https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed French police have arrested a British man over an alleged château scam in which €16 million is believed to have disappeared. We spoke to some of the investors who have been left with no money and broken dreams. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260521/all-my-hopes-and-dreams-shattered-french-chateau-scam-victims-speak-out Thu, 21 May 2026 10:27:56 +0200 all-my-hopes-and-dreams-shattered-french-chateau-scam-victims-speak-out It's a well known fact that renovating a property will add to its value - but now the French government has created an online tool that allows you to estimate how much value certain works will add to your French property. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260520/explained-how-to-calculate-the-value-of-your-french-property-after-renovations Wed, 20 May 2026 11:17:07 +0200 explained-how-to-calculate-the-value-of-your-french-property-after-renovations The last thing you want to discover is that bees, wasps or hornets have made a nest in or around your French property - and this is often a problem for second-home owners whose properties are empty for long periods. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231004/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-bee-wasp-or-hornet-nest-on-your-french-property Wed, 04 Oct 2023 12:38:43 +0200 what-to-do-if-you-find-a-bee-wasp-or-hornet-nest-on-your-french-property Whether you are thinking of buying or you want to know what your French property is worth, a free online service provided by the French government allows you to search for the real estate value of houses or apartments. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241017/new-data-to-show-house-hunters-the-value-of-french-property Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:09:30 +0200 new-data-to-show-house-hunters-the-value-of-french-property Tax declaration season is upon us, while property owners may also need to complete a property tax declaration. The first step is to create a French tax account - here's how to do that. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230209/explained-how-to-get-a-numero-fiscal-and-create-a-french-tax-account Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:37:35 +0100 explained-how-to-get-a-numero-fiscal-and-create-a-french-tax-account If you rent out property in France - whether as a business or just for a few weeks of the year on Airbnb - there are some big changes in this year's tax declaration. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260410/what-changes-for-property-rentals-in-france-for-the-2026-tax-declaration Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:03:28 +0200 what-changes-for-property-rentals-in-france-for-the-2026-tax-declaration Laws require many homeowners in the south of France to do compulsory works each year to help prevent the spread of wildfires - but as fires become more common, the laws have been expanded to cover properties in northern France, including Brittany. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260324/french-government-expands-obligatory-wildfire-prevention-work-for-homeowners Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:26:38 +0100 french-government-expands-obligatory-wildfire-prevention-work-for-homeowners Perhaps you are looking to avoid rising energy prices or maybe you are interested in going green. Here are five things you need to know about installing solar panels in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220922/five-things-to-know-if-you-want-to-install-solar-panels-on-your-french-home Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:04:35 +0200 five-things-to-know-if-you-want-to-install-solar-panels-on-your-french-home While the cheapest property in France is usually deep in the countryside, there are a surprising number of towns and cities where a decent selection of apartments are on sale for less than €200,000. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260311/revealed-the-french-towns-with-apartments-for-less-than-e200000 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:17:35 +0100 revealed-the-french-towns-with-apartments-for-less-than-e200000 Airbnb is controversial in large urban centres such as Paris or Nice, but in rural areas or small towns, locals say the platform can be a useful way to attract additional tourist revenue. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260309/everyone-benefits-why-airbnb-is-welcomed-in-certain-parts-of-france Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:53 +0100 everyone-benefits-why-airbnb-is-welcomed-in-certain-parts-of-france Around 1 in 10 properties in France are used as a second home - but who owns them all? Here's the breakdown of age, wealth, nationality and region for France's holiday homes. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260223/explained-who-owns-all-the-second-homes-in-france Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:44:26 +0100 explained-who-owns-all-the-second-homes-in-france 'It's the end of impunity', said Paris city authorities as they announced record fines of €80,000 and €150,000 for two Paris apartment owners who had rented their properties out on Airbnb without the correct authorisation. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260219/record-e150k-fine-for-illegal-airbnb-rentals-in-paris Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:38:00 +0100 record-e150k-fine-for-illegal-airbnb-rentals-in-paris Who pays the notaire? Covers the cost of surveys? What about the estate agent? And property taxes? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260216/buying-and-selling-property-in-france-who-pays-for-what Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:01:00 +0100 buying-and-selling-property-in-france-who-pays-for-what Selling a property in France will likely bring you a tidy sum of cash - but don't forget about the myriad deductions and expenses that take place before the money reaches your bank account. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260213/the-hidden-costs-of-selling-a-home-in-france Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:23:27 +0100 the-hidden-costs-of-selling-a-home-in-france Power outages – in France, as anywhere – can happen for all sorts of reasons. From reporting the fault to resetting your meter, here's what to do if the electricity goes out. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250321/what-to-do-in-case-of-a-power-cut-in-france Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:04:25 +0100 what-to-do-in-case-of-a-power-cut-in-france Property prices in French cities can be astronomical (looking at you, Paris), so prices in the countryside can seem very tempting. Samantha David spells out the many essential questions you need to ask before taking the plunge. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250305/17-key-questions-to-ask-before-buying-your-dream-home-in-rural-france Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:12:24 +0100 17-key-questions-to-ask-before-buying-your-dream-home-in-rural-france Is there a legal way of avoiding inheritance tax in France by passing your property onto your children while you’re still alive? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260116/can-you-sign-over-your-french-property-to-your-children-without-paying-tax Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:58:08 +0100 can-you-sign-over-your-french-property-to-your-children-without-paying-tax Certain homeowners in France, because of age or income, or if they are in receipt of certain benefits, may be exempt from paying the annual property tax in 2026, or entitled to a reduction. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260206/could-you-be-exempt-from-paying-frances-taxe-fonciere-in-2026 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:51:36 +0100 could-you-be-exempt-from-paying-frances-taxe-fonciere-in-2026 France's MaPrimeRénov scheme, which helps households finance green home improvement projects, is set to resume in February after being suspended at the start of the year. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260206/french-property-grant-scheme-ma-prime-renov-set-to-reopen Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:33:08 +0100 french-property-grant-scheme-ma-prime-renov-set-to-reopen The tiny island off the coast of south-west France has some of the most expensive property prices in France - so how did it become an enclave of the super rich? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260204/why-is-property-on-french-island-of-ile-de-re-so-expensive Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:01:47 +0100 why-is-property-on-french-island-of-ile-de-re-so-expensive