Daft Doctor

Hi Mac, French tax residents do not pay social charges on UK property income, irrespective of whether or not you are in the French healthcare system 'à la charge' of the UK government. The dual tax treaty covers this issue, and if you have ever paid social charges on UK property income as a French tax resident you should appeal and seek a reimbursement.

Hi, we are in the same position, being French tax residents having substantial UK rental income. This is indeed only taxed in the UK, but it is all declarable in France along with any other worldwide income. As others have said, this global income figure is then used to establish income tax you would pay in France were all this income taxable here, before a proportional rebate is given to reflect the fact that in the case of UK rental income, it is only taxable in the UK. In case you might be thinking that it makes no difference to the final French tax bill so why declare it, declaring it does indeed make a significant difference. For example, lets say that as a couple without kids you earn 25k euros in France from pensions or employment, and 25k euros equivalent in UK property income. If you don't declare the UK property income in France, your French income tax bill would be approx. 437 euros. If however the UK rental income is declared, that figure becomes approx. 1,865 euros. This is because the rebate given against French tax in respect of the UK rental income is a proportion of the whole tax bill, calculated by reference to the proportion that the UK property income represents of the total income declared. It is not a rebate of tax paid at the highest marginal rates, which is the net effect of what happens if you do not declare UK property income at all. It will be no surprise therefore to hear me say that as the French government loses out if you do not declare this UK property income on your French tax return, you risk considerable penalties if you are found out. Although not an accountant myself, I know this subject very well indeed, enough to say that the advice you have been given by these 2 French accountants is wrong. If however you are bona fide clients of a French accountant who has put this advice in writing for you and will underwrite any fines or penalties incurred in following their advice, I guess you have less to lose!

Fact is that whereas most viral or bacterial chest infections are over and done with within a couple of weeks at most, occasionally the infection can cause the airways to become more sensitive, so called 'bronchial hypersensitivity'. In these cases, the cough can go on for several weeks or even months, even though the infection which caused it initially has long gone. In those cases (perhaps 1 in 20 of the large number of infections I used to see in winter), a short course of a steroid inhaler or even oral steroids for 5-7 days would usually put it to rest.

crakpot, it wouldn't matter if the UK left the EU, as the new law is applicable to France as part of the EU. It wouldn't matter whether you were a citizen of the UK, Brazil or wherever, you could still opt for the laws of your country of origin to apply, whether or not that country itself happened to be a member of the EU. As previously said in another thread, any will made in France after August 16th 2012 can benefit from these new rules, as it would have been drawn up within the 3 year introduction period for the new EU law. There is no need to wait until August to act if you so desire.

Hi, regarding the new EU law, any will made in France after 16th August 2012 can use these new rules regarding choice of applicable inheritance law, since although the law comes into full force on 16th August 2015, a 3 year introduction period will have been in progress up to that date. There is no need therefore to wait until August to exercise that right of choice if you so wish. For UK citizens who are French residents, it doesn't matter that the UK is not party to this law, merely that France is. It is France which is conveying the choice of applicable law, not the UK. A quick Google re French wills suggests that a handwritten version (testament olographe) can be made in any language and still be valid, it doesn't have to be written in French. I believe however that if the wording isn't absolutely correct and unambiguous, and if a standard format is not followed, it may be easier to challenge than a version drawn up by a notaire (testament authentique). I understand the cost for the latter is less than 200 euros. It is my intention to draft and sign a handwritten will in English while waiting for a notaire to draw up a more definitive document in French.

Fair point Gluestick, but even at 461W total consumption, it represents less than the 10x GU10 50W 240V halogen downlighters we had in our kitchen in the UK, which were on almost constantly (so almost constantly needing to be replaced). When you have a 13 year old who never turns a light off, then you can easily recoup the cost of the LED bulbs, which of course is coming down all the time. No problems in here with Wifi, but it is interesting to know that it could be a possibility.

All I can say on the subject of LEDs is that when our new house was finished last year I bought LED bulbs for every single light fitting, internal and exterior, amounting to over 80 separate bulbs. They included GU10, E27, E14, and G9s. If I were to go now and switch all of them on simultaneously, the total load would be less than 300W, and the quality of light is fantastic without exception. For instance, we light our 40sqm terrace and balcony with 6x 4W LED GU10 replacement bulbs, cool white, and it is just amazing. Yes, I paid out £400 to LEDHut.co.uk (delivery to France was only £3), but I will easily recoup that within a year in electricity savings, and so far there have been no failures. As for health effects, it's all b*ll*cks, no evidence whatsoever. I know that earlier LEDs for some people didn't always produce adequate light compared with the traditional bulbs being replaced, but that certainly is not the case now. Initial buying costs may be an issue for some, but why anyone wouldn't have LED bulbs on principle is beyond me.

I got stiffed good and proper last year when I made a claim on my easyjet travel insurance. I'd booked a flight from Geneva in euros and paid for their single trip insurance the same way. The flight was horribly delayed, but when it came to claiming, the insurers would only pay out in Swiss francs as the flight was from Geneva. I got paid a paltry amount for the delay, but my bank charged me 20 euros for receiving the Swiss Franc transaction and converting it back to euros. Object of the exercise? If you're a French resident, don't ever buy an easyjet travel policy unless you are flying out of a Eurozone country!

A further problem with traffic in the alps is the French obsession with Saturday changeovers, nothing else is offered except in rare cases. That means that on every one of the 5 Saturdays which span the 4 weeks of vacances scolaires, the roads heave. It is also true that this year in particular, the worst of the weather has been at weekends. Add those things together and it is murder on the roads. We had guests who left very early on Saturday morning only to be stopped by the police for 5 hours in a huge queue while the A40 beyond was being cleared. Once they got going it was clear all the way to Calais. Friends of theirs left 15 minutes earlier and got through without delay, it was really unlucky. As for winter tyres, they're essential in my opinion. As for chains, yes you need them, but I wish people wouldn't ruin the road surfaces by being too lazy to take them off even when the roads have been well 'deneiged'.

Hi DerekJ, I bought Fire Angel alarms, but mainly because I needed 3 to be wirelessly linked. I would think that most on Screwfix would be of decent quality, the price often depends on how simple the operation is and whether the alarm has a one, five or ten year battery.

Hi WJT, the French law doesn't prohibit siting an alarm on a wall and within 10cm of the ceiling, it is simply that they are less effective in that position. The law as I understand it regarding positioning simply requires that they be high up, either on a wall or the ceiling. I suppose the higher the better would be your answer, but not within 10cm of the ceiling for best effect. Hope that helps. Regarding whether to buy French (NF) or not, the ones I got from Screwfix are CE and EN 14604 compliant and of high quality, I'm sure they meet the requirements of the new French law and I've sent off my attestation to the insurer today to that effect..

Hi, if you're email savvy you don't need someone physically in Paris. I live in Rhône-Alpes but my accountant is in Caen on the North coast. She is English and is called Angela Francoise, we just ping things back and forward by email, much easier. If you google talenz international you'll find her, but I'm sure others on the forum will have recommendations.

Hi, all dwellings must have at least one smoke detector under the law, secondary residences included, and the new law takes effect from 8th March 2015. Battery operated is fine, but best to make sure it is either a 5 year or 10 year lithium battery for convenience. All detectors must conform to european standard EN 14604, but this is clearly written on the smoke alarm, packaging, and (as I found) on all online descriptions. The other key element of the new law is the siting of the alarm, which must be in a circulation area serving the main living and sleeping areas (corridor or hallway, etc). It can either be high up on a wall or on the ceiling, but it is advised to avoid siting it close to bath or shower rooms to avoid false alarms. On a practical level, the detectors I've just fitted in my house today were sent post-free to France from Screwfix and arrived in 3 days. I chose to get three radio-linked detectors because of the size of the house, but legally that wasn't necessary. What the instructions for the detectors did say however was that 'dead air' collects in the area within 10cm in either direction from a join between ceiling and wall, so to avoid siting them there. It is recommended to send a declaration to your insurers stating that you have fitted a detector in accordance with the law, templates are easy to find on Google. Hope that helps.

Exactly Drayton Boy and Rabbie, I rest my case.

Firstly, I echo what parnips has said in his last post, no need to add to that really. idun, in the words of Norman H, if you don't like the UK inheritance laws, move back to France. Yes, that is a ridiculous notion, isn't it! In fact, I really don't understand you at all. Your first contribution to this post in response to Norman's 'judgemental' comments was: ".......... and that is why I wanted to leave France when we retired", implying that you too disliked the French inheritance rules. Now you are saying that the French have got it right and that it is the UK who has got it wrong, make your bl**dy mind up! Maybe you should be more consistent in your posts, as to me (not for the first time) it just looks like you are being confrontational for effect. Regarding the UK situation, having had experience of this in the past, I would argue that no matter how complex your personal situation, with proper expert legal help (which of course costs money), anyone drawing up a UK will can within reason act to protect those they wish and can exclude or disinherit those that they do not. They key is, always expect you might die unexpectedly and always have a current will in place. My thread was not about the rules of intestancy in France or the UK, it is about rules around the enforcement of wills. idun's friend didn't have a will drawn up in preparation for her remarriage, end of story.

In that case Norman, you are as incapable of reasoned judgement as you are of politeness. The difference between this inheritance law issue and the matters which you mention causing anxiety for some in the UK is that the EU, of which France is a fully fledged member, has through its democratically elected representatives introduced this new freedom of choice through legislation. In other words, this is part of what France signed up to and it is indeed now part of French law. You say I shouldn't pick and choose which bits of French law suit me, and should stay in the UK if I prefer UK inheritance law, well in this instance I can pick and choose because the EU has said so. By choosing UK inheritance law to apply rather than French I am not sticking up my 2 fingers to France, merely making a permitted choice which best suits my individual circumstances. Anyone who sticks with French inheritance law simply because they think it would be un-French not to do so would or would feel 'disloyal' to France in some way would IMHO be sadly misguided.

Norman H, I find your comments on this occasion pompously opinionated, narrow minded and unhelpful. When I die I want MY assets to go to whomever I wish under MY last will and testament, not dictated by the will of a French government who's inheritance laws are in the dark ages. I love being in France, but it doesn't mean I have to agree with everything French. In this case, the EU has afforded an opportunity to avoid these French inheritance laws if so desired in favour of (in my case) those of the UK, under which my last will and testament is absolutely respected. Why should it be so shameful to want that simple thing? I will not apologise for that, and quite frankly the French need a good kick up the a**e in this respect. The Napoleonic days are long gone, it is time inheritance laws in France were dragged into the 21st century! Thank you to Parsnips for your helpful advice.

Hi, I know about the new inheritance legislation taking full effect in France on 17th August 2015, but I also understand that any new French wills signed after 16th August 2012 can also benefit from these new rules as it is within the 3 year 'transition period'. I know specialist legal advice will be necessary but I have a question which someone out there may already have researched and therefore have the answer to: Mrs DD and I are French residents but want all of our estates dealt with under UK inheritance law when we pop our clogs. What I wanted to know is whether, if a simple French will is made specifying that my/our estates are to be dealt with under UK law, and if (as is the case) we have UK wills, would those UK wills be the point of reference for the disposal of all our worldwide estate(s), or would any French based assets fall under rules of intestancy in the UK? I suppose the point is, if all is to be treated under UK inheritance law, would all joint assets automatically pass to the surviving spouse or would special reference need to be made to those assets in new UK wills? Any insight or experience most valued.

Hi, if your registration date was 1st January or later, your first declaration of turnover will be made in July on earnings up until 30th June. The cotisations and tax (if you opted for 'option vérsement libértoire de l'impot) will need to be paid by 1st August. Eventually, you will be able to declare online by setting up an account on Net-entreprises.fr, and pay your cotisations by direct debit. Initially you will be contacted by RSI to provide information and documentation to register with them for healthcare and other benefits, pensions, etc, and will receive a form on which to enter your first declaration.

Hi, although I do 95% of my banking online, I have to send any cheques I receive to Paris for cashing, hardly convenient. We've been with Axabanque for 8 years in total but would prefer now to switch to a bank with a local branch rather than a 100% internet banking operation. It seems straightforward enough to switch banks either online or with a single visit to the local branch of the new bank, with a similar service switching direct debits, etc from old to new as that offered in the UK. The difference in all of it is that whereas in the UK you can have almost as many current accounts with any number of banks you like because it is free, in France it is a relatively costly business, so the switch of banks will necessitate closing down of all accounts at the old bank once the new arrangements / accounts / cards are in place. Does anyone know how easy it is to permanently close bank accounts and to end the banking relationship once and for all? I want to avoid dual charges as far as possible. Any pearls of wisdom or recounting of experiences much appreciated.

Apparently the Swiss National Bank has removed the artificially imposed floor of 1.20 euros / CHF which they've operated through the currency markets for 3 years, the result of which has seen the swiss franc and euro virtually at 1 = 1 today. The pound has been less affected by this news, so this amongst other things has pushed the euro / £ rate through 1.30. Interesting times, a far cry from fellow forum user Jako's predictions of £1 = 0.50 euros, admittedly made a couple of years ago (told you Jako....)

Wow, I didn't think it would happen that quickly, the rate touched 1.3011 euros/£ this morning. I'm not clairvoyant, honestly............

Pickles is right, employ as many immos as you can, there is only one fee up for grabs, so more the merrier. Use a mix of local French immos and some mainly English internet/local agent based operators. In the Dordogne I would imagine that companies such as Leggett's (in whom I have no commercial interest) would be fairly active, attracting considerable English speaking traffic, but there will be others I'm sure.

My interpretation is that the proposed ECB move to full QE, deflation in the eurozone and uncertainty regarding the Greek elections due for the end of the month (and whether the new government will try to renegotiate the terms of their bailout) are weighing on the euro at the moment and will do so for a little while. It is interesting that despite lower than expected UK inflation figures yesterday, which would normally have had a negative impact on the pound, the euro has weakened further and the £ is at a 6 year high versus the euro. I know nothing of what the currency markets will do over the next 20 minutes never mind the next few months, but I feel that in general the pound will stay fairly strong against the euro in the coming weeks, unless something major turns up or the UK government act surreptitiously to bring rates down to help UK exports. This is the second 'test' of the 1.29 euro/£ level in the last week or so, and if that psychological resistance level is breached, 1.30/£ is next and may well occur in the weeks to come, even if very briefly. In short, I don't see a massive retrace back down below 1.25, but of course I can be and have been wrong in the past!!

We've been through the whole process from start to finish over the last 2 years. On the services side, what has been said is right. Often plots are sold 'viabilisé', i.e. with all services at the boundary, as they often are more easily saleable and the extra price commanded compensates for the cost of securing the utilities. If as it sounds the plot is 'non-viabilisé' then electricity, water, drainage and telephone normally need to be provided as a condition of the permis de construire, and usually all cabling has to be underground. For water and drainage it is 'services eau et assainissement' at the Mairie who will tell you where the nearest access to the public networks are. It is then your job to employ a terrassier to dig the trenches needed and lay the drains and water pipes. There is a charge by the Mairie to connect up to the water network and provide a meter, approx. 550 euros in our case, and we had a one off charge of close to 2000 euros for accessing the drainage, even though the terrassier did all the connections. Digging trenches and laying pipes is quite expensive, I'd account for approx. 1000 euros per 10 metres including the pipes, any inspection chambers, etc. For electricity and telephone, quotes can be obtained from ERDF and Orange respectively, the process isn't too difficult even without good French and can be kicked off in both cases online. We had mains electricity within 10m of the boundary of our plot and telecoms within 30m. We had to have a trench dug for our drains so had a telecoms conduit laid at the same time between the public junction box and our boundary. The cost for electricity connection to the boundary was about 850 euros with another 350 or so to connect up the house, fit an internal meter, etc. The phone however was only 69 euros as I was already an Orange customer transferring my service, number, internet, etc to a new address. Regarding the conditions being placed on the sale plot, I'd agree with what others have said, walk away unless you have absolute freedom of choice over what is designed and built and by whom.