Evianers

The tenants in our house have a normal three year lease, which runs from November 2003 until November 2006. If they do not give notice and vacant beforehand, is it possible for us to give them the statutory six months notice in May 2006 to vacate in November, bearing in mind they have four children? We read somewhere that one cannot give notice during the winter months, but if we want to live in our own house, must the tenants leave in November? All responses gratefully received.

Jon Sounds JUST like Antwerp, where we live: same problem, same or similar amounts of dog....t all over the pavements, gutters, green areas, squares. A new law was introduced to penalise anyone leaving their pooch's droppings - 'geen kakje zonder sakje' meaning 'no poop without scoop' trouble is, there is never anyone around to enforce it. Unfortunately it is not only endemic to France, so we do sympathise.

I used to work at the British Embassy in Brussels, passport section. In cases such as yours, although the passport section are normally overloaded with work, if you courier the new birth certificate, photographs (support the baby's head from behind as best you can without showing too many fingers) and form explaining the hurry, they will probably do their utmost for you. We did, in such cases, despite having some 700+ passports pending at most times.

We have been monitoring these very questions on the Motley Fool investment forum simply for interest's sake. There is a comprehensive discussion about the pros and cons. We have a property which is not leaseback and in which we intend to live probably from next year, but there are a number of schemes being built very close to where we live, which is why the Forum members contacted us privately in the first place.

Hi yaw'll in gorgeous 73 and 74 Just found out by putting the cursor on the little squares that we are 'supreme beings'. Oh wow! I just hope that everyone in our part of the world is similarly so described.

Oh wow Jill! We are also 'supreme beings' Have to tell all the friends and rellies so that they know this. Wonder how many of them might disagree........hmmmmm.

We have been having a lively and very interesting discussion with Forum members who contacted us privately about a leaseback project. Has anyone, anywhere in France, ever had one such apartment offered for sale after the statutory 9 year lease has ended, or know of anyone who has bought after the time has elapsed? Viewing Motley Fool investors' guide it would appear that they sink without trace. In our part of France, we have never seen or heard of any apartment being offered for sale, which is curious as there are many apartment blocks with sectional titles - were they originally leaseback projects I wonder?

When looking for 'Haute Savoie' or 'Rhone Alpes' we no longer get a mention. After battling for recognition, can those of us in gorgeous 74 and 73 please be put back under south-east? Thanks

Yes, you will find that there is a very long thread which I posted on exactly this topic only two weeks ago. To opt for CU whilst buying the house seems sensible. We only found out about it too late, and now have to pay a large sum to a notaire to change our marital status, which, by the way, can only be done in France, as we are resident in Belgium and have ascertained this through the local consulate here.

Can anyone who really knows something about the law in France please help? We have had our property rented out to a French family since November last year. We were under the impression that if we needed/wanted to go and live in this house ourselves as it is our principal/only residence, we had the right to give them six months notice to vacate the property. Our managing agents say this is not the case: we only have the right to give six months notice at the end of their lease, i.e. six months before November 2006. We may have the possibility to take early retirement and would need to take possession of our own property in June/July next year. Question is, under French law, can we do this? We seem to have read somewhere (Rutherford's book perhaps) that we can give six months notice at any time.

That's very curious, because I was just about to post virtually the same remarks myself. Amelie became so upset and frustrated that she posted 'I've had it with this forum' and left. There are sometimes unwanted and unwarranted snide remarks made to perfectly normal questions. What do these people hope to achieve?

SpeedFerries please note.......... still no response to two emails reporting both services to and from the continent late.

We took this new route over last weekend. Friday's sailing was late coming into Boulougne, and therefore late leaving and arriving in Dover: Sunday's sailing was late and therefore ditto into Boulougne. Caught up in holiday traffic in both directions especially around the M25 Friday afternoon. Purser on board Sunday's sailing suggested we write to SF outlining our complaint which we did yesterday........so far no response.

Electricite de France backed their camion into our gatepost and damaged it to the extent where it was dangerous. Very, very sadly no-one actually saw them do it. Upshop was, we had to obtain quotes from masons for rebuilding the post. First one was 3000!!!!!!! We told our agents 'no way' and they shopped around for another quote. It took a long time, as they are few on the ground, but eventually we ended up paying 750. So the moral of the story is, unfortunately, one has to be patient, but patience pays off in the long run. Good luck.

It is a sliding scale as far as I am aware, so depends upon how much the person pays you in rent. However, you can off-set any structural and/or major repairs against tax whilst it is rented out. Ergo, if you take up this person's offer, take our advice and have any repairs done whilst they are in residence. Obviously you still have to pay the bills, but do receive either a credit or a certain amount back.

This subject has been asked before. However, firstly welcome to the forum. We own a house in Haute Savoie (it doesn't take a genius to guess where!). It is at present rented out to a French family, who, under French law, have had to sign for a minimum of three years. This in effect means absolutely nothing as all the rights are on the tenants' side and very few on the owners'. You will probably have to sign a rental agreement for three years, but as tenants, can break it with three months notice. If we wanted to live in our own house, we would have to give a minimum of six months notice and then not between September and March, the winter months. If you need any further information, put a request in our private box and I will respond to you directly.

We have just had all the tall ships here in Antwerp harbour. Magnificent sight! Although, or course whilst moored, all sails were furled. Amazing just how many Russian sail training ships there are - and just how many young people prepared to suspend themselves precariously from the rigging.

Hilda or Gertie....... mud wrestlers...... handbags at two paces? Methinks we have somehow sidetracked the original topic.

Before we actually go and live in France, we would like to change our marital status to avoid paying CGT on the death of one of the partners. We have seen an exorbitant sum, through a notaire of 750 ca. Does anyone please have any other less expensive ideas? TIA

Switzerland

Beethoven's Ninth, fourth movement, full volume. Maybe someone will even recognise the tune.........

Thank you Forum Admin - happy to see that we in the Haute Savoie are now included in the areas of SE France.

After perusing the replies to my thread, I notice that there is a whole sentence missed out, and that the message now no longer makes sense. The missing portion I put in brackets. Is this something the software does not like, or the Forum Admin?

We have agents who look after our house in the Haute Savoie. They are very good, but very unyielding in what can and cannot be done by owners . You are in a far better position if you are tenants, who have all the rights in France, as they sign for a period of 3 years, but can get out of the lease by giving 3 months notice at any time. They pay the rental, of course, plus the electricity and water charges, plus an additional amount for rubbish collection, sewerage etc. as one would in England . If you need any further information, you can put a message in our private box and we will be glad to help.

Would the Forum Admin please tell those of us with property in the Haute Savoie {Department 74} where in the Forum we fall, i.e. there have been posts both under N.E. France and under S.E. France - we are not mentioned specifically under either. I only happened across requests for information in the SEF section because I pressed the wrong button. Thanks in advance.