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Roadside Breakdown in France

In France, rather than having a contract with a company such as AA, etc, a roadside assistance (garantie assistance auto) is typically included in your car insurance policy, although in some cases it is an option.  An emergency number to call is supplied, however it’s a good idea to check their policy with regards to attending breakdowns.  Some companies have a Franchise kilométrique, which is a number of kilometres around your home where breakdowns are not covered and you must contact a garage/car mechanic yourself.

 Also it is now law that you must carry in the car at all times a red triangle and a yellow visor jacket. If you are stopped by the police without these 2 items, you could be liable to pay a fine.  In case of breakdown, put the triangle sign out, and put on a yellow visor jacket.

Pest Control

Pests in the home or outdoors can be a nuisance.  Here are some helpful tips to deal and avoid them. Ticks love long grass, and are very common in the East of France.  They burrow their legs into the skin and suck blood.  Make sure that the whole body and legs are removed, the easiest way to remove them whole is with a small thin plastic type fork (tire-tiques), which can be bought at chemists. Then use it anti-clockwise to pull it off.

Wasps – To get rid of wasps, make a trap out of a plastic bottle by cutting off the top part and put either beer or honey mixed with water in it.  Make sure the bottle is not too close to your home. Or you can buy repellent at any garden centres. If you happen to see a wasps nest, contact the fire Brigade.

Cockroaches –love dark, dirty areas, to eliminate them, put down balls made from boric acid, which you can buy at a chemist, mixed with condensed milk.

 Jellyfish – Clean the sting with seawater and carefully remove any debris with something firm like a credit card.  Scatter it with sand to absorb the venom, do not rub it.  Use an antiseptic liquid, and an anti-flammatory gel.

Decrock Art

Welcome to Decrock Art, a website devoted mainly to the style of Surrealist Artist Nadia Decrock.  You can discover other passions of the artist as portraits in tribute to people who are recognized, near or far. And a gallery retrospective that includes different styles that Nadia has practiced over the years.

http://www.decrock-art.com/

 

Charente-Maritime

                                                    

Charente-Maritime is the department to the southeast of Poitou-Charentes, and is the most visited part of the region.

La Rochelle is a lovely coastal town just east of Ile de Ré, and unmissable if you are in the region

The Atlantic coast here includes some attractive (and very popular) islands such as Ile de Ré (and it’s major town at St-Martin-de-Ré) and Ile d’Oleron.

The classified ‘beautiful villages’ of Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte-en-Ré are among the many villages on the island. The small island of Ile d’Aix, the fortified island where Napoleon stayed, is also found just offshore.

Inland from La Rochelle the nearby towns at Marans and Surgeres also have some interesting features to explore.Continuing south along the coast in Charente-Maritime, visit Royan, a popular seaside resort and 4* ville fleurie; the lovely resort and zoo at La Palmyre, a little north from Royan; and also Meschers-sur-Gironde.

Inland a little are Rochefort, a 17th century grand new town around an important naval base; the ‘most beautiful village’ at Talmont-sur-Gironde; the town of Saintes; and the fortifications at Brouage.

The Charente River can be explored, as it passes through miles of rolling countryside between Angouleme and Rochefort, and is popular with visitors wanting to see the landscapes of the region. For a different water based experience head north to the marshy world of the Marais Poitevin around Marans in the northeast of Charente-Maritime.

What Poitou-Charentes has to Offer.

With its sandy beaches, pretty marinas, and bustling seaside resorts, Poitou-Charentes offers lots of outdoor activities such as sailing, sand yachting, surfing and walking.  There are a number of beautiful islands including Ile d’Oléron, renowned for its oysters, and Ile de Ré, which is linked to La Rochelle by a road bridge.

Divided into 4 departments, Deux Sèvres, Vienne, Charente and Charente-Maritime, it is also the home of the world’s best-known brandy, and Cognac.

 Inland the region has woods and fields, and the Marais Poitevin marshes.  Poitou-Charentes is a leading holiday destination, claiming to be one of the sunniest regions in France, and is popular with the British.

 Style of Property

Traditional Charentaise houses are large with a cellar and garden and tend to be laid out in a symmetrical pattern.  Half-timbered properties can be found in towns such as Niort, Cognac, and Parthenay.  There are also lots of stone farmhouses with sloping roofs.

 What you can get for your money

 As would be expected, properties are more expensive on the coast than inland.  A two bedroom Townhouse with an attic (that could be converted into 2 bedrooms) cellar and garden costs €115,000.

 A large 4 bedroom Charentaise house with gardens in the region of €265,000.

 Travel

 The region is 4 – 6 hours drive from the channel ports and has motorway connections to Paris (4 hours).  The TGV from Paris is 2.5 hours; the main airports are at La Rochelle, Poitiers, and Angoulème.

Home Survey Guide

 

 

When selling a property in France, it is up to the seller to ensure that a survey is carried out before the final transaction is made.  This survey called Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT) must be undertaken and include asbestos, lead, energy efficiency, termites, gas, natural or technological risks, and electrics, and costs about 500 euros to complete.

 

Only the report on energy efficiency is required in all cases.  Obligatory reports on termites and risks are restricted to certain parts of the country.  An asbestos survey is required for a property granted planning permission before July 1997.  A lead survey is required for properties built before 1949.  Gas and electric surveys must be done for properties at least 15 years old.

From 2013, owners of septic tanks will also be required to report on the condition of the installation as part of the sale process. 

 To carry out the above surveys must be undertaken by people who have been accredited by the agency Cofrac (Comité français d’Accreditation) with the exception of reports on natural and technological risks, which comes from the Préfecture.

 Unfortunately there is much confusion with the period of validity as the above reports have different time spans, please see below details of validity.

 

Natural risks – up to six months.

Termites – up to six months.

Lead – up to one year (if found)

Gas and electricity – up to three years.

Energy efficiency – up to 10 years.

Asbestos – unlimited.

 

As a result of their limited life, most sellers wait until they have found a buyer before they pay out the surveys needed. The reports are then annexed to the sale contract, or attached to the deed of sale.

 

The Notaire will insist that the survey is completed, however omission of the reports does not necessarily invalidate the sale, but is worth bearing in mind to complete nevertheless.

 

The energy efficiency report is purely informative, and there are no implications if it is missing.  In all other cases, with one exception the seller merely loses their exoneration from legal action for hidden defects (vices caches).  For example, if the electrics survey was not undertaken, and a major electrical problem was later discovered, the seller might find it difficult to offer a suitable legal defence. 

 

Only in the case of a missing report on Natural and Technological risks (in areas where it is obligatory) could the buyer get the sale annulled, or obtain a reduction in the purchase price, for which a court ruling would be needed.

 

In no case is the owner of the property required by law to remedy any defects found as a result of the surveys. 

 

 

Property Taxes

 

The month of October sees the final payment date for the taxe foncière property tax on October 15, or October 20 if you paying by internet.

 

Taxe foncière and taxe d’habitation are the two residential taxes which pay for the bulk of your local services and if you are resident in a building on January 1, you are liable for the whole year’s tax, even if you move out the next day.

 

Taxe foncière is paid by the owner or beneficial occupant of a site.  The tax you pay depends whether your land has buildings, which means there can be two parts to the bill: taxe foncière sur les propriétés bàties (land with buildings) and taxe foncière sur les propriétés non-bàties (no buildings).

 

Although the tax taxe foncière is a tax on property this is quite widely framed: it includes permanently moored boats, for example as well as offices and industrial property such as sheds and workshops.  Most caravans and mobile homes are exempt as are many rural buildings are used for agricultural purposes.

 

New-build homes or renovated properties which are used as a home are exempt for two years.  Allowances are only available for your main residence but you can get total exemption from the taxe foncière if you meet all of a group of conditions relating to age, disability benefit, specified income thresholds and the makeup of your fiscal household.

 

However, you need to contact your local tax office for information as only they can give you an official and definitive answer.  Some properties can qualify for a reduction if, for example, a rented house becomes vacant against your will and the situation lasts more than three months.

 

Your taxe foncière bill states the deadline for payment (and any extension if the demand is late).  It also gives the option of paying over 10 months, in one instalment or on the internet.

 

The other property tax is Taxe d’habitation which is paid by those who live in a building as owner, tenant, or on a free basis.  The final payment date is November 16 or (November 21 if paying over the internet.)

 

It is calculated upon the nominal rental value of your property and includes factors such as its situation, construction, area, and comfort.  You can check this at the Centre des Impots Fonciers by consulting the cadastraux land registers and asking for the relevant fiche de calcul.  The nominal value will probably not match what a real-life tenant would pay but if you think it is too high you can challenge it.

 

You can also pay in instalments over 10 months and payments are taken on the 15^th of the day each month.  If you want to start in January you must subscribe to a payment plan at your local Trésorie by December 15.

Urrutia Stone for All Your Property Renovation Needs

 

 

 

Urrutia Stone for All Your Property Renovation Needs

We’d like to introduce you to Urrutia Stone who specialise in the highest quality and widest range of interior and exterior Limestone, Travertine, Marble, Slate, Basalt and Sandstone flooring in France. They can provide just the right products, whatever your needs – for instance, a marble bathroom finish, a limestone floor in the kitchen, or maybe a new slate floor for the hallway or some travertine around the pool? Urratia have over 100 different types of stone for floors and walls, both interior and exterior not forgetting over 45 different Mosaic tiles to choose from and Terracotta tiles too. They can also deliver bespoke cut French Limestone if you’d like a Limestone staircase or fireplace for example. Available for delivery over all of France, (and most of Europe), everywhere from the Cote d’Azur to Paris, and from Bordeaux to La Rochelle. Their showroom is open 7 days a week, by appointment only, so please call Julian Urrutia, who speaks both French and English, to make an appointment on 05 53 57 40 07 or 0684 247 347. You can also email info@urrutiastone.com. Check out their superb products at www.urrutiastone.com. Don’t forget to mention you heard about them on French Property Connect.

        

 

  

 

Schooling in France

Enrol for School

 

 

 

To enroll your child in School in France is normally quite simple, proof of address and identity are generally all that is required. School insurance is not compulsory however without it your child would not be able to join in all the activities provided, for example school trips, etc.  Usually third party (reponsibilité civile) is the minimum, which is included in most household insurance policies, for dependants under 18 or still studying.  Check with your insurance company and ask them to give you proof to supply the school.

For private tuition you can claim for 50% against your income tax to a limit of 10,000 euros per year, and many schools will help parents with the paperwork.  Travel passes, canteen cards, insurance documents, clubs (carnet de correspondence) all require passport photos.

The System

Ecole Maternelle – 3 Years study for 3 to 6 years old.

Ecole primaries – 5 years study for 6 to 11 years old.

Collège – 4 years study for 11 to 15 years old.

Lycée general – 3 years study for 15 to 18 years old.

Lycée professionnel – 3 years study for 15 to 18 years old, offering general education plus vocational diplomas at 3 levels including the BAC.

Ages in the French system are inly indicative; as children repeat years, there can be often a 2 year age difference within a class.  Schooling is obligatory until the age of 18.  The wide range of vocational BTS (HND) equivalent courses are offered in lycées, so tuition is free. 

 

Fort Boyard

 Fort Boyard is a fort located between the Ile d’Aix and the Ile d’Oleron in the Pertuis d’Antioche straits, on the west coast of France, it is 61 metres long, 31 metres wide, and its walls are 20 metres high.

 

The construction of the Fort was first considered by Louis XIV between 1661 and 1667 but Vuaban  his leading military engineer, famously advised against it, saying ‘Sire, it would be easier to catch the moon with the teeth than take on such an endeavour in such a location’.  Fort Boyard was to form a line of fortification with Fort Enet and Fort de la Rade on Ile d’Aix to protect the arsenal of Rochefort from Royal Navy incursions.

 

Construction of the Fort did not begin in earnest until 1801, under Napoleon, in order to protect the coast and especially the arsenal of Rochefort from possible incursions by foreign and especially British Navies.  At that time, cannons only had a limited range, and the distance between the two islands of Aix and Oleron were too large to block the passage.

 

Following difficulties in establishing a firm base, stone blocks had to be installed on the sandy seabed during low tide, where they could sink under their own weight, the project was then suspended in 1809.  Construction resumed in 1837 under Louis-Philippe, following renewed tensions with the United Kingdom.  The fortifications were completed in 1857, with sufficient room for a garrison of 250 men.

 

However by the time of its completion, the range of cannons had markedly increased, making the Fort unnecessary for National Defence.

 

Under the Paris commune of 1871, Fort Boyard was briefly used as a prison, before being abandoned a few years later.  Over time, the fort slowly crumbled and deteriorated into the sea as it was left unmaintained.

 

In 1961 the commune sold the fort to the Department of Charente-Maritime.  Six years later, the final scene of the film Les Aventuriers was filmed at the remains of the Fort, then in 1988, restoration work commenced on Fort Boyard in order to prepare it for a television game show, also named Fort Boyard, restoration finished in 1989 and filming commenced in 1990.  Fort Boyard has been used as the set for the show to this present day.

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