Inside Sir Ridley Scott's Provençal paradise The acclaimed British film director talks exclusively to The Connexion about his Vaucluse home, the wine he makes there and how French history has inspired his work
Which items are included in the French electronic goods repair scheme? It is not only for handheld electrical devices such as phones
Radon gas in France: where is this and how dangerous is it? Produced from the natural decay of uranium, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer
practical How does France’s new home renovation scheme for the over-70s work? New MaPrimeAdapt’ scheme will partly finance projects to help people stay independent for longer
Do I have to update my carte de séjour if French street name changes? Changes are mandatory if you move for those with certain permits
Tips to help avoid chimney fires as numbers increase in France Correct wood, regular upkeep; we look at what you can do to reduce the risk
Couple in court for homeschooling son without permission in France ‘We are not separatists, we are not dangerous,’ say the couple, who have been supported by homeschooling associations
Tourist lets, ‘cheap’ chateaux, gutter rules: French property round-up Our recap of recent property articles that you might have missed
Can I keep partner's ashes at home with me in France? There are laws in place which set out how ashes must be treated
Price changes, rental strife, tax explainer: French property round-up Our pick of recent property articles that you might have missed
Seven key trends in new French property market data Property ‘euphoria’ is at an end in France, reveals notaires’ report
Couple land French tax bill after developers’ ‘completion date error’ In addition, they should have been exempt as their property was a new-build
How do I change my carte de séjour address when moving in France? The application involves the declaration of a ‘change of situation’ and is not seen as a card renewal
Plumbers, locksmiths: how to avoid scams with urgent repairs in France Tradespeople are highly regulated - even in emergency situations
How much has home insurance gone up in your part of France? Plus we share tips on how to keep your premiums down
Village in west France halves housing land prices to attract newcomers The building plots are being sold at just €7.50 in the remote village, after the Mairie has struggled to attract newcomers for the past 10 years
Broken lawnmower: can I drive to get new one? Reader question: Our lawnmower has broken. Can I drive to the nearest town (35kms away) which has a dealer selling machines to choose which to buy?
France lockdown: Can I visit from the UK to help my parents? Helping elderly parents is considered a valid reason for travel in France.
Home exchange bookings in France are back at pre-Covid levels Paris is still the most popular destination but Lyon and Strasbourg are moving up and exceeding pre-Covid figures
France to simplify squatter eviction for second home owners Evicting illegal squatters from your property is set to become easier in France as the government works to simplify and speed up the process for both main and second homes.
Homesharing schemes in France bridge divide between the generations Schemes offering students cheap, or even free, rooms in the homes of elderly people or families in return for companionship or help in the house are growing in popularity
Hotel bed linen gets a second life in novel French recycling company Edwige Ciria travelled the world staying in luxury hotels on business trips spotted a gap in the market for the linen they use in their bedrooms and bathrooms and on tables
House buyers in France warned over notaire money transfer scam Criminals are hacking the email accounts of notaires and then sending out emails to clients asking for money to be transferred
French tax office begins to use aerial shots to find undeclared pools The measure is also targeting home extensions in nine departments before being used throughout France in 2022
Taxe foncière property tax in France: What exemptions exist? This tax is payable by property owners but individuals can benefit from an exemption or reduction depending on their situation and the nature of the building or land
Half price home insurance scheme expands to Paris The capital will be following the example set by Nantes but what should you be paying for your ‘assurance habitation’ and is it obligatory?
Landowner in France left with €40,000 costs after squatters evicted Multiple families occupied the site in Nantes for more than a year before leaving in August. We look at new laws around squatting in France and what to do if it happens to you
Who still has to pay taxe d’habitation in France and until when? Payments for main homes now relate to income but the tax may have risen for second homes depending on where the property is located
Family transform 13th century French chapel into quirky holiday rental Artist has spent seven years renovating Chapelle Saint-Jean in the Eure-et-Loir - you won’t get wifi, but there will be some very special stained glass
Working from home: France’s new employer rules Since June 9, companies have only been allowed to ask staff to come in for a ‘minimal number of days per week’, but now companies will have the freedom to set their own requirements
MaPrimeRénov’: Over 170,000 homes benefit from green renovation grant The scheme can be used to finance insulation, heating, ventilation or energy auditing work
France’s first low-cost 'flat pack' wooden house under construction The eco-friendly home can be assembled in less than two weeks and is put together piece by piece, much like historical timber-frame homes in Alsace
A guide to how to arrange home help in France How to get help in the home from daily tasks such as ironing and gardening to assistance with household members and more
Underground world: Explore the oldest troglodyte site in France In the 18th century, half the inhabitants of the small town of Doué-la-Fontaine in the Loire lived underground
How to change your address in France An online French government form informs multiple bodies at once - social security offices, EDF and Engie, the tax office and more - of your change of address
Why your address in France may change Only communes with more than 2,000 residents in France currently have to create a list of addresses with street names and numbers, but this is set to change
How to get financial help to purchase a stairlift in France Tax credits for 25% of the cost are available with a ceiling of €5,000 for a single person and €10,000 for a couple
France lockdown: What form is required to go out? Attestation forms for leaving the house return as France goes back into confinement tonight. This time there are three different forms
Introducing Le Collectionist, the luxury rental home company Le Collectionist: It’s not an ‘Airbnb for the rich’ but a luxury home experience...
Brittany: Homebuyers sign contracts accepting country life A new clause in contracts for homebuyers in Morbihan confirms they will accept the sights, sounds and smells of country life
Must I inform the mairie when I buy a home in France? We explain whether registering at the mairie is a legal obligation, or just a good idea, when you move into a new commune in France
Understanding electricity in French homes: DIY tips Nick Inman charts the ups and downs of renovating an old French farmhouse. In the September print edition, he talks about how you can get to grips with French electricity.
Videos: One missing as flash floods batter south of France One person is missing and cars and vehicles have been dragged away after flash flooding and torrential rain hit the south of France last night (Saturday September 19).
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.
Covid restrictions stopping Britons buying French property More Britons are inquiring about property in France this year compared to last – but Covid-19 travel restrictions are stopping them travelling across to buy.
Property in France post-Covid: Outdoor space a priority House buyers in France are still prioritising urban centres despite predictions that countryside homes would become more popular after confinement - although balconies and terraces are becoming more sought after.
France confinement: Are DIY goods ‘necessary items’? Since confinement was imposed in France on March 17, and all “non-essential” shops were closed, there have been further questions about what police consider “essential”. We answer a question on DIY goods.
Covid-19 in France: The shops and brands still trading A number of brands in France - including Nicolas, Interflora, and Castorama - are finding creative ways to continue serving customers in safety despite the government-ordered shutdown.
French couple look to Europe in fight for treetop home A couple living in a tree house plan to go to the European Court of Justice to defend their right to continue living in their cabin.
French MPs suggest public service to combat bed bugs There could soon be a public service in France dedicated to helping people get rid of bed bugs, after two cross-party MPs suggested the idea.
France warned over rise of costly building scams Scams by emergency builders, plumbers and locksmiths are on the rise in France - with the average scam bill reaching as much as €3,000 - the national fraud office has warned.
Homeowners in France warned over €1 insulation offers Homeowners in France have been warned again about the risks of having housing insulation done for just €1, as the offer continues to circulate.
Paris mayor warns Olympics of Airbnb sponsor ‘risks’ The mayor of Paris has warned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of the “risks” of short-term rental firm Airbnb, after the company was announced as a new sponsor of the Olympics Games.
French nun refused retirement home space due to habit A Catholic nun in France has been stopped from taking up her place in a retirement home after she refused to stop wearing her religious habit as a condition for living there.
We beat Brexit deadline to move to France A YOUNG couple from Yorkshire have realised their dream of buying a barn to convert – completing the purchase in France just a month before the October 31 Brexit deadline.
Famous French countryside cockerel gathers support Maurice, the most famous cockerel in France - who has become a symbol of the struggle between rural and urban living - will be supported by several other cockerels during his trial this Thursday (July 4).
Finding your interiors entente cordiale Lucy Haywood reveals how her passion for ‘Country Brocante’ style draws on vintage inspiration from both France and the UK, and also explores a cross-Channel interiors amalgam
Simplicity is key to this spiritual retreat In her new book, Henrietta Heald looks at the elegant art of living in the French style. Here she explains her creative inspiration and presents one of the featured homes, located in the Luberon
European white goods reclassified on new energy scale White goods sold in France (and the EU) from March 2021 are to feature an updated “energy rating” sticker, with the current classifications of “A+”, “A++” and “A+++” replaced by a new scale from A to G.
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.
Why do Parisian doors lock themselves? Two events all Parisians dread: receiving a Registered Letter Return Receipt Requested, and locking themselves out of their apartments.
Couture chic of Dior’s country retreat Maureen Footer reveals how the Provençal hideaway of fashion designer Christian Dior inspired his work
Deal, no deal, no Brexit? 2019 will be a big year This will be a significant year for Britons in France – from the start of a new tax system to (it is hoped) the long-awaited end of the 15-year voting rule for British elections, and a fast-approaching Brexit day (assuming it is not all called off). We look at some of the changes in store for France this year
Homes in France at high burglary risk pre-Christmas Homeowners and residents in France are being warned that houses are at particular risk of burglary and theft in the run up to Christmas.
Renovating a rural home in France Author Josephine Ryan explores a renovated rural home and finds plenty of inspiration for antique buys
From 2018, get €3 000 to replace your old fuel boiler A new scheme giving homeowners up to €3 000 towards replacing their oil-burning fuel boilers with a wood-burning or gas alternative will come into force from 2018.
France on bed bug alert after suspected Rentrée spread France is on bed bug alert after the insect has been found spreading across Île-de-France in particular, following the return from holidays earlier this month.
Another French commune rules against Linky meters Residents in Blagnac (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie) are now legally allowed to refuse the installation of Linky energy meters in their homes, a French court has ruled.
Our story: moving to Aveyron from the UK Oliver Ellis and Lucy Ellis-Howell tell us how their yoga retreat has its natural home in Aveyron
French homes receive 28kg of paper ads per year The average household in France receives more than two kilos of publicity material posted through their letterbox per month, yet only one in five has used a government “stop adverts” service that could help.
Homeowner in French town takes revenge on bad tenants A homeowner in a small French town has received overwhelming support after he dumped a lorry full of rubbish and old furniture left by his former tenants, in front of their new property.
Lighthouse home with pool and sauna on sale for €1.5m An old Breton lighthouse that has been completely renovated into a six-person studio and home, complete with pool and sauna, is on sale for €1.56 million.
Paris Ritz auction items to go on public display Over 10,000 precious items set to be auctioned from the Paris Ritz hotel will go on public display this April 12-16, with prices ranging from €80 for a candlestick to €10,000 for two marble gaslights from the old hotel entrance corridor.
New ideas to aid homeless emerge as cold snap persists New initiatives to help homeless people shelter from the cold have emerged - including a pop-up “igloo” by a Bordeaux inventor - as the country continues to shiver in sub-zero temperatures.
