making a living?

[buddyboy66]

Hi all.

I have been thinking of moving to France for a few yrs now. Is it possible to make a living in France as a builder. Primarily brickwork/stonework repairs and repointing.,drainage and all groundwork.

Or do I need to wait and just retire?

Any advice or opinion would be good. Just fed up with 80 hr weeks.

Cheers

[Quillan]

You won't be able to work in France as a builder unless you are registered, have a SIRET number and carry insurance. To do this you are required to prove you are qualified (College certificates, professional qualifications etc, apprenticeship deeds will also do I believe) in the trade in which you will work. Before they will let you work you will need to go on a weeks course, in French then fill in your forms for your SIRET number etc (although some trades can now register online). The equivalent of NI in France is very high, much higher than the UK although income tax is about the same so overall your tax and NI contributions will eat into your wages quite a bit which is why builders etc are so expensive in France. As a foreigner you will inevitably be denounced (reported) to the local tax office by French builders because they will think you're working on the black (off the cards) but the tax office will check and leave you alone if you are properly registered. Working on the black in France is not really an option. French regulations are quite different to UK when it comes to ground works etc so you will have to learn those a well, probably involves a course, in French. The following website (in French) is probably a good place to start http://www.artisanat.fr/

 

[idun]

Quillan, shouldn't that lot be a sticky. Or is it all there already???