Annie

Hi We are just in the process of moving to France.  (well now living with parent, pending completion on French Equestrian Property) Firstly, what are you planning on doing with your horses?  This will help you decide how to find the best location.  Second, it gets hotter the further south you go, which again from a competitive perspective we are not used to nor are our horses, grazing is going to possibly be more critical, so all these factors you need to consider. We have chosen Pays de la loire Region.  It is central to many Eventing - Cours Concour events, and with Saumur to the south and Orleans to the east are both centres equivalent to our Stoneleigh in warwickshire.  But of course it really does depend on your desires. If you are buying properties that are suitable for equestrian businesses, then they will probably be "agricultural" classified. this mean you might find your dream home, but you will then have to have the property marketed via the Safer, and you could lose it to local farmers.  They say the risk is 1%... but you need to know.  We are currently in this process now.  However the good thing is that the vendor has tired to sell it locally, but no takers and therefore we have a strong case.  If you did get rejected, then you must challenge, do not accept it as a fait du complet. I also breed horse, have 4 that I wish to compete from unaffiliated to one being taken up the ladder with the intention of returning to UK to compete periodically on the BE circuit.  Just could not afford to keep and compete at this level, albeit as an amateur in the UK.  HGV laws in France are more stringent, been advised by bloodstock transport agency not to re-gestier UK boxes in france, too expensive to do, better to pay a bit more and buy in France horseboxes.  Trailers, only certain types are suitable to take livestock on the Ferry. Still finding out lots about all of this.  Yes the Equineonline.net site is good, but not yet really found like minded serious competior and it does tend to take you off outside the French equestrian element, but have a look. Happy to be a sounding board, communicate direct with me if you would like to keep in touch directly. Good luck in your search.

For your information we have had our dogs vaccinated for rabies for the past 4 year in the Uk with Pet Passports, and we where advised by our vet, who also happens to be French, that we should have the booster jab done annually, so we are already on an annual regime. However they have yet to travel to France! Also clarification please, as we have had our dogs jabbed annually, we are intending to live in France permanently do visits back to the UK with the dogs, probably will be when we have extended periods or Christmas.  Therefore when the dogs jabs needed re-doing do we have to start again with Blood Tests to conform with the French way?  I am just about to get one of my dogs booster done, bringing it forward three months, if we are out there in the next couple of months, will I have to do the whole process again with Blood tests  If so I think I will wait!

To you all, Much appreciated your input and advice, from this I have found confidence and faxed direct to the appointed Notaire ... this is a summary of what followed, just to show if you want to get a job done, do it yourself. 26th June - AM - faxed to Notaire, translated from english into probably very bad gramatical french, requesting compromis. Emailed a contact we met in France who offers assistance with Translation. 27th June - AM received compromis from notaire, sacked UK solicitors, appointed a new one that has been recommended, just to review the compromis and do our Wills, emailed Notaire, requested appointment to sign compromis (monday 3rd July), this has been confirmed back.  Requested to the Vendors and had confirmation, to meet with them on the morning of the 3rd July, to go through plans and review boundaries, on speaking with vendors over phone with very bad french, confirmed appointment.  Emailed notaire requesting copy of Asbestos Report, Lead and Termite Reports and Plans of property - still waiting, but I am hopeful, Confirmed french assistants to spend day with us to translate for clarifications. I have acheived today what my original UK Based French expert solicitors should of organised over the past 5 weeks.   So we are far more optimistic.  A big Thank you ........... Anne    [:)]

Cassis Thank you for the Web Site, just reading it is giving me more confidence to ditch the professionals here and just get on and go direct with the sellers Notaire. Your question what are you UK legals doing.... Translating and making sure we are not signing something that we do not understand. Supposedly checking everything stacks up with what is being bought and what is on the paper...   But then again, does anyone really understand the jargon legal beagles put into their documents.  Just needs to be in plain French to me!  

Will The property is a private sale, albeit we were referred to the property via an UK based agency, this is due to the fact we where seeking equestrian type properties. We are therefore paying no agent fees, there is no French agent involved.  Probably downside number 1. I agree, adding another notaire, could be a recipie for slow boat to china.  We are taking steps to find some contact in France that we met when we where house hunting, and I feel possibly with their french translation skills, we can remove the legal people here in the UK and manage the purchase with them as our props (of course they will want paying).   We have just had the nightmare of selling our house here in the UK with legals that  asked so many questions, I think now I will have enough knowledge of questions to ask the notaire to check that the property we are buying does have all the necessary planning consents for it various outbuildings etc.  Do you think this step would be unwise? I feel we might be in better control doing it this way..[:)]

Having read some of the more recent posts "buying with confidence" clearly there is many that say you can buy your dream property in France without the need of a UK based French lawyer My understanding of the notaire is that they employed by the government to make sure that their monies which are due are paid!  There loyalty to you the purchaser maybe pleasant but not necessarily in the best interest to you.  Equally all the "books" say dont just rely on the Notaire! We are purchasing a property in france and have appointed UK legals who know "French Law" however their service is abysmal, and we are now just about to throw in the towl with them.  But and this is a big but.... how can we not have UK based french lawyers, who will independantly represent us, translate what we are signing, make sure we have all the correct planning permisions and confirm property boundaries of our Agriculturaral registered Haras(stud).  So if someone does know by personal experience a UK based French lawyer that works for you, the paying client then we would like to hear from you.  Or a Notaire we can appoint to represent us, if that is appropriate, as I am not sure there is a notaire representing each side of the purchase. Equally the Notaire appointed by our Vendor, seams no more efficient than our UK lawyers. We are desperate and had planned to complete by the end of July and we cannot get our fingers on the Comprimis. On top of that we are homeless as of next Friday, 2 people, 2 dogs, 5 horses and 10 guinea pigs. Thank goodness no children as that would be just too much![8-)]

We are planning to move close to Ecommoy  nr a village called  Marigne Laille in August of this year, subject to legals etc....  So we look to be quite near by, so keep in touch. Anne & Bradlee