https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The EU has moved to tighten rules on pet passports, closing a loophole that has been used by many British second-home owners since Brexit. https://www.thelocal.com/20260422/eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:29:35 +0200 eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets The city of Paris has been introducing more stringent measures against second homes, in an attempt to ease the capital's housing shortage, but will it really go as far as banning them altogether? https://www.thelocal.com/20260202/is-paris-really-going-to-ban-second-homes Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:31:58 +0100 is-paris-really-going-to-ban-second-homes Local officials on a French island are offering incentives of up to €10,000 to second-home owners who are willing to rent out their properties on a long-term lease, in order to try and overcome the housing shortage for locals. https://www.thelocal.com/20260129/french-island-offers-up-to-e10000-to-second-home-owners-who-rent-out-their-property Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:55:44 +0100 french-island-offers-up-to-e10000-to-second-home-owners-who-rent-out-their-property Many property owners in France may be curious about earning some extra cash renting out their home - especially on platforms such as Airbnb - but it's important not to fall foul of local rules on registration and taxes. https://www.thelocal.com/20251009/what-you-need-to-know-about-legally-renting-out-a-french-second-home Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:35:30 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-legally-renting-out-a-french-second-home A town in Brittany has passed a local decree banning the construction of second homes amid an increasing housing shortage for local people. https://www.thelocal.com/20250901/brittany-town-bans-second-homes-amid-housing-shortage Mon, 01 Sep 2025 12:11:36 +0200 brittany-town-bans-second-homes-amid-housing-shortage Spain's National High court has ruled against the Spanish government's MO of not letting people deduct expenses when declaring rental income if they own property in Spain, but don't reside in the EU. This sets a precedent for the planned 100 percent property tax. https://www.thelocal.com/20250822/spains-100-property-tax-for-foreigners-weakened-by-new-court-ruling Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:00:31 +0200 spains-100-property-tax-for-foreigners-weakened-by-new-court-ruling Property tax bills are being sent out to French property owners, and many people will notice an increase - but if you think the price hike is too high - or you have been sent a bill in error - here's how you can challenge it. https://www.thelocal.com/20230905/how-to-challenge-your-french-property-tax-bill Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:18:05 +0200 how-to-challenge-your-french-property-tax-bill Reporting in the UK media suggests that in the future, all Brits travelling to France will need to show a return ticket - something that will particulary affect second-home owners who might be staying for several weeks and don't necessarily book their travel in advance. https://www.thelocal.com/20250811/will-brits-really-need-proof-of-a-return-ticket-in-order-to-enter-france Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:56:07 +0200 will-brits-really-need-proof-of-a-return-ticket-in-order-to-enter-france Spain is pushing ahead with tough new measures to limit the purchase of real estate by non-resident foreigners, in order to try and tackle its housing crisis. So is France - which also has a housing shortage - likely to follow suit? https://www.thelocal.com/20250116/will-france-follow-spains-100-tax-on-non-eu-house-buyers Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:40:40 +0100 will-france-follow-spains-100-tax-on-non-eu-house-buyers The city of Paris has issued a decree to try and crack down on holiday rentals with restrictions on key boxes - often used by owners seasonal holiday rentals. Here's how this will affect tourists and homeowners. https://www.thelocal.com/20250204/explained-is-paris-really-banning-key-boxes-for-holiday-rentals Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:26:57 +0100 explained-is-paris-really-banning-key-boxes-for-holiday-rentals Spain's Prime Minister has justified taxing or even banning non-EU non-residents from buying Spanish homes because they want "to speculate", but the stats prove there are far bigger fish to fry in Spain's housing crisis. https://www.thelocal.com/20250122/are-non-eu-property-buyers-really-to-blame-for-spains-housing-crisis Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:22:45 +0100 are-non-eu-property-buyers-really-to-blame-for-spains-housing-crisis If you're driving in France you will have likely seen people use the 'queue-jumper' télépéage transponder at toll booths, but are these available to non residents? https://www.thelocal.com/20241227/can-visitors-to-france-get-a-telepeage-badge-to-avoid-queues Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:33:25 +0100 can-visitors-to-france-get-a-telepeage-badge-to-avoid-queues A new study has reported that foreigners with second homes in Spain contribute a massive amount to Spain's GDP, at a time when some regions are considering limiting the number of overseas property buyers. https://www.thelocal.com/20240313/how-important-are-foreign-second-homeowners-to-spain Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:19:27 +0100 how-important-are-foreign-second-homeowners-to-spain France's Constitutional Council has rejected a plan to ease post-Brexit visa rules for British second-home owners, crushing the dreams of many. But is there any possibility that this plan, or a similar one, could be revived? https://www.thelocal.com/20240126/is-this-the-end-for-the-british-second-homes-visa-plan-in-france Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:58:16 +0100 is-this-the-end-for-the-british-second-homes-visa-plan-in-france French MPs have passed an immigration law which includes a clause that could potentially exempt British second-home owners from post-Brexit visa rules. https://www.thelocal.com/20231220/france-passes-law-to-exempt-british-second-home-owners-from-visa-requirements Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:28:15 +0100 france-passes-law-to-exempt-british-second-home-owners-from-visa-requirements The cancellation of winter flights between Menorca and the UK has left many Britons with second homes on the tiny Spanish island paying hundreds of pounds for flights with several stops and layovers as long as 23 hours. https://www.thelocal.com/20231214/second-home-owners-on-spains-menorca-left-in-limbo-over-lack-of-uk-flights Thu, 14 Dec 2023 14:28:02 +0100 second-home-owners-on-spains-menorca-left-in-limbo-over-lack-of-uk-flights France's parliament has thrown out a proposal by Senators to relax visa rules for British second-home owners, which had been added as an amendment to the country's new Immigration Bill. https://www.thelocal.com/20231201/french-mps-reject-bid-to-ease-visa-rules-for-british-second-home-owners Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:34:22 +0100 french-mps-reject-bid-to-ease-visa-rules-for-british-second-home-owners It's human nature to look for a loophole, shortcut or workaround to the rules, but most of the advertised 'dodges' to the EU's 90-day rule are nothing of the sort. https://www.thelocal.com/20230531/mythbuster-can-you-really-cheat-the-eus-90-day-rule Wed, 31 May 2023 14:48:44 +0200 mythbuster-can-you-really-cheat-the-eus-90-day-rule Anyone planning a trip between France and the UK this Christmas or New Year is facing widespread strike action, delays and cancellations. Here is the latest on which services will run. https://www.thelocal.com/20221212/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-strikes-will-affect-france-uk-travel-this-christmas Mon, 12 Dec 2022 12:25:39 +0100 everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-strikes-will-affect-france-uk-travel-this-christmas As borders around Europe gradually open, travellers from the UK find themselves in the odd position of being allowed to travel but officially advised against it by the government. Here's what that means for people with family in different countries, second-home owners and tourists. https://www.thelocal.com/20210518/what-does-uks-new-travel-advice-for-europes-amber-countries-mean Tue, 18 May 2021 13:24:36 +0200 what-does-uks-new-travel-advice-for-europes-amber-countries-mean