I thought the French government had introduced a law requiring motorists to have a breathalyser with them at all times, but my French friends tell me this is not the case. When I consulted the AA at Eurotunnel, however, I was told it is still a requirement. Who is right? WL, Tunbridge Wells.

The truth lies between the two. The law states that all drivers in France — including visitors — have to carry at least one fully functioning and in-date breathalyser, known in French as an "éthylotest".

In practice this means at least two testers on board, because they are single-use devices, so when one has been used, another must be on board to allow the journey to be continued lawfully. At present, however, there is no penalty for those who break the law.

The fine was going to be a mere €11 (£9) but there was stiff opposition to the law, not least because several independent magazine tests suggested that many breathalysers were inaccurate. The French government has indefinitely postponed enforcement but to save face has left the law in place. The outcome is that while drivers are required to have a working breathalyser on board, there is no consequence if they don’t.

In France breathalysers are commonly available for the price of €2 for two, so it’s not a bad idea to pick up a pack next time you are there — should you be stopped by the gendarmes you will at least be seen to be complying with road rules.

Note that the maximum permitted concentration of alcohol in the blood of drivers on French roads is 0.5mg/ml, as opposed to the UK’s considerably more tolerant 0.8mg/ml. 

Article originally appeared in "The Sunday Times" Driving supplement.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Did you know you can get half price "France" Calendars here...

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

With the Christmas approaching, sellers often wonder if they should keep their properties on the market or take them off? Or if they haven't put the property on the market yet, should they wait until the New Year? maybe hold off until spring? - when is a good time to sell?

It used to be that you shouldn't even try to sell your home during the winter especially around Christmas. Potential homebuyers were too busy attending parties, cooking meals, buying presents or planning the festivities, there just isn't enough time to drive around looking at properties.

But the INTERNET, Smart-phones, iPads and Tablets are all part of this new "always-on" lifestyle, the old thinking isn't relevant anymore. The reality is - the home-buying / property-hunting season is now all year round.

Here are 3 reasons why you should consider listing your home for sale during the festive season, or even in January.

1. Today's buyers never stop looking online: Serious buyers are always looking and Christmas is no exception. Checking the latest listings on a mobile app before bed or while waiting in a queue or on the train to work, people don't shift into holiday mode until the last minute. Even during the holiday break we get many enquiries, Boxing day is one of our busiest days for new enquiries!

2. Property available (if you are selling this is your competition) is less, despite the above many sellers still believe buyers can't be bothered to look for a home around December, January and February. Sellers who have had their homes on the market often take them off during this period. The net effect is that a good stock of houses often reduces this time of year, less competition for sellers, at a time when motivated buyers are out there looking is the perfect combination for a sale!

3. Real 'ready to buy' property hunters are looking to view property regardless of what time of year it is.

Your Property not selling?

Now is the time to lower the price or change your strategy - If your property has been on the market for months, most buyers will see it as stale or overpriced and disregard it even if the competition is sparse. It is a good time to take action. Reducing the price might be what's needed to sell your home. A 'Reduction' flag on your listing attracts attention, we see these listings get up to around 30% more 'hits' than the week before.

If you received lower offers early on but were not ready to accept them, or you keep getting the same feedback, this is a good time to show everyone that you are listening and are serious about selling.

But before you make any big changes, talk it over with us.

Don't want to be bothered during the festive season?

Then list your property in January: the thought of keeping the house clean, going out to accommodate last-minute viewings can be a hassle. If so, consider listing your property after New Year's Day but talk to us now so we can get things organised so you can... hit the floor running!

It may be cold in most places in January, the leaves are off the trees and landscaping is dead. Many sellers wait until the spring instead, a more conventional time to sell BUT we know that 'serious' buyers like to see property and areas where they plan to live in at the worst time of year! why? well they figure that if they like it on a cold, wet and miserable January day then it must be paradise in July with the sun beating down!

Some buyers are also motivated to search for a home in January because of year-end tax planning.

Whatever the buyers' motivation, for sellers it means one thing: Demand for homes can increase at a time when property stock is traditionally low and that means if you're ready to sell, you'll have an even more "captive" audience during the changeover from one year to the next and all the way through January than at any other time of the year.

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

House prices fell in France by 1.1% on an annual basis in the second quarter of 2013 but there is a wide variation on a regional basis, according to latest figures reported by Notaires.

And an analysis from ratings agency Standard & Poor’s says that prices in France will continue falling next year due to an expected increase in interest rates and hikes in property tax and Notaires fees.

The figures from the Notaires shows that the Pas de Calais saw the biggest fall in the figures for apartments, which do not include new builds, with a fall of 10.l7% followed by the Indre and Loire, down 8.9% and the Loire down 7.4%.

Meurthe and Moselle saw the biggest climb in apartment prices, up 10.6%, while prices in Les Landes were up 8.9% and in Herault up 5.1%. Herault also saw the biggest rise in house prices, up 11.7%, followed by Meurthe and Moselle with house price growth of 7%. The biggest fall in house prices was in Gard and Calvados, down 6.7% and 5.7% respectively.

In cities Montpellier, Strasbourg and Lyon saw prices increases of 5% while prices were down 8.8% in St Etienne, down 6.4% in Grenoble, and 6% in Nice.

In the 12 months to the end of June sales of existing homes were down 13% year on year but they have been climbing every month in 2013. But again there are regional variations with the Ile de France and Paris suburbs seeing sales increase by 10% and 5% respectively.

The Notaires report also shows that fewer new homes are being built. Planning permits fell by 13.5% year on year to the end of August and new starts were down 11.1%. But the decline has been accelerating. 

Meanwhile, the property market in France is unlikely to improve in the coming year. European housing markets are set to stabilise in 2014 except in France, according to an analysis report from Standard & Poor’s. It says that an expected rise in market interest rates is going to keep the French housing market subdued.

The report predicts that the fall in housing prices will accelerate next year to 4% from an estimate of 3% this year. Low interest rates have compensated for the declining solvency of French home buyers in recent years, said S&P, and buyers will also feel the hit of higher taxes on property sales next year.

It also noted that French housing prices have held up relatively well since global economic crisis began in 2008, with sales volumes declining more than price.

‘The modest correction so far means that homes remain expensive in terms of affordability’ S&P said, citing an estimate by a French mortgage insurance group that the market is still overvalued by about 15%.

Coupled with a stronger sterling performance it is certainly a good time to buy property in France.

Regular visitors will have noticed the new "header image" on the website which went live today (29.11.2013).

The reason behind it is to show visitors to the website just how much of France we have property for sale in now - the regions in blue! at the top of every page.

From humble beginnings of 1 agent (Sharon Evans) with 1 property in Mayenne for sale all those years ago, to over 7000 properties for sale today with around 100 agents in 14 regions of France.

Our latest agents in:

Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Midi-Pyrennes and Provence Alpes-Cote dAzur

Join our more established regions of:

Upper Normandy, Picardy, Aquitaine, Centre, Ile de France and Nord Pas de Calais.

Who joined our original regions of:

Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charentes

We are always growing and the next 'boost' of properties will be in the ever popular region of Limousin with new agent and properties coming on-line next week.

Blog submitted by: Simon at The French Property Network - Cle France.