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Everything you always wanted to know about France |
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Plus ca Change
Thanks to Ryanair I can make a return trip to the UK from the south of France for less than the price of a fish and chip supper in London - so I am off to England today for a week - if I drive back I can load up with Christmas crackers - as these are banned on flights I can corner the market for Languedoc. My main reason for the trip is to change the way I operate our Internet business, from early next year, any company I own, no matter where it is registered, will be considered as operating from France as I am a French resident. As most of the things we do are related to travel and tourism, we cannot do this without very expensive and impossible to obtain licenses in France, plus huge operating overheads and piles of paperwork. Tourism is the largest single industry in France, so making it difficult for a busines to exist seems daft - perhaps this is why France has dropped in popularity from number 1 to number 3 and bookings are down again for the fourth year in a row. To solve some of these propblems I have been looking for a strategic partner to work with, but being isolated here in Languedoc makes this difficult. I am still open for talks with any enterprising person in the UK or the US wanting to get in on the ground floor with our new technology for advertising revenue. ======= I wrote recently about the requirement for a report on Asbestos, lead and termites when buying a house in France - http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/259 Lead, Termites and Asbestos in French Homes the seller is obliged in most departments to provide a recent professional survey. The Notaire will check this is done. If lead is present then care must be take if you are preparing for painting. We offer is some pracical advice from a professional. === Tony, I am pleased every time my email pings and a new France Voila newsletter pops up. This time it contained info on a subject I know something about (for a change!). Added lead in paint and other construction products has been banned in the UK since the Lead Paint Regulations came out in 1960. This has subsequently been updated and eventually superseded by a whole raft of other legislation, including specific acts aimed at imported toys and other goods. The point I would like to make is that, while I am not au fait with French legislation and the levels of toxicity of pre-lead legislation paint, your average DIY punter is safe in his or her activities if they follow a few simple guidelines. Rubbing down and/or burning off old paint that contains lead can potentially be harmful. However, using Wet or Dry silicone carbide paper (using water as a lubricant and dust trap) to abrade surfaces prior to redecorating is safer than using anything dry. Mechanical sanders of any description are out, even if using those DIY dust masks. Using heat to aid stripping, whether hot air or gas powered, is also out due to the lead and other substances in the paint giving out toxic gases including arsenic. Chemical stripping is the preferred choice, but, I implore you, do not use generally available liquid paint strippers based on Dichloromethane or Methanol. Not only is it very dangerous if you splash yourself, it says on the tin that they may cause irreversible side effects. That is, lung cancer. Sound internal surfaces can be left, and redecorated, without fear of contamination because the lead content, being a part of the pigment, is encapsulated in the oxidised oils and resins that naturally form the durable surface coating. External surfaces should be washed thoroughly to remove chalking, which is the exposed pigments, the oils and resins having been destroyed by sunlight and general weathering. During all operations where you suspect that lead paint may be present, always use the utmost caution and protect yourself sensibly with those cheap surgical type gloves, dust masks and protective clothing or clothes that can be thrown away or, better still, recycled as rag pulp. Wash your hands at regular intervals and particularly before eating or smoking (or any other activity that involves fingers in mouths etc.). I hope this is of some use and doesn’t smack too much of the current nanny state effect. Russell ====== Tony Have a question on car registration. I imported one of our cars from Texas, a Toyota Lancruiser, which we thought at the time was great for 8 persons! Now with the price of gas, horrible. However, I was able to get insurance for the car, initially with Lloyds and then last year with my French insurance carrier. The car has just passed its ten years old mark and the last inspection was just 2 years ago! As a non resident, am I obliged to register a foreign vehicle and have the car inspected? Kind regards Rosemary === Rosemary An imported car can only stay in France for 6 months before it has to be registered in France - getting insurance is no problem and you could keep leaving the country regularly with the car - many people ignore the rules, but it is an offence. Hope this helps Tony === Tony, If I understand you well, then we could say we only use it 4 months each year in France and it is regularly in Spain. In fact it is insured only as a vacation vehicle doing less than 7000 kilometers each year, since we have two other regular use cars. Thanks Rosemary === Rosemary Technically any car in France, which is not registered in France, must comply with the laws and regulations of its country of registration. So if it need to be tested in the USA or the UK then this has to be done - same as licensing etc. The gendarmes are not going to chase you about this - too much paperwork - but in the event of an accident - if the car is not strictly conforming with the laws of the country of registration - the insurance would be invalid. Tony ======= Tony My partner and I have a farmhouse in Brittany and wish to run as a B & B. We are almost ready to open but there are so many jobs needed to be ready and beautiful for guests. 1. Do we open before we are ready and generate income? 2. What are the safety regulations, no-one seems to know. God Bless your website, Thank you Chrissi === Hello Chrissi If you are supplying food and bedrooms and are catering for less than 15 people then all you need is to register with your local prefecture and get an "agrement" certificate from them. You then need to register with the local tax office and do lots of paperwork. A property is never finished, as long as the rooms are comfortable, the breakfast is good and the atmosphere warm, guests will accept many little unfinished |