Managing Le Déménagement – Moving In French

After a few more longues layovers I’ve settled into mon nouvel appartement (my new apartment). The whole process of moving was stressful, but not nearly as much as ma soutenance (my thesis defense).

After the holiday cheer died down and the sounds of Bonjour Noel were drowned out by the cries of “Bon Nouvel An !”, I had to start thinking about le déménagement (moving) during the cold months of winter.

Déménager (moving) always takes a long time and involves a lot of preparation. The process unfortunately doesn’t end once everything is moved. Settling in and unpacking can often take just as long as packing in the first place.

Préparer ses affaires

La première étape (the first step) is to préparer ses affaires (pack up your things). I wanted to make sure I got back mon dépôt de garantie (my security deposit) so I had to check chaque recoin (every nook and cranny) of mon ancien appartement (my old apartment) before leaving.

Looking over all mes affaires while cleaning up l’appartement, I had to either mettre dans un carton (put in a box) or jeter dans la poubelle (throw into the trashcan) everything I had!

Luckily I’m un pro de Tetris (a pro at Tetris) so fitting everything I wanted into les cartons (the boxes) was relatively easy.

Le Déménagement

La prochaine étape (the next step) was a bit more difficult. Once les cartons were ready, I had to figure out la logistique du déménagement (the logistics of moving).

I carried some of les cartons by myself, but the rest I had to send with la poste. Figuring out if I had the right assurance (insurance) for what I was sending was as hard as getting all of les cartons au bureau de poste (the boxes to the post office).

What followed was a stressful day of moving. I took all les cartons that I could and hoped the rest of mes affaires would arrive within a day or two.

S’installer

La dernière étape du déménagement (the last step of moving) is always the hardest and starts with having to déballer les cartons (unpack the boxes). Walking into un nouvel appartement filled with des cartons when all you want to do is dormir (sleep) can be un vrai casse tête (a real headache).

Cependant (however), this last step helps you really s’installer dans un nouveau logement (settle into a new place).

There is still a lot that needs to get done, but now that the hard part is done I just need to figure out where everything should go!

Club Clé France: Removals

You could simplify things by using a removal firm of course! we are proud to work in partnership with Hamiltons who have been offering an excellent removal service since the Company's formation in 1993.

Hamiltons has grown from strength to strength by displaying a commitment to offering an efficient and cost effective service whilst maintaining a personal touch.

10% Discount offer : Quote "Cle France" to get your 10% discounted rate. 

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So... you have searched all the property for sale in France, or at least that is what it felt like! You have found your perfect French Property and Cle France have helped you through the buying process, all you need do now is figure out the best way to get you and your furniture to your new house in France! it's easy.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Do you have a dream of changing your life drastically, whatever that entails, and moving to France?

Maybe you’re there already. Or maybe you want to make this drastic change for only two months, or even two days. Hotels can get very expensive when you are staying for longer periods of time. To keep it simple: let’s say you want to buy a house in France.

You have come to the right place already!

At Cle France you have a vast choice in one place and:

NO HIDDEN FEES: The price you pay is the same as anyone walking through the door of our agency in France, same as the price paid by the French buyer.

All quoted prices are INCLUSIVE OF AGENCY FEES (FAI): with Notaire's fees to be added (these average 7% to 8%).

OUR AGENTS: are all registered and insured in France, they are holders of the 'carte professionnelle'as required by French law.

So when you buy through Clé France: you have the benefit of a bi-lingual support team & can be confident that you are paying no more than the standard commission rates you would pay anyway.

CONTACT US: to discuss your search for property in France, or indeed for any further information you may require on French property sales.

Property Finding Service: We will do a property search for you to match your criteria but also you can try our Advanced Search: including saving your favourites and getting updates of new properties for sale in France and price reductions direct into your inbox, and you can also add your comments toour blog pages - simply sign up for your own account here.

Here’s a list of vocabulary that will help you in France during a viewing trip, although our agents speak English:

Vocabulaire:

Immobilier - Estate Agency

les pièces — rooms (the French don’t use the number of bedrooms as a reference for the capacity of an apartment or house, but rather they count based on the number of livable rooms, excluding bathrooms and the kitchen)

le loyer — rent

location — rental

la surface — the square footage; area

la maison — house

l’appartement — apartment

le terrain — land

le prêt immobilier — real estate loan, or mortgage

l’impôt immobilier — real estate tax

l’agent immobilier — real estate agent

l’agence immobilier — real estate agency

louer — to rent

acheter — to buy

le bâtiment — the building

le bailleur — the landlord

le bail — the lease

charges (non) comprises — charges (not) included

commission (non) comprise — commission (not) included

le dépôt de garantie — security deposit

meublé — furnished

le propriétaire — the owner

Hope these few words help a little.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.

So you are considering buying a property in France? you have come to the right place, you will need to be aware of the different steps in the French buying process, which is a little different to the way we buy property in the UK.  

Visit the pages located under our "Buying Process" tab on the website and you will find a step by step guide, one of the main differences is that in France your are 'committed' to the purchase a lot earlier on in the process than you are used to in the UK.

It is also beneficial to get further advice along the way, perhaps on matters such as health cover, home insurance, mortgages and of course making sure your money stretches as far as possible when buying euros with your hard-earned GB Pound to buy your dream home in France with us. 

Ben Amrany at FC Exchange is often asked about the best time to make your currency transfers when buying a property in France, as currency fluctuations can increase the price you pay when you eventually purchase. Because Ben has been working exclusively with Cle France for many years he understands the buying process and can provide guidance on the currency implications throughout.

The best type of service is one that comes highly recommended, that is why you should use the services of Ben Amrany at FC Exchange.

Q: How does the property buying process differ in France to that in the UK?

A: Buying a property in France is not a complicated process, if you speak fluent French (which we do so you are in safe hands) in many ways, it is clearer, safer and more straightforward in France than in the UK.

The main difference is that the sale of a property becomes contractual earlier on in the process in France when compared to the UK, this means when you find a property during your viewing trip and put in an offer that is accepted, you can return home safe in the knowledge that no one else will be in a position to buy it as once an offer is accepted the property is withdrawn from the market and no further clients will be shown the property.

On your return home we are busy working on your behalf and can advise on everything to do with buying a house in France and moving to France to live full time or just to enjoy your property as a holiday home. We have you covered at every stage, you are in safe hands.

If you need to buy or sell sterling and would like to be kept up to date with all the latest data releases and exchange rate movements then feel free to contact myself Ben Amrany. If you are buying or selling a house in France we will make sure your monies are in the right place at the right time, we work hand in hand with you and Cle France.

For more information on the currency service I can provide please feel free to contact myself...

Ben Amrany from FC Exchange follow this link or phone and ask for myself and quote "Cle France" on 020 7989 0000.

You may contact me directly using this form (click here) with your requirement and I will explain the options that are available to you in getting the best exchange rate. 

Do you want more information ?

So if you need to buy or sell sterling and would like to be kept up to date with all the latest data releases and exchange rate movements then feel free to contact myself Ben Amrany. If you are buying or selling a house in France we will make sure your monies are in the right place at the right time, we work hand in hand with you and Cle France.

For more information on the currency service I can provide please feel free to contact myself...

Ben Amrany from FC Exchange follow this link or phone and ask for myself and quote "Cle France" on 020 7989 0000.

You may contact me directly using this form (click here) with your requirement and I will explain the options that are available to you in getting the best exchange rate.  

Blog submitted by: Ben for The French Property Network - Cle France.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

So you are considering buying a property in France? you have come to the right place, you will need to be aware of the different steps in the French buying process, which is a little different to the way we buy property in the UK.  

Visit the pages located under our "Buying Process" tab on the website and you will find a step by step guide, one of the main differences is that in France your are 'committed' to the purchase a lot earlier on in the process than you may be used to in the UK.

It is also beneficial to get further advice along the way, perhaps on matters such as health cover, home insurance, mortgages and of course making sure your money stretches as far as possible when buying euros with your hard-earned GB Pound; to buy your dream home in France with us. 

Ben Amrany at FC Exchange is often asked about the best time to make your currency transfers when buying a property in France, as currency fluctuations can increase the price you pay when you eventually purchase. Because Ben has been working exclusively with Cle France for many years he understands the buying process and can provide guidance on the currency implications throughout.

The best type of service is one that comes highly recommended, that is why you should use the services of Ben Amrany at FC Exchange. 

Q: Why should I consider using a currency specialist to transfer the deposit for my French home?

A. An experienced currency trader can discuss your budget and exact requirements with you and help you avoid the risk of currency market fluctuations eating away at your money.

They can arrange a forward contract for you, which essentially locks in the exchange rate at a time that suits you. This means you will know exactly what you will need to pay for your deposit and final property payments, and how many euros you will get for your sterling transfer.

Want a quick summary of the buying process in France?

Signing the 'Bon de Visite' and making an offer:

You will be asked to sign a 'Bon de Visite', this is normal practice in France and simply means that if you decide to proceed with a purchase, you will make the offer through our agent and not through another agent or privately approach the vendor.

Remember that it is not commitment to an actual purchase, you are not signing your life away.

To make an offer to us either at the point of viewing or on your return home [just email or pick up the phone 01440 820 358] it is just as you would in the UK and our agent will put that forward to the seller, if accepted or after a little negotiation the contract 'Compromis de Vente' is drawn up and both parties sign up.

The Compromis de Vente:

This is the first contract, like the 'Exchange of Contracts' in the UK but a lot sooner in the process i.e. at the start, it is signed by both buyer and vendor, which means that both parties are committed to buying and selling the property.

Once signed the vendor is bound to go ahead with the sale, but you are given a ten-day 'cooling off period' and can walk away from the purchase in this time. This is commonly known as the 'seven-day cooling off period' but this year it was extended to 10 days.

After the ten-day period is up, you are also bound to go ahead with the purchase. It is at this stage, after the 10 day calling off period, you pay the 10% deposit [it can vary but normally 10%] of the agreed purchase price, to be kept by the notaire or less frequently the agent. There will be a target date for signature of the 'Acte de Vente' at this stage but this can be changed at any time to suit both parties, decided by the notaire.

Ben Amrany at FC Exchange can advise you on the best time to book a forward contract to protect the price of this deposit, and for the final payment to complete the purchase.

So if you need to buy or sell sterling and would like to be kept up to date with all the latest data releases and exchange rate movements then feel free to contact myself Ben Amrany. If you are buying or selling a house in France we will make sure your monies are in the right place at the right time, we work hand in hand with you and Cle France.

For more information on the currency service I can provide please feel free to contact myself...

Ben Amrany from FC Exchange follow this link or phone and ask for myself and quote "Cle France" on 020 7989 0000.

You may contact me directly using this form (click here) with your requirement and I will explain the options that are available to you in getting the best exchange rate.

Do you want more information ?

So if you need to buy or sell sterling and would like to be kept up to date with all the latest data releases and exchange rate movements then feel free to contact myself Ben Amrany. If you are buying or selling a house in France we will make sure your monies are in the right place at the right time, we work hand in hand with you and Cle France.

For more information on the currency service I can provide please feel free to contact myself...

Ben Amrany from FC Exchange follow this link or phone and ask for myself and quote "Cle France" on 020 7989 0000.

You may contact me directly using this form (click here) with your requirement and I will explain the options that are available to you in getting the best exchange rate.  

Blog submitted by: Ben for The French Property Network - Cle France.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

The following case study shows the importance for non-married couples to take legal & tax advice when purchasing properties in France.

In contrast to married couples, non-married couples ('concubins') have low legal protection and are subject to very high inheritance tax (at a rate of 60%) in France.

Question:

My partner and I live in a house in France, owned by my partner.  My partner would like to make a Will which allows him to leave the house upon his death to his brother and his brother’s children, but should I still be living (I am 10yrs younger than my partner), to also allow me to continue to live in the house until my death.   The house then passing to the brother and his children on my death. Please advise if the wishes of this Will would this be possible.

For your information:  Neither my partner or myself have children.  We are not married.  We do not want to get married.  I do not wish to have a legal right to the property, as I wish the property to go to my partner’s family and do not want it to become part of my estate. My partner is 61 and I am 51 years old.

Our answer:

As you and your partner are not married, you have no legal rights to stay in your partner’s property until your death unless you both take legal measures now to protect your interests.

Because your partner has no children, he is free to bequeath his property to whoever he wishes to. In France, only children are privileged heirs and must receive a minimum proportion of the estate.

To resolve this, your partner would need to make a will bequeathing you the “usufruit” (the right to use and enjoy the property until your death) of the property and the “nue-propriété” (bare ownership) to his brother and nephews. Upon your death, the “usufruit” will then be transferred “in fine” to your partner’s heirs.

Perhaps, the preferred and safer solution for you would be if your partner now offered you (via a lifetime gift) the “usufruit” of the property without waiting for the will to be drawn up, partly because a will is normally confidential and could be amended by your partner at any time during his life.

In view of above, I must advise you that you will have to pay inheritance or gift taxes at a rate of 60% of the 'usufruit' ‘s value.

The value of the 'usufruit' will depend on your age at the time you receive it.  It will be calculated in accordance with the following scale:

10% of the property value, if the usufructuary (the person receiving the 'usufruit') is over 91 years old

20% of the property value, if the usufructuary is between 81 and 90 years old

30%  of the property value, if the usufructuary is between 71 and 80 years old

40% of the property value, if the usufructuary is between 61 and 70 years old

50% of the property value, if the usufructuary is between 51 and 61 years old

For example, if the property current value is €200,000.00 and you receive today the “usufruit”, the value of the “usufruit” will amount to €100,000.00 (50% of the property value). You will have to pay inheritance or gift taxes of €60,000.00 (60%).

As you and your partner do not wish to get married, a solution to minimise your tax liability would be to enter into a PACS (“Pacte Civile de Solidarité” or French Civil Partnership), with the aim to organise the division and possession of your respective assets. The PACS can be possible only if you are currently residing in France and there are no inheritance taxes between PACS partners on death. PACS partners benefit from a tax allowance of €80,724.00 on life time gifts and are taxed on the balance increasing progressively from 5 per cent to 45 per cent.

This article was written by Loic Raboteau, French Legal Advisor and director of French Legal Consulting.

Francophile legal Consulting can assist you with international property matters. For more information on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact Loic Raboteau, managing director by completing the form below.

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A little more about FRANCOphile Legal Consulting Ltd.

The company was created in response to the need of legal experts for international private clients and businesses. People are no longer confined within their own country boundaries to work, create a business or purchase assets. National, international laws and new technology have enabled people and businesses to move and expand internationally, creating a demand to resolve cross-border issues.

We are a London-based legal consultancy company dedicated to addressing our clients’ international needs. Whether you are a private individual moving or investing in a foreign country, an entrepreneur, or a business willing to expand internationally, FRANCOphile Legal Consulting Ltd will cater your specific requirements and will look after your interests in the short and long term.

Benefiting from an extensive network of international lawyers, solicitors, accountants and financial advisors based in London and in several jurisdictions, FRANCOphile Legal Consulting Ltd is able to handle your interests in different countries around the world.

Our approach and solutions are tailored to our clients’ needs. We believe that our clients are unique and warrant distinctive service.

Our international coverage includes France, London, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Mauritius. If you would like to know more about us then fill out the contact form above and we will be right back to you.