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A house renovation in France - dreaming the dream
It's the great French dream that so many of us who move to France cherish, in those heady days before we actually pack up and leave Blighty's fair but chilly shores forever. We want to find that French property, that delightfully decaying French farmhouse, hidden perhaps, in some green and luscious corner of Limousin (Limousin Property Guide), on the elegant banks of the River Dordogne, along the windswept cliffs of bonny Brittany (Brittany Property Guide) or in the heat and dust of somewhere in the south. It matters little where, but wherever we are seeking, it is quite likely that what we are seeking is a house renovation project.
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The appeal of renovating houses in France
There is something about the idea of taking a French property that has lost its way and restoring it to its former glory, or perhaps, even improving it that seems to appeal to Brits in particular. It is, however, worth taking a long hard look at the pros and cons of house renovation in France before you embark on such a project, as there can be pitfalls in store for the unwary. If you think it will all be plain sailing, just take a look at the popular television channels that love to tell the stories of those who have tried and failed!
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Is a house renovation for you?
There are of course, degrees of house renovation needed, and projects can vary from complete ruins requiring total rebuilding to almost finished projects and those needing nothing more than a lick of paint and a little updating. Clearly it is necessary to decide, realistically, what you are able to tackle, and you should perhaps listen to the advice of those who know you best on this one, as it can be hard to take an objective view when your heart is crying out for a beautiful wreck!
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French house renovation is not for the faint hearted!
Depending on the scale of your house renovation, you may have to be tough enough to live with a considerable amount of mess and discomfort for a long period of time, on top of getting used to life in a strange country and all without the support of family and friends. Do not underestimate either, the potential difficulties you may encounter with the French language. (Learning to speak French - Misadventures in a Foreign Tongue.) If you are renovating a house you will have to deal with technical language, decipher legal terms and fill in forms, instruct craftsmen, and also be able to understand directives and advice from local authorities. House renovation in France is not for the faint hearted!
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First things first
Once you have decided that you have, indeed, the physical, emotional and linguistic capability to renovate, before you decide to commit to the purchase of a property, it is vital to make preliminary enquiries as to its potential for renovation or development. Many people assume that any tumble down property can be turned into a beautiful house, but this is not always the case. There are a lot of properties out there that are destined to crumble away for reasons of planning restrictions, ownership disputes (due, in part, to French inheritance difficulties) and a myriad of locally imposed reasons.
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Renovating houses in France into gîtes
For example, when I bought my home in the Languedoc the vendor showed me all his ideas for developing the property into a collection of gîtes to be renovated from the barns and farm buildings, as well as the extensive development of the main farmhouse. Fortunately, we did not wish to follow this path, and planned only to restore the farmhouse, as when we began our works we discovered that our home is in a protected natural environment and that no development of former farm buildings into residential accommodation is allowed. Had we planned to make a living through owning gîtes, this could have made us candidates for disaster television before we even got off the ground. To establish whether or not development will be possible you should, in the first instance, visit the local Mairie. (Owning Gîtes and Chambres D'Hotes (B&Bs) in France.)
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Certificat d'Urbanisme
Whatever changes you wish to make to your property, it is wise to seek approval from the Mairie before you begin. There are different levels of planning consent in France, and these are applicable depending on the changes you wish to make to your property. The first step towards finding out what is likely to be allowed is to seek a Certificat d'Urbanisme. Broadly speaking, this relates closely to an outline planning permission given in England, and will let you know how your proposed changes are likely to be received. (Building or extending property in France.)
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Declaration de Travaux
A Declaration de Travaux, or, literally translated, a declaration of works, is a basic form of planning permission which may be all you require, depending on what you are planning to do with your property. The list given here is not at all exhaustive, but may give an idea of what sort of minor changes can be made without recourse to a full planning application. Internal alterations, such as adding extra internal walls to split a room, may be carried out under the terms of a Declaration de Travaux, as may the installation of a swimming pool (under 20 square metres or above ground), the erection of a garden fence, the addition of a small terrace area, and the building of a temporary structure such as a garden shed or a small workshop or garage extension. Once again, the Mairie will advise. (Installing a swimming pool in France.)
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Permis de Construire
The Permis de Construire is the full permit to build or develop in accordance with the law. It is absolutely necessary (whatever your enthusiastic immobilier agent may tell you) should you wish to make any alterations or additions to your property that will affect its taxable value. Changes that affect the look of the property from the outside may be significant, such as installation of windows and doors where none previously existed, or extensive alterations to the roof. The installation of a septic tank, the construction of a large extension or outbuilding, and any change to the use of a building, such as converting farm buildings into residential accommodation all require a Permit de Construire. Once more, this is in no way intended to detail all the circumstances that require full planning consent, but aims simply to give an idea of such circumstances. It is important to remember that frequently in France local regulations prevail, and therefore it is impossible to give definitive conditions as many are dictated by local authorities and exact locations.
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Permis de Démolir
It is also worth noting that should you wish to demolish any buildings you may need a Permis de Démolir. This can also apply to the cutting down or uprooting of trees, so keep yourself on the right side of the law and check it out first.
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Things to consider when renovating a house in France
Once you have obtained the necessary permission to renovate your property there are a few more things to consider. If you are not living permanently in France, and will have to oversee the project from a distance, then it may be worth employing a project manager who can take on the burden of organising everything for you. There are pros and cons to this, as to everything, and not least of the cons is the cost, which will probably be around 10%. It does, however, remove the worry of finding reliable tradesmen, of speaking French, and of dealing with the authorities over every little problem that occurs.
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French or English builders... or DIY?
The burning question in renovation among ex-pats is whether or not you should use French or English tradesman and indeed, whether it is better to dispense with them all and go it alone. Using French builders and craftsmen may earn you Brownie points with the local community, as there can be resentment against hordes of English coming into an area and promptly offering all the work to other ex-pats... especially if these happen to be working “on the black” and not paying the appropriate taxes and social charges. This is covered in another article (Jobs in France) so I won't go into detail here, but do be aware that if you are caught employing anyone who is not properly registered, you will bear heavy fines. The obvious drawback to employing French labour, however, is that there may be a language barrier.
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English builders in France
English craftsmen and builders are found in every corner of France these days, and you can easily find them by word of mouth, adverts in local publications and on the Internet. As long as they are properly registered (look for the Siret number) then there should be no problem in doing this.
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Consider costs involved when doing your house renovation yourself
The third option is to do your house renovation all by your own fair hand. This can be very difficult and a long drawn out process, but ultimately, if you are skilled and experienced it is another option to consider. The satisfaction of having “done it yourself” can be great, but it is not necessarily the cheapest option. A registered tradesman is able to take advantages of considerable tax breaks, and can purchase materials at greatly lower prices than the private individual is able to do. This means that in certain circumstances it is actually cheaper, or at least financially equivalent to employ a tradesman to do the work than to buy the materials and do the work yourself.
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House renovations in France and taxes
A house in France, unless it is your principal residence, will potentially be liable to capital gains tax on sale if you have developed it and made a profit. There is a lot of conflicting evidence around regarding this issue, and I have met people who have categorically told me that they have done the renovation work themselves, kept their invoices for materials and had the amount of taxable profit reduced accordingly on sale, yet others have been told that this is absolutely impossible, and that the only renovation costs deductible from capital gains are those incurred and documented by a registered French artisan. What does seem to be clear is that the only way to be sure you are exempt from capital gains tax is to live in the property as your principal residence and to be a French tax payer for at least two years. (Tax in France.)
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Way of reducing capital gains tax
Another possible way of lessening the liability, if your French home is not your principle residence and you are not a French tax payer, includes living in the property for more than five years. Every year after this you will pay 10% less tax every year, so that after fifteen years you are no longer liable for capital gains. Capital Gains Tax for French residents is now set at 16% plus 11% social tax. Non European residents will pay 33%.
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Inheritance tax and house renovation
One further point to consider is that it may be worth setting up a type of limited company known as an SCI. This, without going into too much complicated detail, can help protect you against crippling inheritance taxes. A good notaire will advise whether or not you could benefit from this option. The waters are indeed murky, and change is afoot now that Sarkozy is in power. The only way to be sure of your own liability is to take professional advice, preferably with a local expert who will be aware of all current legislation.
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Differences to be aware of with house renovations in France
If you are bent on doing the work yourself you will need to be aware of major differences between France and the UK in terms of important areas such as electrics, plumbing and roofing. (Connecting utilities (water, gas, electricity, telephone and sewage) in France.)
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Power supply in France
Electrical systems are considerably different here in France from those that you will be used to in the UK. Firstly, the power supply for any individual property will probably be set at nine, twelve, fifteen or eighteen kw. If you want to increase the power rating for your home due to extension and renovation, you should contact EDF. Be aware, however, that if you are renovating a really old house, you may find that the power rating is so low that you can't even boil the kettle while having a light on! Fortunately the process of upgrading is quite straightforward, although the price of your electricity will rise accordingly.
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Electricity in France
French electrical systems, unlike the ring systems in the UK, are wired on spurs running from a distribution box. Most of these can support several sockets and fittings, but large household appliances such as washing machines must function from their own individual spur. It is certainly advisable to use a good, qualified and experienced electrician for the electrical work in your renovation project. Not only will he or she be familiar with the French systems but will also be able to make sure that the electrical system complies with current standards, and conforms to the French norm, the NF C15 -100.
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Beware of lightening strikes in France
Something else to be aware of is that French electrical systems are liable to lightening strikes during storms. The southern and mountainous regions of France can experience frequent and dramatic electrical storms, and it is advisable to fit protection to your distribution box. If you do not have additional protection, it is a good idea to unplug computer modems and televisions during storms to avoid the risk of burnout due to lightening strikes.
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Advice from a qualified electrician
The following is some advice from qualified electrician Nigel Green, who has been working in the Aude and the Ariège departments of southern France for three years. Nigel says these are points of which people are often unaware, and which he feels are important to bring to your attention.
• You must have a circuit breaker which can supply up to a maximum of 8 sockets if you use 2.5 mm cable or up to a maximum of 5 sockets if you use 1.5 mm cable.
• For lights, again you must have a circuit breaker for up to a maximum of 8 light points using 1.5 mm cable. A light point is any connection either on the wall, ceiling or in the ground where you can connect a light fitting.
• Ovens, washing machines, dish washers and hot water tanks must be on their own individual circuit breaker.
• If you're thinking about having an electric power shower this will increase your EDF standing charge substantially.
• Don't think about bringing any wire, switches or sockets over from England because they don't have the right specification.
(Nigel can be contacted on nigelgreen@free.fr)
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Water and plumbing in France
Plumbing in France is also different in certain key areas. Water pressure is greater than in the UK, with a pressure of six bar common. This needs to be regulated, ideally to three bar, and this is done by fitting a pressure reducing valve at the entry to the property. In general, modern European plumbing fittings are similar, but if in doubt simply purchase all your fittings and materials in France and you should have no problems with compatibility.
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High calcium content in water in France
It is also good to be aware of the fact that in most areas of France the water can be very high in calcium content, causing problems with lime scale build up in pipes, kettles and other equipment. “Anti tarte” devices can be fitted to counteract this, and it can also pay to use water softening equipment, although this must not be applied to the drinking water as calcium is necessary for good health.
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DIY or use local tradesmen in France?
Once more, although you can do your own basic plumbing work on a renovation, it often pays to use a qualified local tradesman who will be familiar with the local water pressure and perhaps some of the more outlandish fittings found in very old properties. Heating and other complex systems must be installed by a registered plumber. Check that he has a Siret number, and this will be your guarantee that he is registered, qualified and accountable.
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Septic tanks in France
Septic tanks are common in country properties, and these are subject to a highly complex set of rules and regulations. Details of your responsibilities regarding these tanks are available at the Mairie, whose responsibility it is to oversee the septic tanks in the village or town. Good maintenance and emptying every four years is advisable, and this must be carried out by a registered and approved company.
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Roofing in France
Roofing is another matter likely to be foremost in the minds (and chequebooks!) of those contemplating renovation work in France. Despite the fact that some of the initial charm of the property may seem to lie in its uneven and slightly dishevelled roof, sooner or later you realise that you need to tackle the problem in order to live a safe and comfortable life in your dream home!
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Different types of roofing in France
There are many different types of roof found in France, with thatched roofs popular in certain areas such as Normandy (Lower-Normandy Property Guide, Upper-Normandy Property Guide), but in general you will find that northern properties are equipped with fixed grey slate roofs whereas properties in the south have red terracotta roofs. The old terracotta or canal tiles are not fixed but rather laid in a style that holds each in place by overlapping its neighbour. These are only suitable for properties with low pitched roofs, such as are found in areas with low rain fall and warmer weather. Maintenance is essential, as storms and high winds or deterioration of underlying structures can cause slippage and gaps.
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Beware wasp nests on roofs
A final word of warning. If you are going up onto a roof in summer to inspect or to work, take a can of high pressure wasp killer with you. Wasps and hornets frequently nest in roof tiles and can present a real hazard to roofers.
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Making money from house renovations in France
One final point that you may wish to consider before embarking on your renovation project is the question of costs and profits. Do you hope to make money from this development, or is it intended primarily to provide you and your family with the home of your dreams? If the latter, then press on, but if it is the former you will need to take a very business like approach to renovation if you are to reap the financial rewards you envisage. Many a keen project developer has found that costs and taxes have outstripped any potential profit, and that the market does not always move as fast as you may wish.
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Renovating a house in France – a good or bad idea?
On balance, then, is house renovation a good or a bad idea? There are drawbacks, and it certainly isn't the easy way to a fast buck as it has become in the UK. It can, however, be very satisfying to see your dreams taking tangible shape, and to restore an unloved house to its true glory. Contrary to popular opinion, even many French people are largely happy to see sensitive renovations being carried out on abandoned country properties, and to witness the return of life to villages which have almost become ghost towns. Is it worth it? Over to you....
Additional articles which may be of interest:
Life in France
Living in France
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About the author
Joanna Simm moved to the Languedoc area of south-west France in October 2004 having found her property through French Property Links.
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