Howie

Hi again. Thanks for that. No, - maybe I wasn't very clear. I was meaning the ventilation secondaire as shown HERE Now, I would think that it makes sense to make the primary ventilation outlet as high as the height shown in the diagram for the secondary vent. Then, bring the secondary vent out of the ground as a 40mm pipe, run it up, - parallel with the primary pipe, right inside the house until it reaches a height which is above all waste connections (just air). Then tap it into the 100mm pipe. Hey presto: Only one protruding vent! I'm sure it doesn't comply, but I can't think why and it makes perfect sense. No?

Well, thanks so much for the advice everyone. I think I will put a 100mm vent/soil pipe through the roof (as long as I can get a box-section conversion for the ceiling part) and that will then be my main pipe out of the house. Luckily, there is only one toilet. I suppose I could also run a 40mm pipe alongside it and that will be the vent from the fosse side. If I run it up from the fosse pipe and link it back into the 100mm vent above all waste runs, that should take care of any possible air inlet and vent problems. Even that all seems like overkill to me. However, if the SPANC inspector wants another 100mm vent for some reason, I will just take it up the end gable outside the property with no more disruption inside the house. Of course, I will be very tempted to remove it again, - after he has approved the installation!  [;-)]  

I know what I would do in the UK, - where there are no inspections or regulations (to speak of). However, I am about to install my fosse vents into an old stone longere ready for a professional Fosse Toutes Eaux installation. But do I really have to have two totally separate vent runs; one from the internal pipe which feeds all waste to the tank, and one from between the tank and the soakaway? Or is it possible to amalgamate these into one, so that I only have to have one vent running up through the house and one vent outlet sticking out through the roof? Also, I am hoping that it is possible to get a 100mm to box-section conversion for the vent/s because I want to run it under my ceiling, - above the perlings. So, any advice on which products to buy would be gratefully received! Thanks in advance. Howard.

Hi. My partner and I jointly own a property (no mortgage, and we are not married). However, I now wish to give her my half as we are splitting up and it is part of our agreement, (all combined with splitting our assets in the UK). I have been told that it is a simple process of an "acte modificatif de propriété". However, my local notaire says that he cannot do them. Can anyone confirm that this is the correct process and an idea of the cost? An english-speaking notaire would also be helpful as I'm afraid our French is not too good. We are in 56 (Morbihan, Bretagne). Thanks (in advance). Howie.

Thanks Hoverfrog. Very helpful advice. I'm told that the actual procedure is called an "acte modificatif de propriété". But maybe others here can confirm that? Anyway, much appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. Very useful. As my French is very poor and I don't know an english speaking Notaire, does anyone (probably hoverfrog!) know the process involved and an idea of costs and/or other legal/financial implications? Thanks in advance. H.

Hi. My partner and I (not married) have a holiday home in France. We are selling and estimate that there will be a gain of approx €100,000. I know that the CG tax is 16%, but do we each have an individual allowance (as in the UK), which will reduce the actual amount payable? If so, how does this work? Thanks very much (in advance). H.

Hi all. Hope you can help. If a couple are splitting-up, is it easy to move ownership of a property from joint-ownership to single-ownership? This holiday property was bought with a Tontine clause and the couple are not married. There is no mortgage or other loan on the property. All other details of the seperation are amicable and it's just a question of removing one person from the ownership 'deeds'. Anyone any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Well, I got the Attestation with just the V5 and the application form. Unfortunately, my local CT station couldn't fit me in until after I returned to the UK, so the final stages won't be completed for another 6 weeks - which is the earliest I can get back to France. Thanks again for all help here. H.

Hi again. Yes it is pre 96. Thanks vary much for yours, and everyone's help. We'll see how I get on! Regards, Howard.

Thanks again Sunday Driver. I note your comments regarding the "e" number; however, this car hasn't got one! It only has the VF number, - followed by the weight limits in KGs'. I have checked the old CT documents and it isn't shown on them either, shall I just send it with the numbers I have?

Thanks Sunday Driver. The problem I have is that, although the form at http://www.poitou-charentes.drire.gouv.fr/vehicules/RTI/7-5-2RCR19.pdf .. has english instructions, the sheet giving the list of documents is in French and I cannot understand it. Could you possibly tell me exactly what I need to send? Sorry for being thick - but my French reading skills are much worse than my oral ones. Thanks, Howard.

Ahh. OK. - Sorry to have appeared a bit foolish. Appreciate the information. I would have happily just sent the form and only expected to produce all other documents to my local prefecture! Thanks very much. I'll copy my V5, get a new CT and the VAT form before I attempt to get my attestation d'identite. Thanks very much.

Hello again. Now I AM confused! According to the information I have, - to get an attestation d'identite, all I need to send is the demande d'identification form with all the relevant bits of technical stuff filled-in. I'm not sure what other documents need to be sent, - or why I need photocopies of them too? I'm a bit nervous of sending any original documents in the post. Do I really need more than just the completed form and a cheque - in order to get an attestation d'identite?

Beryl, Will: Thank you both very much. And so quick too! I certainly appreciate it. I don't suppose you can advise whether I have to send a cheque for 67,38 euros along with the demande d'identification, can you? If so, is it just made out to DRIRE? Thanks so much.

Hi. After receiving help here regarding registering my car in France, I need to find my local DRIRE office to send the demande d'identification to. I live in Nivillac (56130), but I am sending it from the uk and an internet search has not helped. My French is not good enough to ring the DRIRE to ask! Anyone know either; which office it will be or how to find out? Thanks very much - in advance. Regards, Howard.

Just a quick question: Do I send a cheque for 67,38 euros along with the demande d'identification to my local DRIRE office? If so, do I just make out the cheque to DRIRE?

OK. I suppose the bill of sale just has to contain the vendor's signature, price, date of sale (to me) and my name? If so, all is OK! I'll make sure I have the cert of cessation with me too ;-) Thanks so much again.

Thanks (to both of you). I'm lucky that the original franch headlights are still with the car (the UK MOT allowed it to pass with headlight stickers!). Everything else looks OK. The only thing is that the certificate de cessation is made out to the person I bought it from and all I have is a bill of sale from him. Still, I'm presuming that will work ok? Superb help here, - thanks.

Firstly thanks to those who helped with my last query (as advised, - I avoided the vehicle from Spain!). Anyway. I have just bought an old (1992) Peugeot 405 which was a French Car up until last year. It was then re-registered in the UK, which means I have the Certificate de-cessation (given to the person I have just bought it from), and a number of old CTs - including one which is still valid for another 10 months. Q: Does this make it any easier to re-register it in France now? ie; will I really need a certificat de conformite, for example? Appreciate any advice. H.

Erm, - no. Its a genuine question to find out how I could limit the risks if I do decide to buy it. The assumptions I'm making are: 1/ If it has a french registration and a Carte Grise, then it would have been reported to French authorities if it had been stolen. Therefore, procuring my own CdS would be a fairly safe move. 2/ If I also have the existing owner's bill of sale when he purchased it, - and a bill of sale for my own purchase from him, I am just buying a French car (without a CT) in Spain - aren't I? 3/ (Based on the previous reply from Sunday Driver), Maybe I can also get a certificate de cessation for the vendor to sign at the point of sale? 4/ If the above assumptions are correct, and I then immediately book the vehicle in for a new CT, why would I be unable to register it in my name? This was, and still is, a genuine enquiry and I admit my ignorance in these matters. However, given that I might be willing to do the necessary legwork on this myself (to make it easier for the vendor), I can't see much difference between exchanging these documents in Spain, or Exchanging them in France - or the UK for that matter. I am perfectly willing (and interested) to hear that I am wrong.

Thanks for the warning. If I did decide to go ahead, do you know if it's possible for me to obtain a certificat de situation/non-gage before I collect and pay for the vehicle?

Thanks sunday Driver. Invaluable stuff - again! As my vendor is in Spain, I suspect that he is unable and/or unwilling to venture into French bueurocracy for the necessary forms. Do you think I will be able to get them and take them with me for signature when I collect the car? Thanks again. H.

Sorry for replying to my own posting, but I got a very fast reply! The existing owner says that all he has got is a French 'log book' (his description), and his French bill of sale. Do you think this might cause me some problems? For what it's worth, I have a VERY poor picture of this 'log book' here.. http://tinyurl.co.uk/hc81 Is this the Carte Grise?

Thank you very much for your help. That's encouraging. However, i'm not sure if the present owner will have all those documents (or indeed know what they are)! Much like myself really. I will ask him for them anyway. Appreciate it. H.