Nick

Hello If we are allowed to come on vacation from the UK to France this summer, can anyone respond on whether two families from the UK can share a gite? Is this against the rules on social distancing currently? I'm assuming it is. Thank you. Nick

Hello If we are allowed to come on vacation from the UK to France this summer, can anyone respond on whether two families from the UK can share a gite? Is this against the rules on social distancing currently? I'm assuming it is. Thank you.

Thanks Gluestick, RicandJo. So the exchanger problem of a leak internally is not the cause? I've looked at the picture and my expansion vessel is 'slimmer' than this picture. Would I need the precise replacement for my boiler, or are they all universal? Also, my current vessel, sits in a holder on the back of the boiler casing. The bricodepot one would just hang off the flexible braided pipe!

Hi, Our oil burning boiler pressure keeps rising. from cold we charge the system with about 2 bar pressure and after about 2 or 3 hours of working, the pressure on the manometer guage has risen to 3 bar before the valve releases the pressure. (manually or automatically) can anyone identify why this is happening? One suggestion was that the copper coil exchanger has a hole in it which takes water from the hot tank increasing the pressure in the central heating sealed system. nick.

Thanks, we do use Eparcyl everytime we visit. On the point of refilling with water, is this necessary to maintain a balance in the first (or second) tank?

Our property has not had the Fosse emptied for over 6 years to our knowledge, so probably long overdue. When the waste has been removed, does the fosse need to be filled up with cold water to maintain any natural starting position again? Should we expect the waste disposal company to do that, if necessary. Our house is a holiday home, so not continuos usage all the time (unfortunately!). Thanks

Thanks for the replies. It sounds as if a 'recommendation' is an ideal way forward.

Hi, I need some plumbing work performed from a local plumber. Is there any guarantee I should ask for either at the devis stage, or upon completion, against the standard of his work? By having a valid SIRET number, (for plumbing) does this protect the vendor from bad workmanship? Thank you

Hi, On the front page of the Declaration Modele H1 form from the Impots Locaux, question 3.33 asks for information about "loans from the state or other organisations" against your property. Do I need to declare my UK mortgage loan against our maison secondaire?  We do not live in France and the reason I have been sent the H1 is to declare that our new velux's and upstairs bedroom have been completed and I guess I need to be re-assessed for taxe Fon & Hab. Thanks 

We have completed some internal renovations to our first floor bedroom which we received permission from the DDE. The original request was to make good a 'soil flooring' and use the loft bpace as an extra bedroom. As part of this first floor bedroom renovation, we wish to add a new bathroom adjacent to the bedroom. Do we need to obtain permission to fit a new bathroom?  There are no external windows to be added, it essentially is an 'en suite' addition. The mairie has responded with a 'yes go ahead', but just want to make sure that this internal work will not come back to bite me. NB: I had to declare to the tax office the new space created so they could uplift my taxe F & H. Thanks

Thank you.

Hi Will, No,  just a holiday home, no rental or interest from other assets

Hi, I have a property in Normandy for the last two years. I work in the UK and I am tax resident in the UK. The house in Normandy is our maison secondaire. Do I need to fill out any French tax return forms to declare this position?  Also, what about wealth tax?  I understand I should be exempt as my assets in France are well beneath the €760,000. Should I be filling out a tax return only to prove I should not be paying any tax  (outside of taxe f and taxe d'h)? Thanks

Hi, No charges from last year, just the standard 1 page statement, giving the average 'rental value'  (1345)and then a series of percentages which when added make the figure of €316.

Hi, the €316 euros is just the taxe d'habitation, i have the TV also added (my total taxe d'h is €432 this year)

Hi, I have just received my taxe d'habitation and i'm unclear if the amount is correct. When we purchased the house in 2006, the estate agents blurb suggested a taxe fonciere of €296 and taxe d'habitation of €111. I have done some renovation in the grenier, converting to a bedroom and my new taxe d'habitation is €316.  I declared I had done the work in the grenier to the impots, but never offered (or was asked) for additional living capacity created by the conversion. Is there anyway i can understand why the amount has risen from €111 to €316.  The increased space is about 25m2, my original total living space was stated as 90m2. Does this increase seem reasonable?

Many thanks PeterCD and Nick.

Hi, This is our first year to pay the land/habitation taxes. I have only been sent a copy of the invoice to my address in England, (I think the actual invoice is sitting in my post box in France) and after a few emails between my local tax d'impots in Alencon, 61, I am none the wiser of who to write the cheque to. Is is payable to "  Tresor Public", or will my cheque get refused? Any help greatly appreciated Thanks

Hi We are having our grenier converted into bedrooms and have good oak beams which will be left exposed. The attic has been empty for decades, so the beams are not showing themselves in their best light. What should be applied to the beams (if anything) to bring back a natural look?  I don't want to stain them and I've heard linseed oil could be used, but does slightly discolour. Any ideas welcome Thanks  

Thank you - sets my expectations on the devis.

Hi Does anyone know the rough cost of a new jet for an oil-burning boiler. I have a Guillot Cythia. Are we looking at 10's of Euros or hundred's? Thanks    

We have a stone cottage built in 1890. The old chimney has been blocked at the base and filled in, but I know it has a cavity of about 15" depth by 2'6" width. At floor level there is a metal drop-down plate with 'Universal 1920' stamped on it. I'm assuming the chimney was never used for an open fire, but a stove (Universal?) was placed in front of the chimney breast and the flue went through the chimney wall about 6' above floor level. (There appears to be a circular opening at this height - now filled in) Has anyone seen or got something similar?  Any pictures areal bonus! Thanks

Thanks all for your comments and advice.  I know this guy's work is good, I have seen some previous jobs that he has done. The weather is an issue (I'm in Normandy, 61) and is has been 'showers' forever recently, BUT, there are days when he could have done some work. I don't believe he is going to get the 3 weeks he requires, to be perfect weather! On the cheque front, he has banked it, which makes me want the work doing pronto.  I'm happy to wait if he had not asked for a deposit, but when cash is sitting in his bank and not mine, earning interest for the last 4 months, i do feel somewhat frustrated. If I could start my career again, I'd be a plumber, electrician or mason in France

The deposit is for re-pointing and other internal work, so does not reflect just the costs for the re-pointing. However, as you say, my biggest concern is that he is just not bothered until I shout! Is is normal to sign the devis with a definitive start and estimated end date? i ommited this, so wondering if it's just not my own fault for not being thorough!

Hello, I have engaged a good mason to do some re-pointing on our stone cottage. He comes rcommended, but unfortunately takes a long time to perform the work laid out on the devis. I paid a deposit of €8000 (30%) in July to complete the re-pointing and he has not started the work at all. I'm now concerned 4 months on that i have no come-back on his tardiness. I've spoken with him, asked him, but there are still too many excuses he finds for not starting the work - the weather always being a favourite. Where do I stand about 'demanding' he starts the work. i don't believe i have been unreasonable and he has €8000 of my hard earnt euros!!  Are there any easier ways than resorting to the legal system? I know this is france and things take longer than the uk, but as he has my money he should at least commit to doing the job as a priority.