Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a selection of the most common things we get asked to help with. Whatever your French administrative problem is, we can help resolve any issues you have.

Insurance

What is the procedure to cancel house insurance in France ? I wish to change insurance companies.

In France, under insurance procedure, there are strict guidelines to follow to enable cancellation of insurance policies. If these are not adhered to, the result is invariably that you are tied with the same Company for the following year.

To cancel a private policy at renewal, there are two windows of opportunity to avoid being tied in.

  1. By registered letter 2 months or more prior to the renewal date to your Insurer, Agent or Broker requesting cancellation from the end of the term.
  2. Or if this is missed, under the Loi Chatel, again by registered letter, within 20 days of the postmark on the envelope delivering the renewal, requesting cancellation from the end of the term.

I am selling my car in France. How do I cancel my car insurance?

A proof of sale (copy of Carte Grise crossed Vendue and the date of sale written across), plus Certificate de Cession signed by both parties will be required.

Nick Chubb, Asttral Insurance Brokers, France

 

Taxes

When and where do I have to deposit my income tax return in France?

For the tax payers residing in France, the last day of filing for is 31st May of the year that of the perception of the income. You have to send your return to the tax center (centre des impôts) close to your domicile or to the tax center where you were taxed the previous year.

For the tax payers residing in the United Kingdom, the last day of filing is 30th June of the year following that of the perception of the income. The tax return must be mailed to :

Centre des Impôts des Non Résidents
TSA 10010
10, Rue du Centre
93465 Noisy-Le-Grand Cedex

What are the C.S.G. and the C.R.D.S.?

The Contribution Sociale Généralisée and the Contribution pour le Remboursement de la Dette Sociale are taxes usually withheld from the income received by individuals considered as domiciled in France for income tax purpose.

Legal

I wish to employ an artisan to do some work in my cottage in France. How do I ensure he is registered to work in France?

You can ask the artisan to supply you with:

  • an extract from the Register of Commerce (extrait d'inscription au registre du commerce et des sociétés),
  • a certificate of registration in the Register of Craft Trades (carte justifiant l'inscription au Répertoire des Métiers),
  • a company document (estimate, publicity) stating the company name, address and registration number.

Finance

Should I use a foreign exchange company instead of my bank to transfer some money to France?

Staff at normal high street banks are not specialists in dealing with foreign currency transactions. They neither have the expertise or the market information to provide clients with accurate information or analysis. With lower overheads and access to wholesale rates of exchange foreign exchange companies can beat bank exchange rates.

How does it work?

You first need to open an account with a foreign exchange company (application form to be filled and some forms of ID to be supplied). Just tell them then which currency you need and how much, organise a bank payment to them and they do the rest.

James Walton, www.internationalfx.com

Planning

I would like to build a garage at the back of my house. Nobody will be able to see it from the road. Do I still need to apply for planning?

Strictly speaking anyone who wants to construct a building, over 2m2 to be used as a dwelling or not, whether with foundations or not, should obtain planning permission and there are a number of different permissions available depending on the exact type of work you want to carry out.

I have applied for 2 new openings (2 Velux windows) and my local mairie has asked me for an “Etude de sol”. What is it and why do I need this survey?

At the moment the french authorities are trying to bring drainage systems in all departments up to european norms. This means that if you apply for planning permission in an area not on mains drains you will be asked for a certificate of conformity for your septic tank. If you cannot produce this, then as part of your planning application you will need to submit a study for the installation of a new septic tank (Etude de faisabilite de mise en place d'un systeme d'assainissement autonome).

Do I require a Demolitions Permit (permis de démolir) to demolish an old building?

A demolitions permit must be submitted before a building may be demolished.

It should be noted that once a building is demolished a new building permit will be required for any new building to be erected in its place. As after the demolition the land will be considered "without construction" if the land is in a zone non-constructible even though it held a building before the demolition new permission for a building will not be granted.

My neighbour has a notice on her barn that she is about to have renovated. What is that for?

Your neighbour must have applied for planning and received a planning approval. By law, she has to display a notice on the property for two months informing third parties of the application.

I heard from a neighbour that the farmer down the road from us is planning to extend his pig farm. How can I find out about his project? And how can I object to it?

Anyone can view the dossier at the Mairie and may object to the application. The objection can only be held up if the application is contrary to planning law. To object, you have to send a letter - in French - to the Mairie. Be quick, because if after the two months nobody has objected then work can start.

Information supplied by Andrew Allen, architecte, http://www.architectbrittany.com/