Smiff

Have posted on gite site but no response, so thought I would try here.  Slightly confused about microbic versus microentreprise status when running gites.  The visit to the Chamber of Commerce and the Tax Office still didn't make it terribly clear.  Has anyone running gites registered as a microentreprise ?  Is this preferable ?  My french neighbour who runs 2 gites has, but as I understood it, declaring as a microbic is all that is required.  Any comments appreciated

Have posted on gite site but no response, so thought I would try here.  Slightly confused about microbic versus microentreprise status when running gites.  The visit to the Chamber of Commerce and the Tax Office still didn't make it terribly clear.  Has anyone running gites registered as a microentreprise ?  Is this preferable ?  My french neighbour who runs 2 gites has, but as I understood it, declaring as a microbic is all that is required.  Any comments appreciated

Is it necessary to create a small business (micro-entreprise) to run gites, or do you simply ask the "impots" for "microbic" status prior to completing tax return?  We have been to Chambre de Commerce and are slightly confused. Thanks for any helpful advice.

Many thanks for that, Parsnips.  Have "googled" auto-entrepreneur" and found very useful info.

I would like to offer my services to people needing help with translating/interpreting (French to English).  I assume that I would need to go to the Chambre de Commerce to register.  Would be interested to hear from anyone who knows or who offers similar services, as to how they went about it, what costs were involved in start-up etc. Many thanks

Does anybody know, in detail, how 'redressement judiciaire' works in France.  We know that the Chambre de Commerce gets involved.  We also know that the firm we are dealing with have had their bank account frozen.  They assure us it is being sorted out and our notaire says that it does not necessarily lead to 'faillite' but we are concerned and wonder if anyone has experience of this. Thanks in advance

Hello all, I have just read a comment (from Val 2?) that 5.5% VAT rate on renovation is due to end on 31.12.  Does anyone else have confirmation of this or other info ? Smiff

Wonder if anyone can help ? I have spent the morning on the phone to France trying to find someone to install a Franco Belge woodburning stove for us and seem to be going round in circles. (The supplier does not install).  I will carry on with my research but, in the meantime, does anyone know of a reliable installer in the Sarlat/Souillac area (24)?  If so, it will save me a lot more phone calls !!  Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Smiff 

I would be grateful for comments from anyone who has gone through the (frustrating) procedure of trying to get a septic tank put in ! We applied through the Communaute des Communes, as told to by our Maire and, 6 weeks later, have been told that we need to resubmit our application (the whole thing !!) because we are having one fosse  for a house and three gites and therefore need an etude technique (which I am in the process of trying to organise).  The form we have to fill in requests a lot of technical information, and also a plan d'implantation, showing where the fosse will be situated etc.  Who do we get to fill this in (the builder who is organising the installation, the guy doing the etude technique, or the architect ?)  Sorry if this sounds dim, but the builder submitted the original form for us and I am totally confused by the whole process !!  

Any advice gratefully appreciated - we have a four-bedroomed house (sleeps 8) and a barn being converted to 3 gites (will sleep max 16 people, but more likely 10ish in all).  Do we need 1 large fosse or 2 separate ones.  Our builder has quoted us for a 3000l one for the house and a 5000 l one for the barn (the 5000 l one being over double the price of the 3000l, not sure why !!!) Anyone able to give me some practical advice ?

I might need to post this on the Renovations forum as well, but I have a question about no. of fosses septiques required.  We have a four bedroomed house (will sleep 8) and a barn being converted into 3 gites (sleeping max. 16 but more likely 10ish).  Can we get away with one large fosse or do people generally have 2 ?  Any advice gratefully appreciated.

Our house and barn have, according to survey, evidence of "capricornes" and "vrillettes" (no termites, I'm pleased to say).Our builder says he would not bother to treat timber if it was his house, as these are always present in Perigordian houses; Our 'notaire' said she did have beams treated in hers.  Does anyone have any prior experience/advice, as we are unsure whether to get a company in or not (or whether it would be easy to do ourselves).  Our instinct (being the careful type) is to get something done about them in order to avoid problems in future. Any comments gratefully received. Smiff 

Thank you for all the comments so far. We have an appointment with the maire next week and will, hopefully, be able to clarify the position.  We are assuming that we will need planning permission for both our house and barn.  Final question though !  We have just obtained CU for barn conversion.  How long are we likely to have to wait (in 24) for the planning permission to come through and can we start any of the renovation work on the house before it does ? 

We have had plans drawn up for restoration  of a house and conversion of a barn to dwelling (barn has CU)  The house restoration (externally) involves adding Velux windows and changing a door to window and one window to French doors. The bedrooms will be in the loft area but there is already a proper staircase up to this level. We are unclear whether this requires planning permission or simply a "Declaration de Travaux".  As the barn involves change of use, we assume full planning permission is required. Could anyone shed any light on this for us ? (Are we being particularly dim !? !) Many thanks 

I speak good French but do not, as yet, have a dictionary of building terms.  Does anyone know what "herisson" means in relation to floors (I know it normally means 'hedgehog' but I don't think they would make a very good base for a floor !!) Also, "film polyane" and "une allege".  Any ideas gratefully received.  Does anyone know, in addition, whether soakaways are used widely in France and, if so, what they are in French. Many thanks

We are in the process of buying a house and large barn in a lovely part of the Dordogne (near Sarlat) and are just starting up the process of finding an architect to draw up plans for conversion of the barn to gites. The house is also in need of total renovation. We have done loads of research, know the area and have thought things through very carefully but have suddenly had an attack of nerves at the enormity of total restoration when we are still based in England. Does anyone have any useful tips re. architects, builders, do's and dont's or simply any positive comments on their experience?