Clare Comrie

Absolutely not, I would never knowingly be party to any such thing, I'm just saying that the notaire has just asked if it is primary residence, and do they pay taxe d'habitation.

In all the completions I have attended for the sale of principal residences, I have only ever seen the notaire ask for evidence of taxe d'habitation, and a declaration on trust that it is the vendors primary residence. Never have they asked for income tax returns, perhaps this is a law that is seldom invoked too? What do you think?

When buying you should: Ignore the people trying to jump on the bandwagon and make a few bucks, by scaring people into believing that they need a nanny to help them through all the totally straightforward procedure. Tour all the estate agents and notaires in the area that you want to buy. Do NOT agree to go on any visits or take away any photos of properties, or sign a "bon de visite" and look at the outside of a property, do none of this. TALK to them all, find one that you feel comfortable with, that can answer all questions to your satisfaction, that is actualy interested in finding you the type of property you want, an stick with them. If your standard of French isn't up to scratch, insist you have an agent that speaks adequate English or find one that does, you are spending a lot of money, don't feel silly asking, you are the client I have been doing this job for 2 years, I know my stuff, we are completely open and straightforward with all our clients, or we would not still be trading. We offer services way above and beyond the call of duty for our foreign clients, and are respected by all the local notaires. We are French owned and run. The market is totally saturated at present with agencies, I fear some of the chaff will fall by the wayside this year! Hows that for a mixed metaphor!! Also, if one seeks the advice of an solicitor based in the UK, if he or she gives you bad advice, under who's judicial system will you make your complaint stick?    

Excellent! Wherabouts in La Manche are you? I live not far from Carentan.

I work in an estate agents so I know!!! I believe the law is the same in the UK. You pay capital gains on the profit that you make on any second home, minus the agency and notaires fees, and minus 1000 euros that the French government "lets you off", than you pay 15% on the profit, this starts to go down on a sliding scale after 5 years, and nothing after 15 years! Voila! Nobody pays capital gains on a primary residence. Any questions feel free to get in touch!  

Take my advice, quit now,we kept the open smouldering variety for years. Get a woodburner!  

I say La Manche, as the market is so varied wherever you go in France. We moved over permanently three years ago, after having our house for 18 years as a holiday home, and having sold up in the UK. We started a business, HA HA!! We might have made it, my husband is a sign writer and silk screen printer by trade. However, we failed to notice the warning signs, and unfortunately he sufferd a cardiac attack, followed just as he was recovering nicely by a mini-stroke! Excellent, the cotisations were gushing out, and no money coming in, we had no choice but to fold the business and I went on the job trail! Ably assisted by ASSEDIC, not financially I hasten to add, just CV's ideas etc. My background was semi-conductor sales for 25 years in the UK, so all I could think of was estate agents, I toured them all! The very last one, hidden up a side street, asked where I had seen their ad!!! What ad? I replied, the rest is history. I was contracted as an "independant commerciale" for one year, in that year I earnt 12,000 euros and paid 6,000 euros in VAT and cotisations! It then became a little muddy as to the legality of contracting someone who is not allowed to be truly independant, and they offered me the standard 6 months "contrat determiné" which I refused (theres bravery!!) as I needed a bank loan to buy a car, and I had slaved for them for one year for a pittance, I felt I had nothing to prove. The open contract was duly issued, I earn minimum wage plus commision, actualy they have rigged it so I have to EARN 1000 euros in commision each month to pay my wage, before I get any more, ie: no comission one month, I have to earn 2000 euros the next to be in the positive as it were! This is no critisism of the agency, but the entire system in France is a joke! You pay your own petrol, mobile, car, insurance - the lot. Bit of a change from my company Alpha Romeo and company mobile and free petrol in the UK! Would I go back? I am asked that daily by clients making the move! No, I couldn't afford a house like mine in the UK, I like the area, I love the views, the wild life, the people, both French and British friends, I like the sea on both coasts , and when I sell a property and help someone realise a dream, large or small, it is a tremendous buzz. My husband can't work, has lost a bit of dexterity, so things have changed greatly for him, but apart from the depths of winter he is happy with the dog & cat & garden at home, and of course the visitors! I am happy to share my knowledge, advice, experiences with anyone, we are a tenacious race, us Brits, and it shows the way we intregrate and adapt to new lifestyles wherever we end up, so come on over, its great, different not necessarily better, but GREAT!

Whilst in the process of re-registering our car to French plates in the summer of 2003, our chum at the garage's secretary had occaision to phone the Prefecture in St Lo with a query. Having got past reception to the vehicle registration departement, she posed the question. The response? "Desolé madame, we don't answer questions in the morning in the summer" Oh to be a foncionaire!

We will hopefully have some sort of competition for the Brittany Ferries monopoly! Join the campaign to support Flybe in their efforts by lobbying the Cherbourg Chamber of Commerce & Cherbourg Airport!   If any of you are interested in joining the support campaign, and Flybe has asked that we continue to lobby, send the following piece to Chamber of Commerce & Maupertus. It just says:  "We have learnt that you are in negociation with Flybe to reintroduce the Southampton/Cherbourg service, we greatly appreciate the efforts to bring the service back. We also think that the service is very important both for tourism and trade"   Nous avons appris que vous êtes en négociation avec Flybe pour rétablir le service entre Southampton et Cherbourg, nous aprecions beaucoup vos effort pour rétablir cette service. Et aussi ce service sera très important pour le tourisme et les échange commerciaux.   [email protected]   [email protected]     Hello Clare,   We are evaluating a possible reinstatement of the Cherbourg - Southampton service from May next year. The issues being costs (as always!) and facilities at Cherbourg. We will probably make our decision around Christmas, if all goes well.   Best regards   Martin   Martin Saxton Director of Commercial Planning The backbone of UK travel Telephone: +44 (0)1392 266738 Mobile: +44 (0)7970 455270 Fax: +44 (0)1392 266772 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.flybe.com

Ah well, good to see that my topic is at least worth discussing. My point was a tad more altruistic though. La Manche is one of the poorest regions of France, with one the highest levels of unemployment. Agriculture is on the decline, with more and more youngsters leaving the land. Tourism is the biggest growth industry. Despite the spectacularly good summer of 2005, La Manche saw a 40% drop in UK visitors. I haven even heard, much to my amusement, La Manche discussed with degree of "snob value", due to the high cost of getting here, there would be a "better type" of visitor. I fumed silently. La Manche needs all the visitors they can get, and the natives readily acknowledge that it is specificaly the Brits who shop and spend money in the markets, cafés and restaurants. I know the region and love it having owned a property here for 18 years, and as a permanent resident for 3 years, working for a French company as a full time employee. 

Please will eveyone join my campaign to bring a budget airline back to Cherbourg or Caen. We are THE worst served region of France, and since P&O pulled out of Cherbourg, Brittany Ferries have the monopoly. Lobby anyone you can think of, I have started with the press in la Manche and flybe, who flew in for 2 months then mysteriousy withdrew sayin g the line was not viable!!! The planes were loaded to the gunnels for two months? [email protected] [email protected]  This is the Cherbourg hamber of Commerce. If anyone can think of any way we can make our voices heard to some effect, please do contact me!! Clare Comrie 28 Rte de Vindelonde 50500 Appeville France 0033 684 691 104