Clé France

Client's Question: “I’d like to start a small gardening business when I move to France, just to top up my income, but I’ve heard that it’s really costly and complicated. What advice can you give me?"

It is true that setting up a small business in any country can be a bit daunting, but even more so if you don’t speak the language or understand the system. Fortunately the process has been made more accessible and simpler, with the introduction in January 2009 of the Auto-entrepreneur regime.

You could make it even easier by talking to Premier Property Care about starting up a new franchised region in their network, working with clients and looking after their holiday homes and gardens.

Prior to this a small business was charged a maximum fixed percentage of their turnover in social charges. This meant that a small business would have faced high social charges, with a yearly increase for the first three years, regardless of whether any income had actually been made, making it much more difficult to get a new business off the ground, and virtually excluding people like yourself who just wanted a little extra money. Instead under the auto-entrepreneur system you will pay a percentage of actual turnover in social charges and French income tax; in other words if you earn nothing there will be nothing to pay (apart from some small essential charges). In addition you will be exempt from income tax for the first 3 years.

Further details on the auto-entrepreneur system can be found on the following site: www.auto-entrepreneur.fr.

The regime is available to a large variety of activities including providers of services, including those that are commercial in nature, such as sales, bar/restaurant and accommodation owners. It also applies to liberal professionals, including health professionals, legal professionals, surveyors, journalists, accountants, the retired, students and entrepreneurs.

If your business activity is service-based should expect to pay 23% of their annual turnover, whilst those selling goods 13%. There is no VAT registration to worry about, but there is a limit on turnover under this regime of €80,000 for commercial businesses and €32,000 for service professionals.

This regime will be ideal for the self-employed, including British expats or retirees like yourself looking to make a little extra income from home.

Blog submitted by: Sharon at Cle France.

Legal Disclaimer: The Clé France website publishes articles and client questions & responses for free, they are for general information purposes only. They do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should not act or rely solely upon the information contained therein. Copyright © 2013 Clé France. All Rights Reserved.

Client's Question: “I’d like to take my dog on holiday to France this year, but have heard that it takes a year to get a pet passport. What do I have to do, and does the process really take that long?”

The Pet Passport allows you to take domestic pets such as dogs and cats out of the U.K and then return without the need for a period of quarantine. If you intend to travel with your pet it is essential to follow the procedure correctly in order to avoid the unnecessary and stressful separation from your beloved family pet that quarantine would bring.

Firstly the pet must be microchipped with an ISO standard microchip, prior to rabies vaccination. Then the animal will be vaccinated against rabies with an approved vaccine, the microchip having been read by a vet just prior to giving the vaccine.

One month later the animal will then receive a blood tested, with the microchip having been read by a vet, to check that the pet has responded favourably to the vaccine and that there are sufficient antibodies against rabies. If the vaccine has no taken it will have to be given again in order to obtain a good result.

The passport can now be issued BUT the date of entry into the UK cannot be earlier than 6 months after the blood test was taken. The passport can be issued before a blood test is taken, but it is not valid for re-entry to the UK. You can have the blood test done in France at a later date.

So for instance, if you began the process on January 1st with the microchipping and the vaccine, the pet would have the blood test on the 1st February, and if the results were good would be able to enter the U.K on or after the 1st August.

You are therefore advised to allow at least 8 months for the process.  

Blog submitted by: Sharon at Cle France.

Legal Disclaimer: The Clé France website publishes articles and client questions & responses for free, they are for general information purposes only. They do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should not act or rely solely upon the information contained therein. Copyright © 2013 Clé France. All Rights Reserved.

Let us take a look at the delightful town of Bagnoles de l'Orne in Lower Normandy (dept. 61, Orne).

Bagnoles de l'Orne is a long established resort in the south of the Orne department of Normandy, south-west from Argentan and east of Domfront. It is the only Spa Town in Normandy and has an air of the exclusivity about it.

The town has a number of good restaurants and plenty of useful shops and other facilities. Leisure pursuits in Bagnoles include tennis and golf, and of course, thermal baths and treatments.

The town developed and prospered as a health resort around its thermal spa waters and grand buildings such as the 'Grand Hotel' as well as the picturesque lake, gardens, riverside walks, cascades and forest as well as many other attractions including good sports facilities.

As a consequence Bagnoles de l'Orne has a great deal of interesting 19th century architecture to enjoy, and its position in the Andaines Forest adds to the appeal of Bagnoles. It has successfully attracted tourists for well over 100 years and continues to be a popular destination. The spa waters are still a big attraction, click on some of the links on this page to find out more about the thermes-bagnoles  and the many health and relaxation options available if you are visiting to relax and unwind. Tales of their amazing restorative powers include an ageing monk being given the power to leap from the highest rocks above the town and the story of a horse recovering from the brink of death.

Apart from the spa waters it is perhaps the fine examples of the "belle-epoque" (approx 1884-1914) architecture that Bagnoles de l'Orne is best known for. Particularly fine examples can be found in the "quartier belle-epoque" towards the south of the town.

The "belle-epoque" style came to an abrupt end with the First World War, to be replaced when the war ended by the new "art-deco" style, also very well represented in Bagnoles. During the "Roaring Twenties" this part of town grew up as a result of the rapid growth in popularity of the thermal leisure industry. The "bright young things" came to Bagnoles for entertainment on a level previously unknown in this quiet yet affluent town. The casino, concert and dance halls were built, along with facilities for horse racing and golf.

Art Deco was "the style" and it  was all the rage in this era and in Bagnoles! The most obvious example is the Casino next to the lake, as well as the Church of Saint John the Baptist built around the same time which is also worth a visit.

The oldest part of Bagnoles de l'Orne is the "Quartier Tessé"  and we recommend leisurely stroll to take in its history. The region around the town includes a large forested area (Andaines Forest), and is very popular with cyclists and walking enthusiats enjoying the Normandy countryside.

Close by is the medieval town of Domfront with its charmingly streets, well worth a visit on market day. The 15th century town of Lassay les Châteaux (dept. 53 Pays de la Loire) previously featured on our site is also well worth a visit. The floral town of St Fraimbault (dept.61 Normandy) is also a must as during the summer the whole village is bedecked with flowers, culminating in a weekend festival during August.

Property in the town itself is generally more expensive than property outside of the town, because Bagnoles is a popular town in which to live and offers good services and amenities. The area near Bagnoles is becoming more and more popular with foreign buyers; we predict prices are set to rise as it grows in popularity. So call us to make arrangements for viewing sooner rather than later!

 The Spa at Bagnoles de l'Orne.

 Casino and Lake.

 Hotel de Ville.

 Bagnoles de l'Orne from the air.

Blog submitted by: David at Cle France.

Client's Question: “We have been renting in Gers but are looking to buy a permanent home here. We have found our perfect property through a local agent and have been on a viewing with them to see it. However, since then we have heard through the grapevine that the vendors of the property are willing to sell it privately for a lower fee. How does the buying process work in terms of an agent having exclusivity over you once you’ve used their services? And would it ultimately be better for us to buy the property through an agent, rather than buy it privately, anyway?”

 There are two aspects to consider here, the first is the legal obligation of both yourself and the vendor. When an agent accompanies you to view a property he will ask you to sign a ‘bon de visite’. This will contain his agency details, your details and the reference numbers of the properties you are to view. The ‘bon de visite’ states that you will not approach directly the vendors of any of the properties you are to view within a given period, usually 12 months following the date of the visit.

In order for the agent to present the property for sale, the vendor will have signed a mandate with the agent, which specifies such details as selling price, agency commission, the buildings and land that are to be included in the sale and the terms and conditions of the contract between vendor and agent. These will include a clause which states that during a specified period the vendor is not to deal directly with any client the agent has previously introduced. Should a sale be agreed either privately or through another agent or notaire, the vendor is obliged under the terms and conditions of the mandate to provide the agent with the name of the buyer and the details of the notaire who will be preparing the sale documents. Should the owners decide to proceed with you on a private sale basis, they will be in breach of their mandate, and the agent will be entitled to sue the vendors for his commission.

 The second consideration is the value of the agent’s service. A good French agent will prepare the initial contract, the ‘compromis de vente’. He will guide you through the sale to completion, accompany you to the notaire’s office for signing, assist with the transfer of utilities as well as be a mine of information on local trades people, local facilities, schools etc. For a buyer with perhaps limited French, buying in an unfamiliar foreign system this support is invaluable. Whilst private sales are common amongst the French, it is a huge undertaking for anyone to negotiate their way through legal paperwork, particularly without the very highest level of expertise in the language.

 After all, when you buy property in your own country, you ensure that you have all the advice that is available; buying abroad is no different.      

Blog submitted by: Sharon at Cle France.

Legal Disclaimer: The Clé France website publishes articles and client questions & responses for free, they are for general information purposes only. They do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should not act or rely solely upon the information contained therein. Copyright © 2013 Clé France. All Rights Reserved.

Client's Question: "My husband and I are planning on moving out to France as it’s always been a dream of ours. We have three children aged 3, 6 and 12 and would want to send them to local schools if possible – we’re just a little worried about how easy it will be for them to integrate into school life as none of them speak good French. It’s the only thing stopping us at the moment, so any advice would be great.”

 Your two youngest children should have no difficulty in settling well. The three year old will be starting in the nursery section, and the 6 year old will start in 'Cours Préparatoire', which is the year pupils start to read and write, so the timing is good. You might like to enquire about any additional language support for your 6 year old, sometimes even small primary schools can offer some additional after school help.

That said, most children moving at this age don’t really need it, the teacher will be best able to advise. You will probably find that they are listening to what is going on around them for the first three or so months, and it is after this point that they start chatting away quite happily at around 6 months.

The local school is always a good choice where possible, as it facilitates the integration of the whole family into the community. The school and its social events are at the centre of village life, and there will be all sorts of opportunities for you to socialise and join in, from simply seeing other parents at the school gate, to serving at the school barbecue and volunteering your services to the Parents’ Association.

It is always a little more difficult moving older children. Your 12 year old would normally be in either her first or second year of 'collège' (11-15 yrs), depending on when in the year her birthday falls. School work is obviously more challenging at this stage, and she would probably be held back a year. There is no stigma attached to this, it is common practice in French schools to ensure that pupils reach the required standard before moving on to the next educational cycle. It would be a good idea to seek out some additional French tuition, if possible before you move, and then continue with that once you arrive.

However, with your older child you might like to consider other options than the local 'collège', depending on what is available to you in your area. International schools are either based on the American or English curriculum, and would offer the opportunity to continue studying in English as well as French, and therefore ease the transition. The student population of some international schools may be somewhat 'transient' though, as pupils sometimes attend for limited periods of time, say 2/3 years, so the social impact of that might be something to consider.

Blog submitted by: Sharon at Cle France.