Nick Trollope

[quote user="lemans"]As our our present licences are UK not EU, apparently les Gendarmes are not too happy here in Sarthe with these licences. [/quote] If your licences are indeed old UK ones (not the "new" pink or photocard ones), then you must indeed change them, as I understand it. There must be some green licences about still (I remember that I had to go to the AA - of all people - for a permit to drive in France when I had a green licence). Proceed as mentioned above....

Have you asked your insurer/read the policy? What do they say? I doubt if it would be considered an act of God as, on that basis most "environment-caused" damage would be...

Maths is fairly simple; CT is about 60€ plus the cost of any rectification work. Headlights for a Nissan? Dunno. Look on eBay - 400€ the pair, lets say. Registration is 36€ per fiscal HP (this will be on the C-of-C, but let us say it is 5HP) = 180€ although this is halved if the car is more than 10 years old = 90€ C-of-C is 120€ Set of plates is about 30€ I make that 700€. Only you can decide how much you are willing to pay.

Complete a certificat de cession (in triplicate), keep one, send one to the Prefecture of the Dept that the vehicle is registered in and give one to the dealer. The "system" will catch up with the car when DVLA tell France that they have the car, but you will be covered in the meanwhile.

He wasn't M EDF, he was M CONSUEL. But, I take the point, which I have seen so many times (and made a fair amount of money as a result!) Long may they continue!

There are plenty and whilst "people" continue to employ them, they will thrive. But exactly where is yours?

Gites de France used to do this, but do they still? You could ask them.

Isn't passing cables above a door (and below the ceiling) - any cables - strictly interdit?

The £ has hit an all-time new low every day for the past month (except for 3-ish days). About 1 month ago I swore blind that the £ would never reach 1€30. Now I am not so sure. But, is the problem the £ or the US$?

Indeed he is, I misread the question. I'll get me coat ....

No, the bungalow is in England, so it will be subject to UK law (ie, he can will it to whoever he wishes). Only "immeubles" in France are subject to French inheritance law. BTW, under no circumstances should he sell the UK property to move to France (and buy something here or give the money to you). Bad tax implications!

You must speak to a Notaire, who is the person who will deal with your Mothers estate, in France at least. French inheritance is very strictly controlled to the extent that your Mother will have no say in how the house is disposed of, I'm afraid. The services bills are due and are unlikely to be written off. It is also your responsibility to ensure that the service providers are notified of your Mothers death, so that they can make arrangements for final bills, and to stop applying standing charges. This sort of matter is really best dealt with in person, by you or a legally appointed representative in France. If you are having problems finding an English-speaking Noatire, then perhaps you could speak to your Solicitor, who will have channels to legal people in France. French inheritance law can make a stressful time worse, I'm afraid.

Accountants are one of those "if you find a good one, keep him/herself to yourself" things I reckon....

[quote user="ams"]Is VAT or TVA at 19.6% payable on the capital gain element when selling a principal private residence that is less than 5 years old.  [/quote] No, but if you are the original owner and it is less than 2 years old, then yes.

[quote user="montagrier"] You must have a CU or you might be wasting loads of money... [/quote] Which is what I said, I think......

If you provide a "labour" only - for example a labourer or a gardener, then the system is different (but NOT as far as TVA is concerned), than if you "supply" something - as a commercant/shopkeeper (your "trading commerce") for example. It really is a complex area and you should seek the advice of a good, French accountant.

[quote user="chocccie"]I bought the barn years and years ago.  Buying a barn was not part of my question (see above) Cheers [/quote] No, but it was the question posed by Gastines! Did my (original) answer tell you what you wanted to know?

[quote user="Gastines"]I hope the Immo told him that?[/quote] I wonder....

[quote user="Victor Meldrew"]Since when were the two rates for planning fees? We were never asked if it was maison principal or secondaire, we were just sent the facture. Victor [/quote] There isn't. I think that BJ was putting forward an argument as to why there should be!

[quote user="Lion"]can anybody advise current regs on soundproofing walls between apartments?[/quote] This is covered by NF 12354-1/2 20140 and couple of others (I think!). Unsuprisingly, I don't have copies. If you have deep pockets, you could buy them from the AFNOR website - www.afnor.fr

This has been discussed plenty and the conclusion seems to be that unless you spend a fortune on a UK solicitor to receive the money (in Euros or Sterling), then the funds must go through the Notaire and be paid into a French bank account, in Euros. Of course, your Notaire may be able to transfer to a UK account, but you you would have to ask them. You could ask yourself "why would they" and "can I get a better rate on the exchange than them"?

I believe that, if you supply something, then the TVA threshold is about 75K€ - this is a EU-wide level and is the same as the TVA registration threshold. If you exceed (or are likely to exceed) the micro-BIC regime limits, then you must change to a réel regime and register for TVA. I don't think that there are any exceptions. Does that compute?

[quote user="chocccie"]Am I right in thinking that I can start interior work on a barn without planning permission.... providing the external is not changed and nobody is living there? [/quote] If it is a barn (ie. has never been habitable), then no, you can't. You will need to apply for a certificat d'urbanism (to ensure that you can actually use it as habitation) then a permis de construire (and a permis de démolir if necessary) before you do anything .

[quote user="TWINKLE"] I thought it looked silver[:)]  [/quote] One mans silver is anothers man grey ......

[quote user="Golfclan"] Maybe you Nick can provide an appropriate justification, which does not rely on an argument along the lines that they are charging that fee because they can charge such a level of fee! [/quote] Eh? I can't justify it, as it is unreasonable. But, it is not extortion and it is unavoidable. The point is, you accepted the charge and you cannot do anything about it, I'm afraid.