hamlets_shrink

How's your neighbour nearly retired ? any thawing in relations ? Is it a slate roof you have there ?

Hi, Graham Price is in Mayenne, he's doing my plans and at a good price I thought, he's French registered.. Ph [33] 2 43 05 40 06 Say Phil in Australia recommended him...might earn me some brownie points.

Thanks for that BJSLIV that's very authoritative. The old property is 60M2 and the new extension/ house would have 180M2 of habitation. It's beginning to look like there's not much hope of attempting something in France from a speculative point of view [now I'm starting to do my homework] This VAT factor ,which could work out to be quite hefty, coupled with the CGT rather takes the wind out of ones sails a bit. Has anyone made a successful go at it ? On the other hand, if we were to live in the new house as the principle residence, as French tax residents, how long before CGT exemption is applied ? but then do they hammer you with a social tax to make up the shortfall ?

Hi Llwyncelyn, we've got our wires crossed slightly, I'm actually wondering if I as the seller have to ask for TVA on the final sale price...is that the way it works ? I'm confused. I understand you're referring to the TVA to be charged on goods and services [by a builder] during the course of the works, which of course is another important point.

Hi, I have permission to 'extend' a small run down old shell and the 'extension' in fact will constitute by far the larger living area. In terms of re-sale is it possible the house will be viewed as a new build with VAT chargeable accordingly ? Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks JC, I'll certainly bear that in mind.

Thanks BJSLIV, yes of course that makes sense I forgot all the about the proximity issue !

Yes it sounds like some kind of stock market investment, they really ought be be clear about this and advise the principal could go down as well as up. Anyways, this aside, I've read a lot of references to 'Britline' but no one tends to refer to this other Barclays option which is also geared up to the Brits.

Has anyone had experience with Barclays France ? They do something called a 'Compte Cheque Dynamic' account, does anyone have any idea what kind of returns could be expected with this account ? there's not much explaination on their site. Thanks in advance for any thoughts

Just to recapitulate the twists and turns of this thread in summarised form for those who haven't quite grasped.  Poor old 'nearly retired' is going to be up for quite a large structural alteration with a fair amount of roof plumbing, perhaps 5,000 - 6,000 Euro over an issue that currently isn't actually doing any harm to anyone. Creating box gutters in places where they shouldn't be as far as the long term optimum performance of a roof is concerned can be the source of many unnecessary problems, for both neighbours. Even temporal French laws can't override the laws of physics and provide an optimised solution here. Plus the matter was broached rudely and uncompromisingly. 'Nearly Retired' really just wanted a bit of understanding and to let off a bit of steam among compatriots because I fear he's in a no win situation. The Frenchman is being uncompromising about imposing an impractical and redundant law. Sometimes in life there comes a time when one must call a spade a spade.

and to show no bias and so as not to influence any later answers I deliberately omitted the fuller details of my discussion with the chap. The 'fuller details' were there plainly, implicit in your impetus to bring the subject to this forum in the first place. Hey, 'nearly retired' everyone's starting to hate me for supporting you on this, soon I'll be ejected and you'll have no support atall !

OK, good; his neighbour is a miserable, pedantic old fart but he should still get his roof fixed and make it legal at the same time, how's that ? I don't have a problem, just aired a view about this poor chaps neighbour, and it's been the only view so far that he's recognised and been happy with...so I guess I'm being neighbourly

Thanks moderator, it's true there's no other way to deal with characters like your neighbour than to grit your teeth and try and assume a posture of magnanimity and perhaps a touch of equanimity although it's difficult. You'll have to go with his demands. Russethouse, like myself, has somehow grapsed this guy has approached you with animosity, a factor lost on some of the other contributors. The questions are; is the additional water causing his own gutter to overflow ? compromising the integrity of his own roof ? causing damp problems at the party wall ? is his roof leaking as a result of this extra water from your roof ?  If it's yes to any of these questions then there's no question you should attend to it and the neighbours attitude is to a degree understandable. But if he's just invoking the bitter letter of the law for the sake of pettiness and bloody mindedness having already lived happily with the issue for the last twenty years then there's cause for some concern I feel. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to form an opinion about him or you'll be censured for it here, I wonder how rude and difficult this guy must become before others might allow you a little exasperation. Perhaps there's no such word as 'pedantry' in the English language, or if there is it's never to be used or attributed to someone.

Thanks Miki, this is what I want to hear really, so long as there's no horror stories of 'friends' and helpers  being rounded up by the gendarmes and carted off, and there doesn't seem to be many such stories. As you say, the local Artisans will get their fair share when I'm more established, I just want to get myself ahead a little bit first. There's enough stress and worry associated with the move for various reasons you don't want large quotes from artisans demoralising you before you've even got started. It seems with the previous posts by 'nearly retired' and JR  showing a laxity among the locals artisans in following up leads, delivering quotes and even returning phone calls; this can only mean they're extremely busy and have no shortage of work or income. I'm sure the 'French Way' doesn't involve a self imposed 'go slow' that will by definition compromise their own income. If these guys are too busy to be bothered, there's no reason to lose sleep about depriving them the option of a few extra pennies.

My comment about your neighbour is he's being a miserable pedantic old fart, I can't stand folk like him, and they're crawling around everywhere, not just in France.