[Long-term letting]

I’ve been avidly reading the postings for long-term

lettings, most of which recant negative experiences.

Here’s my side of the story. We have looked at many, many British owned

properties up for rent, most are absolute dumps and I wouldn't stable a

horse in them. I'm not alone in this

discovery, have discussed the problem with others who actively look for good

rental houses and who I know would make admirable tenants. Perhaps I’m the only

one with guts enough to state my case, but as many postings seem to malign the

renters, I feel someone should make a statement for the renter!

Deluded owners seem to be the order of the day. I have seen ceilings falling down, roofs that

should have been replaced years ago, filthy dirty toilets and floors, flooded

floors, drains and fosses that do not function and were installed by DIY

enthusiasts (the ones who were car mechanics or car salesmen in another life).

Electricity installation that is a nightmare - can't have one appliance on when

the refrigerator is running. Wet walls, mould, exterior walls that have holes

in them – the holes plugged up with plastic bags, wood burners that have

handles that fall off, bathtubs held in by a prayer, Showers installed with

microbore plumbing, and which require constant plunging, drainpipes held up

with one wood screw (fell off), gardens full of slate (the owners think this is

good drainage). Gardens overgrown into the state of a jungle. And the heating

systems are a joke! One deluded owner had an AGA in the kitchen - connected to

nothing (a little heat came from the thing).

Some people even go so far as to advertise their property

for example, as a 'Beautiful Longere'. This place was full of dead flies, the

doors didn't fit (the front and back door), and the roof leaked. Another owner

declared there were no mice, but later an unlucky tenant discovered a saucer

full of mouse pellets was stashed on a beam, and mice droppings were on most of

the beams and the floors.

Then there are the people who wax lyrical about their hovels 'we have spent

many happy times in this lovely house, enjoying the peace and tranquility of

the countryside and we know you will fall in love with our home away from home'

- this one was down a rutted cart track with an overgrown garden full of detritus

and weeds - that had not been cut for months. The ceilings in this place were

falling down from a recent leak and pieces of plaster board were in a large soggy

mess outside the house. The roof was awful!

I suppose there are some British-owned rental houses that are good, but where

are they? Some look good, but look closely, the cabinets probably don’t fit too

well, there may be a gap under some cabinets, stains on the carpets seem to be

normal. French rental property in our experience is of a much higher standard

(even though some décor is grim), probably because the French aren't so

concerned about  'getting the tenants out'. If you have a very good

tenant, the French value such a jewel, they don't nit-pick about leaving pieces

of appallingly awful furniture in a house, or someone taking a lousy print off

the walls. For Heaven's sake wake up, provide a decent house that a good tenant

can make into a home and perhaps leave some improvements for you (such as light

fixtures and a pretty garden). Just imagine, you could have a steady income per

month.

For the generally uninformed, a three year lease is legal. After three years

the owner can decide that he or she needs the property for a relative, or

wishes to sell it. If the owner does not notify you that this will happen, then a further three years is implied. You

can't stipulate no pets. You must provide a good, sound house, and repair items

for which you are responsible - such as plumbing, electrics. Anything that is

misrepresented can take you in front of a magistrate, might take time, but hey,

we have oodles of time now we are in ‘laid back’ France. Your tenant does NOT

have to give you three months notice, two months can be written into a lease.

And be aware that if a tenant has a medical condition that tenant is only

legally required to give you one month's notice.

And don't expect anyone in their right mind to pay a rental price such as you

might get in the United Kingdom. If you try this on, you will find your house

will be occupied for only a few months (at which point your tenant will have

wised up and discovered that a three or four bedroomed house, with two bathrooms,

garage, good heat and good location will be offered to French prospective

tenants for 500 to 550 euros a month, or maybe 620 euros for a spiffy place).

There are cretins out there who will try to scam you, but

don’t be desperate, get references, bank references too, be canny and telephone

around at the last address where these people lived. Take out insurance in case

the tenant defaults on the rent – which could happen in the current economic

climate, even to good tenants. Try not to be as mean as sin, and imagine

yourself in a similar situation, open your blinkered eyes, if your house is a

dump, fix it, sell it, or let it rot away, don’t expect some poor cluck to pay

money for an uninhabitable dump.

I’m not a lawyer, just someone with university level courses

in the law, and much experience as a renter and as an owner of a couple of

rental houses, both of which were beautiful, and clean and one even sold to the

renter.

We are currently looking for a very good large house to rent in the

country, for myself and my partner, near to Josselin, or Taupont. With an

enclosed garden, oil heating (forget electric, cost us over a thousand euros

for a two month bill). For a reasonable rent. You’ll get a very good tenant, non-smoking,

who pays the rent on time, takes care of a property, plants flowers, gardens,

and likes a quiet life and a decent house. I have sufficient good furniture,

paintings (not prints), and treasures of my own so that I won’t be tempted to

run off with your car boot junk.

[Cataract Operation]

Hello;

Does anyone have any experience with cataract operations in France. In particular the care and the cost as we do not have supplimentary medical insurance.

We are both over sixty, and have a Carte Vitale. Other half is allowed his blood pressure medication at no cost, my medication which is for a life-long affliction has to be paid for. Anyone have the vaguest idea why?

Thank you