Gollum

No, the declaration de travaux serves two purposes; firstly to alert the Mairie to your plans, giving them the opportunity to ensure that they fall within regulations (national, regional, local...).  This includes making sure that your new construction doesn't overlook or shade your neighbour's property, is appropriate to any local restrictions (some areas insist on maintaining the style of local houses, colour of roof tiles etc.), and is generally in keeping/proportion with the area/location. Secondly, you have to post the declaration at the edge of your property so that the neighbours are informed of your plans.  This gives them the opportunity to comment or object.  Similarly, the declaration is posted at the Mairie for local people to consult. If your project is within the local rules, and no neighbours object, then you should receive permission to proceed within a few weeks. A permis de construire is different, invoking the local version of building regs/inspection and involving notification to the local tax office regarding any change of use or increase in the size of the dwelling.  Points 1 and 2 above still apply.  If you add bedrooms to your house or convert a barn into a Gite, for example, that changes the taxable base of the property, and your taxes foncieres and taxe d'habitation will be reassessed in line with the changes.

The info quoted by BJSLIV is correct.  I installed a greenhouse in my previous garden, and since it was under 20m2 surface area, it did not require a permis de construire, but nonetheless required a declaration de travaux.  No problem getting this, and no-one ever came to check the work done. When you visit the Mairie, take any and every bit of paper that refers to the shed -- including photos, schematics etc. -- and for the declaration de travaux you will also need to include a ground plan of the terrain where you will put it, showing the location of the shed and the distance from all boundaries.  They will also ask about the height of the shed, so check to see that the details include that information. It's possible that you may need planning permission for a construction on a separate piece of land, but if you have all the info to convince them that it is really just a shed, then they may decide that a declaration de travaux will suffice.  What they're trying to avoid is people building nice big sheds which, over the years, gradually become dwellings. In any case, be polite and friendly (obvious, I know, but...) since the granting of either permission will normally follow quite quickly if you've ticked all the boxes and are cooperative.  You need to display the form you will get from the Mairie acknowledging receipt of your application on your property (don't mistake this piece of paper for actual permission), and when you get the Arete (permission), off you go.  Unless, of course, your neighbour decides to object to the permission being granted... Bonne chance!

A lot depends on where you are resident for tax purposes (sounds like the UK for you) and where the work takes place (sounds like France).  If you have a French tax number, or if you know the location of the French tax office that deals with your region, I would suggest that you contact them and ask their advice.  They are legally required to give you objective guidance.  However, different tax officers will give different (and sometimes conflicting) advice.  That's why it's useful to know your tax number, which will lead to a specific contact person at the Fisc: if you can identify the person who would normally deal with your tax return, then that person's interpretation of the rules should guide your future actions. If you plan to relocate permanently to France, it's always best to get things set up correctly at the start, to avoid problems later.  Your local Chamber of Commerce (www.cci.fr) can also help.    

If you benefit from free CMU (state health cover) due to, for example, not having earned enough to be taxed in France for the last two years, they should issue you with a temporary and then a permanent SS number. If not, call your local URSSAF who should be able to tell you how to apply and what documentation you will need to supply.  www.urssaf.fr provides details of local offices and may also have more info on getting an SS number.  

Thanks.  I knew there had to be a catch...  I'm also probably well over the age limit for qualification!

I caught the tail-end of an advertisement on TF1 recently, and another on radio NRJ, both talking about a new "universal" pay-as-you-go mobile phone card, available from newsagents.  My local newsagents have not heard of it, and an internet search revealed nothing. Has anyone heard about this card?  I'm looking for alternatives to the usual Mobicarte/Nomad cards available from Orange, Bouygues etc. 

The French system is similar to both UK and US systems, in that it runs off a low-voltage current (24 volts if memory serves).  This determines the number of terminals that can be used.  In the UK I think you can use a maximum of 4 REN (Ringer Equivalent Numbers) on a standard domestic circuit -- i.e. up to four simple phones, bells or modems.  However, if you add more, as I have tried (two modems, one phone, one autoswitching fax machine with phone) then the system will get confused, and you'll get lots of buzzing on the line etc. If you're planning to have lots of fax and phone traffic as well as using modems, then you will need to look at either installing ISDN (up to four separate analogue lines) or a separate line and number for fax/modem.  ADSL is an option too, but only supplies broadband access for (normally) two PCs plus an analogue phone line (fax or phone).  ISDN is expensive (you rent the box from France Telecom); two lines are cheaper; ADSL can be cheaper still if you shop around (Tiscali.fr, tele2.fr as well as wanadoo.fr).  Depends on your needs: I would recommend ADSL if you spend most time on the PC, and use the phone line for phone and fax -- either a fax which can identify voice calls, or a simple fax machine which can be plugged in when you're about to receive a fax. Finally, you can make any changes you like to the phone connections inside your house (adding extensions etc.).  All the necessary bits and pieces are freely available in DIY stores, even in larger supermarkets.  France Telecom is responsible for the local loop up to the junction box inside your house, so as long as you don't mess with their wires coming in, you're OK.  Same applies for your electrical supply, although DIY electrics can become somewhat more entertaining if you get it wrong.... If you want a professional to do the job, registered electricians are authorised to carry out work on domestic phone installations as well as France Telecom.  Indeed on one occasion France Telecom said they were too busy to help, so could I please call my usual electrician...  Hope this helps.