Thousands of jobs lost as new building permits plummet in France In the south constructions have dropped by almost a third
French renovation firms invented 鈥榥orms鈥� to con homeowners into work Victims lost an average of 鈧�8,000 but some lost much more
Do we need planning permission to install chimney in French home? The layout of your home determines whether and what permission is needed
practical What are the rules for demolishing and rebuilding property in France? Matthew Cameron, partner with Ashtons Legal, answers a reader query
Couple who built a straw bale house in France share their one regret The Britons have reduced their annual energy bills to 鈧�500 by living off-grid and want to pass on the lessons they have learnt
Number of building permits issued in France continues to fall Nearly 30% fewer permits were granted in the past 12 months compared to a peak in 2022; new build projects also remain low
Renovating a French property: be aware of planning rules before buying Rules and restrictions can vary from region to region. Helen Fullerton of Ashtons Legal answers a reader query
Which materials have gone up the most for home renovation in France? Overall, building work has risen by 9% in cost, with concrete prices specifically up 21%
Help! We opened a vintage horsebox and pig barn gite in the Normandy countryside The couple, who feature in the UK Channel 4 show Help! We Bought a Village, are rebuilding a French hamlet they bought for 鈧�26,000
More than 100 French areas newly added to coastal erosion risk list The communes will be subject to stricter planning controls and have access to government aid to mitigate the threat
Couple fight buyer鈥檚 鈧�140,000 repairs claim for self-built French home The buyer has taken the British couple to court over a missing 10-year builder鈥檚 guarantee on the DIY property
Botched repairs on historic French bridge to be redone by same builder A building company is told to try again after work on the damaged thirteenth century bridge left locals shocked and disappointed
Do all property extensions in France require an architect? If you are planning property alterations, we look at what circumstances you will need to engage an architect
Wrong details on French property form may be due to missing paperwork A change of use or building work form may not have been filed resulting in inaccurate descriptions on the new property declaration
France building laws: Do I need planning permission for a treehouse? Much will depend on the size of the structure and whether your property is in a protected area
DIY in France: Fixing garden wall is opportunity to study old methods Writer Nick Inman鈥檚 main challenge in rebuilding his orchard perimeter was replicating the old mortar
DIY: Buying wood board for French property renovation can be minefield Writer Nick Inman explains how he has learned to navigate bewildering builders鈥� merchants and what you need to ask for
When can a French business charge you for a quote? It may not be the norm in France, but most companies are allowed to charge for a quote, except those in certain industries
Extra house building banned on residential island near Paris The ministry has given special protection to Ile Fanac, in the Marne river, which is already a car-free zone
Building a house in France solves wrong home, right location conundrum A reader explains how a new-build on her existing plot has let her carry on living in the Dordogne village she loves
French farmhouse DIY on a budget: Quick bathroom makeover ideas Writer Nick Inman explains how a daring new colour scheme brought seaside chic to the space
DIY: Upcycling pallets keeps costs down on French farmhouse renovation Ladders, gabions and even a bar are among thrifty and creative ideas for repurposing wooden pallets
Second home hotspots, pergolas, cracks: Five French property updates We also look into one family鈥檚 three-year battle for planning permission to build a home on land they bought - only to find much of it has since been re-classed as non constructible
Can tradespeople in France raise price of job after signing a quote? With building material costs increasing, we look at whether an artisan can revise estimates after an agreement has already been reached
Our green home made from tyres is part of us, says family in France They started building their eco house, called an 'earthship', four years ago and now live off the grid in Dordogne
French builders look to be able to revise quotes with rising prices Building and decorating firms propose adding a clause to quotes if prices for raw materials continue to increase
Village in west France halves housing land prices to attract newcomers The building plots are being sold at just 鈧�7.50 in the remote village, after the Mairie has struggled to attract newcomers for the past 10 years
French home renovation: Must I replace bath with a walk-in shower? A new law means it must be possible to put a walk-in shower into all newly built homes to help elderly and people with disabilities. We look at which properties this covers
A father and son鈥檚 dream to build a Gothic masterpiece in France An American who took up stone-carving in his sixties 鈥� and is now 97 鈥� is part way through building a Gothic masterpiece in the French countryside to house the 9,000 pieces he has carved so far
Dordogne authorities warn against British workmen鈥檚 cheap tarmac scam A group of UK nationals are approaching local residents and businesses selling 鈥榙iscount鈥� tarmacking work, which turns out to be of poor quality
'We are building the world鈥檚 fastest Viking ship to sail France - US' Four engineers from Toulouse, all friends from childhood, are attempting to build the world鈥檚 fastest drakkar Viking ship 鈥� and plan to sail it from France to New York
'I built my A-frame home in France for 鈧�35,000' Architect Elizabeth Faure's project was captured by a 90-minute documentary and it has attracted more than 100,000 views online
60,000 French insurance contracts cancelled as firm closes The liquidation of Elite Insurance has left 60,000 private and professional clients in France without construction insurance as of September 15, 2020.
France: Law against phone cold calling in place from today From today (September 1) companies and individuals can no longer make telephone cold calls offering eco-friendly home renovation services in France. Those who do face sanctions.
French homeowners warned of new 鈥榚co鈥� insulation scam Homeowners in France are being warned of a new scam, which is similar to the infamous 鈥溾偓1 interior insulation鈥� scam, but this time concerns exterior walls and 鈥渆co-friendly鈥� insulation renovations.
Make sense of ... building a new home in France It may seem daunting but having your own home built for you from scratch in France is a realistic alternative to buying an existing property
Homeowners in France warned over 鈧�1 insulation offers Homeowners in France have been warned again about the risks of having housing insulation done for just 鈧�1, as the offer continues to circulate.
French ruin ch芒teau Rothschild to be restored to glory The 19th century ch芒teau Rothschild, in the Paris suburbs, and which once belonged to a banker to Napoleon III, is to be restored to its original state after lying derelict for almost 40 years.
We built our off-grid French straw house for 鈧�30,000 A three-day course on how to build a straw house on a foundation of old tyres helped a British couple with no construction experience create their own home in France.
French eco-designer presses for return of earth bricks Industrial designer Etienne Gay could not find a machine to make high-insulating compressed earth bricks
France passes Notre Dame restoration law A new law setting out the definitive reconstruction plan for the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris has been passed by the French government.
Tallest ever 鈥榚co鈥� wooden building opens in France The tallest apartment building ever to be made almost entirely of wood in France has opened in Strasbourg, aiming to show the eco-friendliness of the construction method.
What self-build dreamers in France need to know People decide to build new houses or convert barns for many different reasons.
Homeowners in France warned on insulation work scam Homeowners in France are warned to be alert to poor quality home improvement work by unqualified builders - especially for low-cost, energy-saving wall insulation - which can lead to expensive repairs.
More revealed on illegal 鈧�57m Provence Ch芒teau Diter More details have come to light on how the Ch芒teau Diter - the 鈧�57m C么te d鈥橝zur ch芒teau that French authorities have ordered to be torn down - was able to grow to such an extent in the first place.
What changes in France in March 2019 Changes for March include a shift in the kind of eco-friendly home improvement works eligible for an interest-free loan, a rise in cigarette prices, and new rules on scooter licences and workplace equality.
DIY in France: ladders and scaffolding Mistakes and ladders... building a new life as a budding artisan. Some buyers fear renovation but others welcome it... our writer Nick Inman has a foot in both camps, as he tells in this first of a series of articles
Building a new life as a budding artisan Some buyers fear renovation but others welcome it... our writer Nick Inman has a foot in both camps, as he tells in this first of a series of articles
Chateau鈥檚 owners lose fight to halt wind farm Owners of a chateau have lost a bid to withdraw a wind farm鈥檚 planning permission - because being able to see the turbines was not a good enough reason to object.
Summer slump leads to 12.1% fall in new-builds House-building slumped over the first half of 2018 with just 119,900 building permits approved between May and July... a fall of 12.1% on 2017.
Wood: the growing building material of the future Builders are using cross-lamin颅ated timber (CLT) to replace concrete as the key material in modern construction with wooden buildings rising across the country, from Stras颅bourg to Paris, Le Havre, Nice and Bordeaux.
Rules to build a loggia on our balcony in France Our flat has a large balcony and we would like to enclose it with a loggia to make an 鈥榦utside room鈥� 鈥� what are the rules? F.M.
Old church transformed into cultural events centre A 19th century church in the Nord that was threatened with demolition has been transformed into a 鈥渃ultural beacon鈥�, including entertainment and events areas, concert space, and even a small hotel.
鈧�250 million airport expansion scheme France's fifth busiest airport is set to undergo some serious changes
Planning restrictions for building conservatories If we add a conservatory to our house in Brittany we can give ourselves a bit of extra space to enjoy our garden... but we would need to know more about any possible planning restrictions and, apart from the costs, if there is a financial impact. Can you help? J.M.
Legal formalities of building wall with neighbour We have spoken to our neighbours about building a dividing wall between our two properties and they are in agreement. They have said they will share costs as it will allow us both to grow plants to improve our properties. Are there any legal formalities, such as registering it with the notaire? L.N.
Nantes house built by onsite 3D printer is world first A house in Nantes is being partially constructed by 3D printer, making it the first of its kind in the world destined to be lived in by real residents, and to be built by a robot actually on location.
French tap water still 鈥榟as too much lead鈥�, says study There are still too-high levels of lead in French tap water, and reducing it should continue to be an urgent public health priority, according to a new report today.
Average cost of French self-built home now 鈧�294,000 The average cost of building your own house in France is now 鈧�294,000, a significant rise compared to last year, despite the decrease in actual average floor space.
Bad workmanship is No1 problem with builders Anyone having building work done, whether a new-build house, extension, new roof or double glazing, fears there will be problems ahead, although most work is completed without any hitches.
Contesting plans to build houses alongside our garden We bought the land that our house is on from a farmer 11 years ago. Now he wants to sell plots beside our garden, with houses that will take away our view and privacy. Do we have rights? A.C.
Call for mandatory builder contracts as disputes rise Consumers are calling on local authorities in France to make it compulsory for builders and other workers to sign specific written contracts, after an increase in malpractice lawsuits and disputes.
New Earthship prepares to land in the Dordogne A new 鈥楨arthship鈥� is coming to France, after the ecological home company of the same name began construction in Biras, in the Dordogne.
Be alert to new 鈥榓nglo-saxon鈥� tarmac scam in Grand Est Residents in Moselle, Meuse and Vosges are being warned of a building scam involving male builders with 鈥榓nglo-saxon鈥� accents who come to tarmac your property.
Beware: Even Velux windows need permission Making some changes to your house in France? Remember than even small things like adding a Velux window need permission
Toulouse tower dominates Canal du Midi Skyscraper will have views across to the Pyrenees as gateway to city鈥檚 business sector
How far should you trust a builder's 10-year guarantee? Planning a building project and making sure it gets done properly and that problems are quickly resolved should become easier with recent changes to the 10-year warranty ( garantie d茅cennale) that all builders are obliged to take out.
France plans 'forest' of wooden high-rises Move to create new industry with 36 towers to be built - including the world's largest wooden residential building
