Marie

So what is the situation if you are employed and resident in the UK, and therefore paying tax in the UK, but also have a gite in France and pay tax for that income over there.  Can the UK IR tax me again on the gite income (which is paid into my UK bank account), after the french have had their share?  I'm feeling very confused again, and just when I thought I'd worked it all out!   Help.....! Marie

We'll be over near Montreuil from 29th March - 8th April if anyone wants to meet up. Marie

hi all HELP! Does anyone know of a plumber who is actually available outside normal working hours for emergency call out?  Every time I have a plumbing problem it seems to occur either over the weekend or in August and I can't find anyone who will even answer a phone let alone come out and fix a leaking pipe!  I've just come back from an aborted weekend trip, when we arrived on Saturday to find a leak from the heating pipe out of the boiler, so we had no heating or hot water! We had to turn back round again and come home the same day, as the prospect of a night in a freezing house with a 7 year old was not an attractive prospect, (especially as the small one started shivering before 7pm.)  I'll be phoning the plumbers first thing Monday, but I'd much rather get someone out while I'm there rather than leave the responsibility to someone else to manage the keys etc.  I'm obviously too used to the concept of English 24 hour emergency plumbers, but would love to know if anything vaguely similar exists in France.  We're based near Montreuil-sur-mer, so the nearer the better! Thanks Marie

Hi We've just received our first enquiry through French Connections since their website upgrade!  I'm still not inclined to renew my advertisement with them, as the response has been much worse than VF. Having said that, there was a distinct downturn in the number of enquiries through VF after their new website was launched.  That seems to have picked up a little lately, although I'm still not very confident about either at the moment!  Let's hope it's just the lull between the January credit card bills and the start of spring and thoughts of summer!   Marie

  Hi All, I thought you might be interested to read the reply we finally got from VF in response to our concerns about the new changes, so I've pasted it below. What do you think? Does it alleviated any of your concerns, because I don't think it has reassured us at all!   There seems to be widespread misunderstanding on this subject.   In fact nothing has changed, other than:   - We have tried to encourage more advertisers to actively use the calendar - The availability search results [eg NOT our main search results, just the results on a search 'by date'] are now ordered by how recently the calendar was updated.   As there are so many paths through the website, and many potential entry points - eg direct into various pages containing specific search queries from search engines - the ranking within our search results is certainly not the most important factor in determining response levels for an ad.   Our previous criteria for ordering availability search results made it possible for ads without recently updated calendar data to appear high in the list, hence giving prominence to potentially inaccurate information to site visitors. In providing availability search to the public, the underlying logic is that the information it holds is accurate. The changed sort order for availability gives priority to the most recently updated and hence accurate data, and will result in a higher ratio of bookings to enquiries, and more service offered to the public.   Our advertising is essentially a blank canvas which you may use as you choose. It is used by advertisers in many different ways. Those who make active use develop their own strategies and over time find out what works for them. Each individual enterprise has its own challenges, advantages and market.   The additional features [offers, calendar, prices by date] are included with every ad, and they are quick and easy to use. Any advertiser is free to not use them. Whilst we would recommend that they do, we would not presume to make it compulsory. There are disadvantages to not making use of these features: it's a competitive market out there! Those who try harder may well fare better.   We have advertisers in both serviced and self catering sections of the site making active ongoing use of the calendar, many of whom have used it consistently since its launch in the site, and have found it helps them generate enquiries about available dates, and receive fewer about booked dates. Our site isn't a booking system, and as such, responses need managing by advertisers to ensure the best enquire-to-book ratio.   Development of the website is ongoing. Through careful observation of market trends and user behaviour, we have built and refined VisitFrance into a medium generates tens of thousands of responses and bookings worth several million pounds per year.   This year we expect a minimum of a million of unique visitors which is a huge audience for a website in this type and an excellent opportunity for accommodation owners seeking targetted exposure at a sensible price. It works well, and we know of many owners who receive as much business as they need from an ad in VisitFrance, thereby avoiding the hassle and expense of running other ads.   To ensure that it continues this way, development will continue. I don't know precisely in which direction yet - what the public respond well to is what we will do more of, as this has proven to be the best way to build traffic [visitors] and response levels since we moved our publishing efforts from print to the web in 1997.   Regards   Ben Whitmore http://www.visitfrance.co.uk   Let me know what you think!   Marie

Hi We're near Montreuil as well, but only part time!  We're around during most school holidays if you want to get in touch.   Marie

I'd have to agree with most of you - we use FC and Visit France.  I would estimate that over 90% of our bookings have come from VF, so we shall renew with them, but I can't justify the expense with FC with such a poor success rate. They don't even generate the same level of enquiries, and this was before the new website!   Marie

Hi All, I've been looking for information on the same topic myself, as I'm about to file my fist French tax return, but all the tax forms on the tax website have different numbers this year! Anyone know which form I have to fill in to declare tax on my gite rental (I'm a non-resident) ?  I think it's 2044, but would appreciate any advice.   Thanks   Marie

Hi all, I've copied a recent email I received from Visit France about their latest change to the website, and wondered how people felt about it? Hello We've made some changes to the content you can place in your VisitFrance ad, and also altered the search results display order criteria in availability, which is our most popular search. The rank of ads corresponding with availability search criteria is now based on how recently the CALENDAR was updated, and not the text content. As I understand it, unless you update your calendar regularly, you risk ending up at the bottom of a search list. As someone who works full time, I don't have the luxury of being able to update the calendar every day, just so I can end up at the top of a search, and what do you do if you are already fully booked, but still want people to see your property for future interest?  By the same token, if the bookings are not coming in, and you therefore have no need to update the calendar, you will end up lower down than someone who is booked up, and has therefore updated the calendar to show that it isn't available! I've contacted VF to express my concerns, but they haven't replied yet! Have I understood them correctly, and if so, is it just me who's concerned???   Marie

Thank you all so much for the good advice.  Having left the original message, I went to check my bank records to see what amount we were dealing with, only to discover that the prospective tenants had never paid the balance, which was due a month ago!  I am now seriously p****d off, as you can imagine, - mainly with myself for not remembering to check that the money had been paid, which would have given my the chance to follow it up and release the dates if necessary, but also with them, as it would appear that there was a problem back at the end of November, but they only chose to let us know today!  Their excuse was that they had tried to contact us over Christmas but their emails had been returned - a valid excuse you might say, but being married to a computer consultant, as I am, means he can check all email traffic on his webserver and instantly see that nothing has even reached us from them, let alone been returned. (This is without mentioning the fact that our phone number is on the website, and we have received several other emails by the same route without problem.)  Needless to say, we will not be refunding the deposit, and I shall be leaving myself plenty of reminders to check that payment has arrived in future! I shall go and get myself a large drink now while we compose a dignified response explaining that we shall not be refunding them any money, and suggesting that they might have a problem with their internet provider, as we certainly don't have one with ours! Thank you again for your wisdom, I promise I shall learn from this particular episode!   Marie

Hi All I've just received a cancellation for a booking due to start at the end of January.  Realistically I don't expect to re-let at this short notice during the winter, but I then have the issue of refunding the rental money.  How much is reasonable to refund at this stage?  Our terms state that the deposit is non-refundable, and we will only refund the balance of late cancellations if we manage to re-let, but I don't rate my chances of doing that in low season.  Any advice???   Marie

Hi All I'm sure one of you lovelies will know the answer to this one - we started renting out our gite in 2004, and I've been in touch with the relevant tax offices to register as a non-resident, but so far I can't find any forms that relate to income for 2004 on the government website.  Their latest forms are dated for income received during 2003 (when I didn't have an income in France).  Am I right in thinking I have to declare and pay tax in 2005 for income generated in 2004, or have I misunderstood? Marie

Di, We have wet underfloor heating here in our UK house, underneath a floating timber groundfloor and traditional wooden upper floor.  we've had no problems during the 6 years it has been installed, and wouldn't go back to radiators by choice now!  It's fantastically warm everywhere, and even though it doesn't work in the same way as concrete, you can still feel the warmth through carpet or vinyl flooring - and the cat absolutely loves it!!! We got ours through a company in Northern Ireland, can't remember the name, but could find it if you wanted.  They supplied everything (except the boiler) and it was a doddle to fit.  The idea was that it could be installed by a competent DIYer, although the instruction book was like a NASA manual, and the reality was much easier!   Marie

As it was me who asked the original question, it should probably me who points out that if you take the time to read my original message, you will see that I HAD already tried to find out if I needed a licence, and had been given incorrect information by my FRENCH builder.  Having read an article in a French magazine in October about licences and the proposal to make it part of the taxe d'habitation (which I do pay!) I was then unclear as to who to contact to find out what to pay, when and who to, hence the question on the forum.  At no point have I deliberately tried to evade paying my dues, nor do I intend to do so, but living in the UK it is not always possible to get the most up to date information about France without using things like this forum.  The one thing I needed was information, which was quickly supplied by Paul (Thank you). What I certainly did not need or expect was a load of pompous hot air from people who should take the time to read messages more carefully! Lack of information is not the same as criminal intent!!! Can this please be an end to the subject. Marie

Thanks Paul Yes I do have an address in France, but I bought the TV before I had the house so they don't have my French details! I'll give them a call and see what I need to do.  Do you know if it makes any difference that it is in a holiday home and therefore only used for part of the year??   Marie

Hi all Apologies to all those who have answered this question before, but I can't find the answer anywhere! I seem to have been given conflicting advice on the question of whether I need a TV licence in France or not - my builder said no, the current issue of LF says yes, and an article I read in France in October said they were being made part of the local tax bill as from next year!! Do I need one now or not, if so, how much are they and where do I get one from??   Marie

My sympathies! Our 6 year old threw up on her Dad when we took the sea cat earlier this year, so we tried the ferries, but that turned both her and me a funny colour and meant us spending the entire crossing freezing up on deck!!! We've decided it has to be Eurotunnel, as being ill is a rotten start to any holiday, but we're trying to book as early as possible so as to get the full benefit of cheaper fares - currently £98 return for a long stay.  It means planning a bit further ahead, and risking having to pay to amend your ticket if disaster strikes, but for us poor sailors I reckon that's a reasonable trade off.   Marie

Hi All Just came back from France this weekend, and there has been a lot of fuss over there about the new regulations about using headlights during daylight hours. I don't know if this only applies in the Nord-Pas de Calais region or if it is national, but as I understand it, as from today (Sunday) it is now recommended that all road users have their side lights on during daylight hours when travelling outside built up areas.  This is experimental for the next five months, and so it is not compulsory yet ( no fines to pay!), but if it proves successful then it may be made law. Has there been any mention of this in the UK while we've been away, or is this as much news to you as it was to me?   Marie

Hi all Having just started our own gite business this year, I've composed a set of terms and conditions based on several we encountered when staying in other peoples gites.  They have been checked by a solicitor friend of mine, so we're pretty confident about them.  If any one wants to have a look at them/ take a copy, please go to our website and then click on the relevent button : www.gitebrimeux.net   , we also do on-line booking, so you can view our booking form if that helps.  We've used both Visit France and French Connections  for internet advertising this year and have had bookings through both, although Visit France has generated far more enquiries. Hope this lot helps.   Marie

Hi, It certainly sounds like there is something going on as I had a similar phone call from someone (Darren??) in Hungary.  The initial part of the converstion was just enquiring about the gite, but quickly moved onto the sales pitch! Cost was about €130 a year, and the guy was very reluctant to get off the phone.  I asked for the details to be emailed, but he 'couldn't' do this.  He did reluctantly give me a web address, but by this time I'd lost all interest in looking it up. He couldn't tell me where they got our details from (the marketing department just pass them on), but we do advertise on 2 websites. He was very persistent, wanting to call back the next day, so I would guess they work on a commission basis, but if he thought I was going to hand over any financial or personal details to a complete stranger over the phone he must be mad.   Marie

Surely the onus is on him to prove that the gite was uninhabitable, which I would imagine would be difficult if you have had guests both before and since!  He can't claim a refund simply because he doesn't 'like' anything about the gite, and as long as you have provided what you advertised, I don't see he has any grounds for a refund.  To count as "uninhabitable" in France usually means a derilict barn, or at the very least a great hole in the roof!! Check your terms and conditions, and if you're not sure of your standing, then get legal advice, but if no-one else has had a problem then it doesn't sound like he has much of a case.  Do you give out feedback forms to your guests?  If so, then their positive coments over the past 2 years will provide plenty of evidence to back up your case. Your other guests are your witnesses and he doesn't have any 'evidence' other than his own views.  I wouldn't give any money back without talking to my solicitor in this case.   Best of luck!   Marie

This is our first year running our gite, but we have always insisted that the security deposit has cleared our bank account (either by cheque or transfer) before we send out the keys and directions. No-one has yet queried this, and having just had one particularly careless (and dirty)family I would certainly not be prepared to let anyone stay who had not handed money over.  We had to deduct money from this particular family's security deposit to cover several breakages (including pulling the front off a kitchen drawer!), and they then had the cheek to claim it wasn't them.  They eventually (reluctantly) admitted the drawer had "come off in their hands", but still weren't happy that we had charged them.  I dread to think what would have happened if we had not had their money in advance and were faced with the prospect of trying to claim it back from them. If your terms and conditions state the money is to be paid in cash up front, then they don't really have any grounds to dispute your request. (We take all our bookings via internet and clients have to tick a box to say the have read and accept our terms and conditions, so we always have a paper record) At the end of the day, it's your house, and you make the rules! I'm just hoping we don't have any more unpleasant guests this year, as this lot were particularly nasty about the whole thing. Best of luck! Marie

Does anyone out there know if I can take 2 separate feeds (to different Tv sets) from the same satellite dish? We have 2 adjoining houses and would like to install a satellite system (particularly now I've found out from the forum that I can get them at Lidl!), but obviously don't want to put up 2 dishes if I can get a good enough signal from one dish. Do I need to get 2 boxes, or can I just split the signal somewhere in the loft? This satellite stuff is all new to me as we use a freeview box here, so I would really appreciate any help! p.s which Uk channels can you pick up with the Lidl dish?

We have just finished building a gite in the Pas-de-Calais, and our next-door neighbour (who is English, but not particularly thrilled with our gite plans) told us that we need to register our gite. Does anyone know of any regulations which require us to register with anyone (tourist board/ chambre de commerce?) before we rent out the gite? We are UK resident - does this make any difference?