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Everything you always wanted to know about France |
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Still Alive and Kicking from the South of France
So many readers wrote to me with encouraging and warm letters following my hospitalisation last month in France, that it is not possible for me to write an individual thank you to you all. Thank you all for writing and for your support, your mail was helpful, both for me personally and telling me a lot about what you wish to read and learn from these letters. I will write more about life in France as well as respond to the questions about living here, buying property here and renting accommodation. Interestingly there were a couple of letters about good service from the British NHS, but a great many more highly critical letters about tragedy, delay and expense in the NHS and other hospital services in the world. I will not say more except I believe I am lucky to be living in France. I publish one highly critical letter from a NHS "client relations" person - whatever that is - if this is representative of the management of the NHS in the UK, then no wonder they are in a mess. Now I must change my lifestyle, this opens new opportunities. - I am looking for partners in the UK (or the USA) who I can work with and develop our new products for Internet sites and businesses. Some discussions are advancing and look very productive, I am still open to ideas. I am also looking for someone to help me with some simple building and decorating work I need to finish in our property in France. I can offer free accommodation, support and some wages. If anyone wants from one to three months in the south of France on a paid vacation with lots of time off let me know. The Da Vinci tour plans are well advanced, I will be writing to all of you who have asked for details in a few days - the delay in hospital gave me time to read and research - I had already found some new aspects on medieval encryption and message transfers systems (Microsoft was not around then) but I have uncovered some completely new techniques which I believe were used for many centuries for secure information transfer (money, plans, maps and documents). These were refined in Languedoc in the 10th to 13th centuries and are, I believe, the basis for many of the legends and stories of treasure and mysteries. Our tours will be real discovery tours as each person can bring more thought and experience to this new research and we can explore this history from a new viewpoint. ======= In this weeks newsletter 1. Phishing update 2. Our life in France 3. Water Restrictions in France 4. Buying a Vineyard in France 5. Planning permission - Change of Use for a Barn 6. Safety and Quality Regulations for Rentals 7. Property Design and Management Service 8. Why the British NHS is in a Mess ======= 1. Phishing update Phishing (pronounce fishing) is used by crooks to get you to give them delicate information about your bank or credit card by pretending to be a website of you bank, PayPal or you credit agency. The simple rule is - if you need to do online banking, type in the URL every time yourself, never go via another site. Microsoft has just exposed a dangerous new phishing trick where you are actually on your own bank's site, but the pop-up window asking for your password etc is a fraud, read more about this here http://www.aunty-spam.com/microsoft-advisory-on-web-browser-phishing-trick-involving-overlapping-browser-windows/ Phishing ======= 2. Our life in France This week it is sixteen years since we moved to France full time to live, with a 6 month old baby and a three year old toddler. We moved because we believed then that education and health care was better in France than in the UK, family life had a better chance of survival and vague phrases like "the quality of life" and "values" were better in France than in Bracknell or Slough. Were we right...? Yes, an overwhelming yes. Not everything is perfect or easy, making money in France is difficult - many say impossible - taxation is high and penalties are severe (many would say unjust). The overall cost of living is about the same as the UK. Some "freedoms" seem limited due to privacy laws and the enforcement of law in most of France is by the army. Orwellian logic seems to apply - the French are more equal than others, liberty depends on many controls and brotherhood is a national rather than international concept. Religious teaching is illegal in schools, but it is evident everywhere. However France is not a litigation culture. Political correctness is not applied instead of common sense. The French recognise their sexism, racism and prejudices and therefore can discuss and alter them - slowly but positively. Lunch and dinner conversations are more often about The Rights of Man, Philosophy and Food, not about House Prices, Schooling or Crime. Culture is a paradox, there are many great exhibitions and art collections in all parts of France, but French television is mostly American soaps or large microphones held in front of tanned botoxed faces which talk endlessly about themselves. Food is still taken seriously, but the supermarket culture has taken over, the seasons for fruit and vegetables are blurred and extended and we are forgetting what the healthy "Mediterranean Diet" really is. McDonalds are everywhere and are very popular. A person from Mars would think the national food of France is pizza. Most frogs legs are now imported from Turkey I understand. Without exception in the local towns and villages all the children and young adults are polite and helpful. This generally applies to the cities I visit, with the exception of the beggars, crusties and some travellers, most of whom are not from France. Violence is very rare and there are no places or times I am apprehensive about walking in. Public transport is safe, clean, frequent and cheap - French drivers are mostly bad, too fast and too close, they have the highest accident rate in Europe and if they kept same criteria as to what a serious accident was as in other countries it would be double. This is a shame as the roads are the best in the world. Education is very good, although it discourages individual expression, creativity and free thought. Changes are inevitable everywhere, my guess is that France will have serious problems caused but the overweight, overbearing and self propagating civil service, with total job and pension security. At levels four time greater per working person than the USA and three times more than in the UK, these superannuated parasites could kill the host We have had sixteen good years here and now have a grown-up family who have travelled and realise their good fortune. The next sixteen years will be very interesting. ======= 3. Water Restrictions in France If you are hoping to have the use of a pool when you visit France this year - you may be disappointed - water restrictions are already in place in many places along the coast and it looks as if this summer will be hot and dry again so this is likely to escalate. The official government site can show you at-a-glance where restrictions and bans apply http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=741# Water Usage Maps ======= 4. Buying a Vineyard in France Dear Tony, I was recommended to contact you about the availability of assistance in finding agricultural properties in the South of France. Your story as described on your France Voila website is quite inspiring to me and my companion David, who dream of owning a small vineyard (winery optional) in the South of France someday. We have found a wonderful-sounding property in the Corbieres region via the Internet. As we contemplate the reality of negotiating the French real estate market we realize the need for experienced local guidance undertaking the transaction. Also I am wondering if there are viticulture consultants in the area who could conduct an assessment of this (or any other potential) vineyard and winery operation for us. We have received facts and figures from the owner about his production volumes and expenses but we need, of course, to verify this information and have someone knowledgeable evaluate the soil, health of the vines, etc. for us. I wasn't sure if this is the kind of service that you provide or whether you might recommend a course of action for us to take to move these thoughts beyond the dreaming stage. As you have by now probably gathered, I am a novice in the viticulture field although I have been taking some courses at the local technical school. As a landscape architect and former French major, however, I do have some background knowledge to bring to this enterprise. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. Best regards, Mary == Hello Mary When buying any property in France it is absolutely the case of "buyer beware" - the seller can say and claim anything they like to get the sale and you have no redress at all in the event of there being any inaccuracy or misleading statement. This applies to ownership, rights of way and any business statistics. The onus is on you to check, with your Notaire, all the "facts" and to ascertain the true position of all aspects of the property or business. Corbieres does produce some great wines and is becoming better known. My advice is always to spend time her and really explore the region to find the area you prefer and to then focus very carefully on exactly what it is you are looking for - even a relatively small area will have big differences between villages and even fields. Buying a vineyard or winery in the south of France is becoming very popular now - with the right land it is possible to make exceptional wines here and we constantly enjoy many of the splendid new wines our neighbours are producing. There does seem to be a big growth in wine producers and I do wonder if all can support their marketing for relatively small amounts of wine. It is rare to fine a large area of vines, more than 20 hectares (about 50 acres) most vines are scattered among small fields over a large area and a typical field will be from half a hectare to one hectare in size. A wine producer may have 20 to 30 small groups of vines, some miles apart, to be sufficient to make a living. Local farmers tell me they can live and keep a family well with less than 26 hectares. I know of several wine producers and agents who will buy any parcel of wine producing land over 20 acres unseen, land here is in big demand. If you buy land with vines you also have to be sure you have retained the right to keep the vines on the land. Farmers have sold land, the buyers thinking they can grow vines, the buyers have then found they have to pay twice as much again for the right to grow vines - the varieties and areas are strictly licensed and restricted. A farmer can "transfer" the right for an area of vines from one field to another. Yes, I can introduce you to specialists who advise on land, vines, wine production etc. Some are personal friends, they are independent of any local politics and are qualified wine experts who give advice on blending and production as well as planting and grafting. I am happy to help in any way I can best wishes Tony == Hi Tony, Thank you so much for your prompt and very informative response. Could you give us some idea of the scope of services that you are able to provide in facilitating these real estate transactions in France? And the cost associated therewith? Meanwhile we will be digesting the information you provided. It would indeed be ideal to spend time roaming around the Languedoc area becoming more familiar with "le terroir," as you suggest. Unfortunately, however, I'm afraid our visit will probably have to be shorter and more focused in order to maximize our current gainful employment that will someday win us our freedom. We are fortunate that the property that we're currently eyeing is 20 hectares, 11 of which is currently planted in vines with another 1.5 in planting rights so that sounds, from your account, like a reasonable amount of acreage at least. Again, many thanks for your helpful and encouraging response, Mary == Hi Mary Buying property in France is very simple and is always done through a Notaire who is also responsible for collecting taxes and fees due on any purchase. You do not need any help with this. You can either use the sellers Notaire or appoint any other you wish - they are government officials and do not act in any way to protect you other than to ensure all procedures are correct. You need to be sure to ask the right questions regarding all points of the purchase which will be described in the initial contract. There are many questions regarding the vines on the land - to get permission to plant on the remaining land you will need to purchase this from another farmer who is giving up their rights. It is vital you have the right to take over the productive vines - this is not an automatic right and decisions can be overthrown in favour of other local farmers. It is important that the variety of the vine and that the age and productivity is determined, an expert can help you with this, as I mentioned, I can introduce you to some. The purchase of land like this is probably best through a special company called a SCI - I have written a lot about this recently in our blogs http://fblog.com FBlog or http://francevoila.com/archives/ FranceVoila How are you going to manage the existing wine or grape production? You must employ paid managers or do this yourself - If you permit another farmer to do the work and pay you a percentage or in any way appear to rent the land - you may never be able to get actual possession of your land back. The law is very protective of tenants rights and people have been tricked by "kind" farmers who have done favours. Employing people in France is very expensive for social charges and they also have a lot of protection. On the bright side a farmer has many rights and grants, but these cannot be transferred so if the existing farmer has already taken up grants these will not be available to you. I know of landowners who have never produced a single viable crop but have had the price of their land paid for five times over by planting and removing different crops over a ten year period - they get paid for planting and then paid again for reducing the acreage of the crop. The fact is there is over production of many varieties of wine here and the agencies are trying to reduce this. How much time will you have when you visit - I can arrange to meet you, the region is about 40 minutes from us best wishes Tony ======= 5. Planning permission - Change of Use for a Barn Tony I have seen mention that from next year applications to convert a barn to habitable accommodation will not be granted. Do you know if this information is correct? Also, if it is true, does this mean that a CU already granted to convert a barn to a house will not be renewed next year if building works have not been started before the CU has lapsed? Hope you can help clarify this as I am thinking of purchasing a barn with CU granted in the Limousin region but would not start work until later next year. Regards Jeff == Hello Jeff Planning permission start and ends with the local mayor - you can appeal but their influence is very strong. Use of a property is determined by the POS (Plan d'Occupation Sol) in any area and you can ask to see the map showing this at the Mairie. If it is not residential then it is most unlikely to be given residential permission or any planning changes (unless you are the brother of the mayor or on the council). In general there is a lot of resistance now to changing use of anything and many councils are retaining architects who are instructed to maintain the "integrity" and historical values of the French villages and towns. This often has a negative effect and keeps many buildings in a state of scruffy disrepair or makes them difficult to make comfortable and useable. Things like terraces etc get banned because a 19century roof map is demanded I am not aware of any 19th century helicopters or aerial photos which can be used to qualify this - but this is now a politically correct thing. We are in for a period of architectural blandness it seems. Personally I would not risk buying anything in France where any Change of Use was part of the deal - a barn is a barn and is worth the price of a barn (not a lot). Hope this helps Tony ======= 6. Safety and Quality Regulations for Rentals I wrote recently about the legal requirements for a rental property in France and suggested that an owner applied the very strict standards required in the UK as I could never find any equivalent French rules. If any reader can help me with information where to find more data in French or English I can pass this on. I am not sure where to get all the details of the legal requirements in the UK - my personal experience was people coming round from local council offices quoting by-laws and insisting on hugely expensive installation for fire, smoke and safety systems - they actually put a lien on the land registry until I carried out these works - I did the work - emptied the properties and got out of the UK fast. There are also numerous by-laws I know about fire retardant foams, plugs and other safety stuff. I am always keen to make things as safe and secure as possible and have no problems with all rules and laws regarding safety - heavy handed enforcement is another thing. Here are a few links to sites which may have some guidelines http://www.hse.gov.uk/ hse.gov.uk http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en direct.gov.uk http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ hmrc.gov.uk I would appreciate any other feedback you may have about where to find out about health and safety requirements for rental property anywhere - I will ask other owners and readers to give feedback as well Best wishes Tony ======= 7. Property Design and Management Service Hi Tony, First of all I would to thank you for your very useful and informative newsletters. I am writing to you regarding small operation in Paris called DoMi Design. I bought a small apartment in Paris about 3 years ago and I decided to do some major renovation work. I got in touch with the DoMi Design, ( a young Interior designer - Myriam Cesaroni and an architect - Dorian Bernard ). They did a really terrific job ant a very reasonable price, covering the physical design, furniture, even the glassware and cutlery. It was a truly "turnkey" job, - even flowers on the table & champagne in the fridge when I took over. Since then, I have had them look after the apartment (air it every so often, check the post etc) for a very small fee, also attend the Assembly General and carry out small repairs as needed. I have been very lucky to have them and I felt that if any of your readers required this type of assistance, particularly in the design and reconstruction areas they could contact them by email at mailto:domi_design@club-internet.fr domi_design@club-internet.fr They also do work in the south of France. Perhaps they need to advertise through your newsletter, could you advise me how they should go about this. Thank you again and I'm delighted to hear that you are back in full health again. Alan ======= 8. Why the British NHS is in a Mess After my comments about the health services in France and the UK I received a lot of mail, - the ratio was about 20 to 1 telling me I was right and I heard many horror stories about problems in the UK, often to do with incompetent and bad management decisions. Here is a short exchange from someone, I assume from their address, in the NHS propaganda department == Sir! I find this email exceptionally offensive - as a I am sure all the very dedicated, hard working and very well meaning NHS staff of the UK would. I want to be removed immediately from your mailing list - I am going to complain to all the necessary trade associations. Rebekah Selman Client Director == Rebekah Just reporting facts - My mother was waiting months in the UK, in agony, for something which was fixed in a matter of days in France - I was treated for indigestion when I had a heart attack in the UK - hundreds of readers have written in with horror stories about the incompetence of the NHS - read the newspapers - every day in the UK there are reports of the over-staffing waste and incompetence in the NHS causing misery to thousands of people. I know there are dedicated workers in the NHS - some have just written to me voicing their frustration of the current state of the NHS, the over management, the waste and the inefficiency. Why not use your energy trying to fix some of the problems in your own structure, please do tell your trade associations that there are tens of thousands of us dissatisfied "clients" out there and that possibly copying the French German or Swiss models would be a better use of time and money and reduce suffering - what is a "client director" anyway? - I hope you earn your salary reducing pain and misery not just wasting time writing to people who ring alarm bells telling you your house is burning down. If all the reports are incorrect I assume (from your email, your employer) the Central Office of Information will publish the facts. A department started in the second world war for propaganda purposes - in other words being economical with the truth to mislead people. You signed up for the newsletter and confirmed you wanted it - there is no other way you can get it - how to remove your name is shown clearly at the end of each newsletter. Tony ======= I really do try to reply to all mail, most are questions about property or living in France. I publish comments in this newsletter which I believe are of interest and may help find answers to questions put by others wanting to come to France. By linking the points I make to our weblog at http://www.fblog.com Fblog I hope readers will click on the adverts which help support our overheads. Our business is our advertising sites for property and rentals at http://rentalsfrance.com/ RentalsFrance http://francevoila.com/ France voila Please make use of these sites for rentals and sales (and do click on the adverts). |
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