The New French Forum

Thanks Robertarthur

Many thanks for your thoughts and info. Yes, I'm just going to stop worrying, eat what's left of the Christmas cake and await events - hopefully we won't hear anything from them again.
I'll keep you all informed.
Happy New Year

What a lovely Christmas present that is for you. You must be well pleased.

Well, Yes and No . But the Yes outweighs the No . The house and grounds were really too big for us after 15 years and the maintenance of the building and garden was getting us down. We'll miss much about the peace and quiet, some (but not all !) of the people we met, the...

Of course these strikes and things never happen in the U.K. do they.

We know it's relatively rare in UK. Tell me when was the last General Strike in UK ? When was the last blockade of fuel depots in UK ? A. 1997/98. When was the last time trucks blockaded motorways in UK ? When did farmers (?) last set fire to piles of tyres on motorways in UK ?...

Well, the offer to buy was made in August and after a good few bumps in the road . . . we now have a date at the Notaire's office to sign the final papers.

Thanks for this - will have a read - hopefully won't be a further divergence of view!!!
All best Michael

I think there is a time limit. If you sell within one, maybe two years then yes, otherwise I think not. There was discussion a while back about people returning to UK, and they only had a short time to sell their house and it still be considered their principal residence and be exempt from CGT.

You need to be a UK MP, and then you can “flip”...

They got 7 hectares and a barn so not much to check unless they wanted to count the trees :lol:

Not forgetting the depressing thought that after 13 years of plenty spending, labour and a lot of effort will be dumped and wasted as we will not get any of our spending back. And that's another issue if we were to get it back as they would tax that too. Not so in the UK.

Odd that property in rural France is just a bottomless pit with...

It is becoming the norm now in France where buyers and sellers are totally suspicious of each other. ALBMF says 'don't trust anyone in France'. Always cross your I's and dot your t's otherwise it will come back and bite you.

If proper house surveys in France were made legal then you would not have this problem.

I will never sell my house or...

Sorry, I should have been clearer. The Lasting Power of Attorney is to allow child to act on aged parent's behalf: it's an English one, rather than a procuration .

You will probably just need to get it translated and certified.

I would have thought that you already had to be of sound mind before you could sign a Power of Attorney.

Or to buy a house in France but the notaire still asks. :lol:

I dont think it is transferred in France, it is paid off together with punitive early redemption fees and then another one arranged secured on the new property with another lot of frais de dossier, insurances etc etc.

Andy, I think that it might depend on whether its properly rented, becomes their foyer and they pay the taxe d'habitation.

I can only give you anecdotal information of a similar situation to Mystys with the opposite outcome.

A French Portugeuse friend has a similar hôtel to mine divided into unfurnished rented apartments, standard 3 year bail,...

I would not trust an estate agent, Debra is right about asking to see the tax declaration. It would be safer to just move into the house and live there six months then sell it as your principal residence, although on saying that you get good and bad notaires.