of you know, we are still resident in Belgium at present where we rent a house, but for 10 years now have been filling in a French tax return and have obviously owned a house there. When we sold this first house to purchase another, despite the above, we had to pay CGT. It was at the time our only owned house but there was no question of getting away from the dreaded CGT, so I suppose it depends on one's circumstances.

Red faces all round. See topic abri du jardin. It seems that the Mairie got it all wrong. Now everyone is upset, us, the tenants, the agents et al. The illegal abri du jardin is situated at No. 26bis, not No. 26.........................! Can we now expect a grovelling apology from the Mairie??

Thank you, folks for your comforting words and support. No idea what sort of abri du jardin - we are awaiting news from the agents. That's one of the disadvantages of being an absentee landlord. We REALLY can't wait until we can retire into our own home ourselves. All part of life's rich pattern and BTW having just come back yesterday from a trip to South Africa where we used to live, this little hiccough is nothing compared to the problems there...... Have a good day all.

Just received a registered letter from the Mairie. Our tenants have apparently erected an abri du jardin without permission. Immediately passed this news on to our agents, who are paid to sort out this kind of difficulty. But it subsequently occured to us that it probably contravenes their lease in that they should have asked permission from us, the owners, to make any alternations or amendments? Is that the case? Sorry, just back from holiday and no time to wade through legalities in French.

Peter Could it be Moor Park???? OH went to Merchant Taylors and seem to remember it was nearby. The Case is Altered - struth! Spent many a summer evening there too - lived just up the road. But we haven't lived in UK for more than 30 years so don't really miss it.