If you’re dreaming of moving to France, a place in the sun, a relaxed pace of life, street markets brimming with fresh seasonal and local produce, sitting at a café watching the world go by with a glass of local wine or cider, vineyard visits on the doorstep, great healthcare and a wonderfully diverse landscape including snowy mountains, silky beaches and glorious countryside – well then, we can help you!

The French Property Show is aimed at serious buyers looking to make the move to France in the near future. The next show will be at Cheltenham Racecourse in the Historic Hall of Fame on April 12 and 13, 2025. The venue is easy to get to and has free parking.

Here are 15 reasons to head to the best French property exhibition in the UK – The French Property Show – to help makes those dreams come true.

We’re even giving away 100 free tickets! Click here to get yours: eventbrite.co.uk/thefrenchpropertyshow and pop in the code TGLF.

Reasons The French Property Show is the best!

1. Find your dream home in France. With several estate agents (called immobiliers in France) on hand with a huge selection of properties all over France – there’s something to suit all budgets. These Immobiliers are all hand-picked by us as trusted partners.

2. All in one place: Loads of experts on hand from estate agents to visa specialists, architects, insurance agents, currency services and more. Everything you need to help you make your French property dreams come true.

3. Free seminars: Designated seminar room for presentations about the key aspects of moving to France and living in France from the experts. Seminars are short, punchy and factual: 15 minutes maximum – except for the buying in France seminar, guests then have a 15-minute open forum for Q&A’s.

4. It’s friendly – we’re not into venues where you feel like a number to be processed, stuck in a long queue. Our experts will give you the time you need and want. Tickets are weekend passes, so you can drop out and come back or even return the next day if you have unanswered questions.

5. The chance to ask any questions about moving to or living in France – we really want to help you with your move to France. We even have an in-house French Notaire who will be at the show all weekend.

6. Save money – yes, we can help you save money on your move to France! Expertise from award winning currency specialists will help you save on transferring money to – and from – France.

7. Get the low down on what’s involved in moving to France. It’s certainly not as easy as pre-Brexit but it’s absolutely doable and there are experts on hand to help to make it a smooth and stress-free process whether that’s helping you to get a visa, residency card, healthcare, school places or more. There will be two French Visa specialist companies represented at the show.

8. If you’re thinking of a new build house, or to improve the house of your dreams – architects are on hand to talk you through the process from design to planning permission.

9. Thinking of living in a chateau? Yes, us too! With several estate agents on hand to help you discover your dream chateau – or even buy a part ownership in a chateau!

10. Get help with the financial aspects of moving to France – from tax and inheritance rules to setting up a new business or working freelance, getting your pension paid and all those pressing questions we all have when moving.

11. Les Bons Voisins a leading property management company in France will be at the show. They can look after your holiday home, and there may also be opportunities to join their ever-expanding team.

12. Free buyers guide, currency guide and goodie bag – we’ll even throw in a lucky dip draw for a £500 voucher to spend on Amazon! Draw to be made at the end of April!

13. Amazing venue, the exhibition space is all on one level with easy access for wheelchairs or baby buggies etc. Sign in with our friendly reception team and receive a complimentary drink on arrival and there’s an onsite café for refreshments.

14. No ULEZ charges and/or congestion charges.

15. No parking charges. 2000 free parking spaces on site

Bonus reason: Free tickets – we’re giving away 100 free tickets – click here to bag yours: eventbrite.co.uk/thefrenchpropertyshow and pop in the code TGLF.
Find out more about The French Property Show, and get your tickets here: thefrenchpropertyshow.com

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And we’ve got 100 free tickets to give away. Get your ticket here (choose The Good Life France option): eventbrite.co.uk/frenchpropertyshow and pop in the code TGLF.

The French Property Show 2025

The Good Life France is delighted to be a partner of the French Property Show 2025. Come along and meet us as well as some of the most trusted names in French property and lifestyle services including currencies services that will definitely help you save money, several estate agents, architects to help with planning permission, pool building and design; visa specialists and experts at helping you make the move including helping to get your health care sorted, driving licence swaps etc., plus and more exhibitors being added all the time.

We will also have a hand-picked panel of specialists to assist you with your transition and to present free seminars on all aspects of moving to France. It’s the perfect place to meet the experts face to face in one place.

Meet the experts

Are you longing for a dose of southern French sunshine? Dreaming of a more laid-back way of life? Perhaps a holiday home, a new life, or a relaxed retirement? Whatever your dreams and plans, come and explore the possibilities of moving to France and get expert help and advice. Property agents are on hand to inspire with a huge range of properties available from chateaux to gorgeous village houses, properties with land, and bargain doer-uppers for keen diy-ers.

French property is surprisingly affordable, it’s not difficult to find properties that cost less than a couple of year’s rent for an average apartment in any major city in the UK. And, post-Brexit, it’s absolutely doable to move to France, albeit with a few more administrative requirements.

You’ll find all the experts you need at the French Property Show to help you negotiate the buying process, paperwork, and visas. And yes, you do need a visa now to go to France for longer than three months out of six, but once you know how it all works, you’ll find it’s just an administrative process – and there’s plenty of support and help on hand so that you can relax and enjoy the adventure.

Enjoy a one-to-one session with immigration, tax, and finance experts. And for those looking to work in France, experts will be available to talk about employment opportunities. With fibre optic roll out right across France – working from home on the internet is a growing trend!

If you’re dreaming of buying a property in or moving to France – don’t miss this show.

Your move to France – simplified and stress free

Walking to the boulangerie for your freshly baked baguette or buttery croissant, shopping at the market for local seasonal produce, sitting at a café watching the world go by, relaxing in a hot tub watching the sun set… it’s a way of life in France – and it could be your life.

The best French property show in the UK

FREE Tickets for the French Property Show

The Cheltenham Racecourse venue for the French Property Show 2025 has free parking available, and – located on the outskirts of the historic spa town, it is easily accessed from the M5. No ULEZ  charges to worry about. No parking charges.

All attendees will receive a FREE buyers guide, currency guide, and a goodie bag.

We look forward to welcome you this excellent French property exhibition and to help you make your dreams of the good life in France come true.

Get your free ticket here: eventbrite.co.uk/frenchpropertyshow and pop in the code TGLF

Find out more at: thefrenchpropertyshow.com

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How do you get peace of mind about your property when you’re not on hand? After you’ve bought a holiday home in France and started to enjoy all the benefits of spending time there, a moment comes when you may feel a little anxiety about not being on site: it could be after a storm or when workmen need to intervene. So if you’re looking for holiday home and property management in France – what do you do?

Les Bons Voisins – literally meaning ‘good neighbours’ – is a property management company that are also your professional neighbours, on hand to act on your behalf whenever you can’t be there yourself. As well as offering regular services such as caretaking and key-holding, this national network of property managers can also step in for one-off incidents and seasonal maintenance. It’s all about ensuring that the practical considerations are taken care of so that you can make the most of the best parts of owning a place in France and enjoy every minute of your time in your French home.

Practical helping hand

If you already own a second home in France, you’ll probably remember going through the excitement of house hunting and the anticipation of how you’ll spend lazy, relaxing holidays there. You’ll probably also have experienced that moment once you’re back in your everyday life in America, the UK or the Netherlands and you need to arrange maintenance on the property of your dreams in the south of France – suddenly, you feel very far away, and the logistics of organising the practicalities can seem overwhelming. With property managers in various locations, Les Bons Voisins will have a contact nearby who can step in to take that pressure off you, and just update you once everything is sorted out.

Perhaps you need to liaise with professionals for pest control and you’re not sure which is the best company to use; it could be that your septic tank needs to be emptied, or you want to organise telecoms or satellite installation, but they can only come while there’s someone on hand. But many homeowners prefer not to have to deal with workmen while they’re enjoying their holiday in France and prefer to arrange for utilities and maintenance work to happen in between visits – in which case, your property manager can be there in your place to wait for the workmen and ensure the project is completed even when you’re not there.

Often, there are seasonal maintenance projects that we don’t think about when we’re buying a home. This could be the big spring clean, a garden overhaul, or the annual chimney-sweeping visit called ramonnage that is often required by your house insurer.

Then there are one-off, ad hoc requirements that Les Bons Voisins can help with. Their property managers can offer airport transfers if you need to be picked up when you arrive or taken to the airport to catch your flight home, and they can arrange to check your property if there’s been a particularly serious storm, letting you know if there has been any damage that needs attention, or updating you in real time to reassure you that your property is safe and sound.

The managers have even been known to take on chicken-sitting duties for those homeowners who love their fresh eggs and characterful hens, but can’t always be on site to take care of them!

Key events

Finally, Les Bons Voisins are an invaluable resource for those major moments of owning a property, starting with house clearances, which might even be required after purchase, before you can move in and settle your own belongings: they will source the right professionals and ensure that the clearance proceeds smoothly. During the course of owning your holiday home in France, you might also need to move furniture out of or into the property, and again the local property managers can help you to organise this.

Finally, you might decide to move home, so how do you organise your French property and get it ready to put on the market? If you are planning to put your home on the market, it’s useful to have a property manager to hand to help you get it ready and also to ensure that it stays in peak condition for any viewings while it’s on the market, boosting the chances of a quick sale as well as increasing the chances of a higher offer.

A personal contact in key regions

While Les Bons Voisins is a national network, it operates primarily in four key regions of France. Brittany, to the northwest, has four property-management teams: Pete and Bronwyn in Finistère, Julie and Peter in central Côte d’Armor, Richard and Demz in Morbihan, and Matt and Sue in Pays d’Auray. There’s an additional team in Orne, Normandy, thanks to Nikki and Nick, who cover Orne west.

A little further down, Pays de la Loire has two teams: Steve Coles covering Mayenne northwest, Phil and Alison Robson in Maine-et-Loire

Nouvelle-Aquitaine in central and southern west of France has four teams: Tony and Maria in Charente northwest, Phil and Aimee in south Charente-Maritime, Ian and Hannah covering south Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne and Derek Tait in east Gironde.

Finally, the region of Occitania in southern France has six teams, some of whom cover parts of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, too. Pierre and Sachiko cover west Lot and southeast Dordogne, Cat works in Lot-et-Garonne and Quercy, Joe covers northeast Gers, Dan and Sarah work in northwest Aude, Serge and Rachel are in east Aude and Julie is in southeast Hérault.

Each property manager has the professional contacts, experience and availability to respond to a wide range of requirements when it comes to looking after your property.

Property peace of mind, wherever you are

While owning a property in another country can bring complications, there’s no doubting how useful it is to have a single point of contact on hand to help with any issues. Whether it’s a burst pipe, a fallen tree, a sooty chimney or a hungry brood of chickens, there’s a professional property manager nearby who can put your mind at rest. Then all you need to think about is planning your next trip to enjoy your home in France.

Find out more about Les Bons Voisins services: propertymanagementinfrance.com

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When I bought my house in France, I was, I admit clueless about – well, almost anything to do with buying a house in France. But the process of buying is actually fairly simple. The house was very cheap, like, under £75,000 cheap. And it was big, a long farmhouse in the beautiful countryside of the Seven Valleys in Pas-de-Calais northern France. It needed a lot of work. In fact 20 years later, we’re still renovating – we like to do it all ourselves. We’ve learned the skills needed for a major renovation from plumbing to bricklaying and everything in between. And one of the first jobs we planned was an extension to the kitchen. At the back of the house overlooking the garden and fields, the existing kitchen was narrow, dark and impractical, we wanted to add a small glass roofed extension, very simple, basically a 5m by 3m box. And I admit, I had no idea how to get planning permission in France.

We asked at the town hall if it was ok to add the extension. Sure they said, go ahead and they stamped a form with their official stamp. Wow, we thought, that’s easy. Then, added the mayor – oh yes, by the way, get permission from the DDT (Direction Départementale des Territoires).

We researched – the DDT were in the local ‘big town.’ They required various bits of paper including the cadastral map which shows the footprint of a property within its surroundings, plans for the extension and a few more bits and pieces. Nothing that worried us, it was after all a very simple extension. We bought some CAD software, we created professional looking drawings, took photos, made copious notes of what we wanted to do including the colour of the paint for the door. We took everything to the DDT, they accepted everything, smiled in a way that made us think we’d done well, and said they’d be in touch.

They were in touch a few weeks later. They needed more details. We supplied them.

A couple of months later – the same thing. We went back and forth, for more than two years. We had no idea what to do. Even with my reasonably good French I just couldn’t understand what we were doing wrong.

In the mayor’s office one day, we mentioned to his assistant that we were having trouble with the permission to build the extension. “Get an architect to submit the forms” she said quietly.

We were sceptical. Our plans were really professional. What could an architect do that we couldn’t? And besides, my French language skills were ok, but not great, so we were very worried about how we’d communicate what we wanted. But we were desperate. We spoke to an architect, he gave up trying to understand what we wanted on the phone and came to the house, went through our paperwork, measured things, wrote notes, redrew the plans, re-submitted and a week later contacted us, informed us why we had an issue, sorted it out and within two months we had planning permission granted.

The fact is when you’re dealing with official planning permission it boils down to having the right level of knowledge for what those granting permission need in order to satisfy themselves that they are correct to grant permission. And it’s not always clear what’s missing, or what needs to be added to make them happy. In our case, the cadastral plans differed from the plans we submitted because a previous owner had modified the building without permission.

The architect created plans for what we had (which were different to the plans we’d been given by the notaire when we bought it), applied for retrospective planning, got that granted, and then received immediate permission for the new extension. And yes my kitchen is lovely and light now!

Restrospective planning in France

My experience of buying a property where changes have been made without permission is not uncommon. The notaire who handled the buying process on our behalf did not pick up on the issue, and we had no idea whatsoever. Normally when this happens the problem only comes to light when you either need planning permission like us, or you come to sell and need to provide a planning permission certificate for works carried out if requested.

French Plans, the English-speaking architects in France, have helped many people to deal with retrospective planning permits. “It’s not at all unusual to find you have a property that has extra rooms that have never been declared, especially with older properties – always check the cadastral map against what you see before you. If there are discrepancies, you need to check them out” says architect Tom Easdown. “Our team at French Plans have lots of experience in sorting these issues out – before you buy, you can make it a condition of buying that this is resolved, but we can also help you sort it out if you’ve already bought the property. It’s not unlike the process for planning permission though we sometimes need to be creative if there are no before drawings.”

Planning permission in France

If you want to make modifications to a building from adding space to modifying living space for instance changing an attic into a bedroom – check the rules carefully, and get advice. There have been instances where homeowners carried out work without permission and have been made to return the property to its original condition.

Always check what planning permission is required – some zones have stringent planning restrictions in place, for example what colours can be used to paint the shutters of houses. Sometimes the language used in planning applications is very technical and hard to understand even if you do speak French, so having bilingual support from a team like French Plans can reduce the stress of trying to understand what you can and can’t do.

If you make modifications, there may need to be an amendment to your property tax, and you don’t want to be hit with a retrospective tax bill.

Tom at French Plans says “If the project is within the scope of the relevant planning policy it’s rare to be turned down for planning permission if you get the application right and help the planners to help you. That’s where we come in. We know what you want – and we know what they want. We pull everything together, we can help you every inch of the way, from taking your ideas and turning them into plans that will be acceptable so that you get the changes you want in a timely way and without the worry.”

Tom – I wish I had known you when I first started, it would have saved us a lot of stress!

Find out more and get help with all your property design and planning needs at frenchplans.com

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If you’d love to buy a place in France but you’re in another country, how do you go about it? We all know that the best way to grab your dream property is to be on the spot talking to the right people, but if that’s not possible, where do you start?

Iddyl Property is like a professional best friend in the French property market, actively looking on your behalf and ready to act the moment the right property appears. Whether you’re house-hunting from abroad, unavailable due to professional commitments or you’re simply at a loss with the French language, Iddyl Property is your guiding light to navigate the buying process.

What is a property finder?

A professional property finder is exactly what it seems: they search on your behalf to locate exactly what you’re looking for. Iddyl Property specialises in helping non-residents to find their dream French property, covering everything from a studio in Paris to a palatial seafront villa on the Côte d’Azur. Thanks to a network of established real-estate agents across the country, Iddyl becomes your eyes and ears in France, in the right place – at the right time.

House-hunting from another country can be a horribly daunting experience as founder Maxence Toulouse knows first-hand:

“While I was working in Spain, I wanted to buy a second home in France and quickly realised how difficult that was,” explains Maxence. “You only hear about properties once they’ve already sold and it’s too late. And you can’t get all the information if you’re not physically on site. What I really needed was someone I could trust, who knew exactly what I was looking for and would be in place to know when the right property came on the market, or even before.”

From his personal experience, Maxence created Iddyl Property in 2020, with the goal of supporting other individuals in a similar situation. Now, anyone based abroad who wants to buy real estate in France has a single point of contact that covers the whole country.

All regions, all properties

Iddyl Property can search on your behalf for every type of property imaginable in every part of France. Whether you’re looking for an elegant apartment in Montpellier, a stone cottage in rural Normandy, the historic architecture of a 17th-century manor or a ski chalet in the Alps, you’ll have a single, English-speaking contact looking on your behalf and feeding information back to you.

Even the notoriously difficult challenge of finding a place in Paris becomes a tangible process thanks to Iddyl Property. They can make it reality, even if your dream is to own a Parisian loft with views of the Eiffel Tower: it is, after all, about who you know…

Real value

When you work with Iddyl, you know that they’re working 100% in your best interests. You will only view properties that already fit your criteria, and your French-speaking contact will already have checked the paperwork to ensure that the only surprises are happy ones. By working with a property finder, you cut out unnecessary trips to view places that don’t fit the bill, saving you money and time.

Having decided that a property is ‘the one’, your contact can also help you to negotiate with the vendor and introduce you to English-speaking brokers to get the best possible finance deal. And if you’re sceptical about upfront fees, here’s some more great news, you only pay if your project becomes a reality.

What’s the process?

Iddyl is at your side from drawing up an initial list of criteria through to signing the final paperwork. During the first meeting, you discuss your purchase project with the agent who can advise on feasibility and pricing, then together you define the criteria for the search.

The agent is then on the alert for any properties that match your criteria: they know what you’re looking for and will only shortlist those that fit the bill. You’ll be contacted to arrange a visit only for properties that meet your specifications, and before you arrive, the agent will already have analysed the pros and cons so you have a complete picture, ensuring that you make an informed decision.

If you decide to make an offer, your real estate agent will advise you on the best strategy for negotiations, based on their knowledge of the local market and trends. When your offer is accepted, your agent will also guide you through the French paperwork so you understand every single step of the buying process.

House-hunting becomes a pleasure

When you’re working with a professional partner who only has your best interests in mind, house-hunting in France suddenly becomes a pleasure. All you need to do is enjoy visiting the properties and decide which one calls to you: all the other steps are simplified.

No more wasted trips to view properties that have already sold or have structural defects that weren’t in the description, no more dealing with agents who don’t speak English, and no more worries about piles of paperwork in French. Just turn up, view the property and let your heart decide.

Start your search today

To learn more, start with a simple conversation. Visit iddyl-property.com and book a call with them: this could be the first step towards your French dream!

The post How to find your ideal property in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

A guide to how to plan a new build in France and how to ensure your new build dream runs smoothly.

You’ve identified the perfect plot of land. The finance is in place and now all you’ve got to do is turn your vision into reality. It is such an exciting time as you start to plan a new build unique home in France, and any new build project should be interesting, fun and immensely rewarding.

That said, every new build comes with its own set of challenges, and it needs to be well planned and executed from the get-go. French Plans English speaking architects in France are just the people to help. Whether you want to build a cosy private house or a whole gite complex, they can help make sure that your project runs smoothly, your vision is realised, and your nerves aren’t frayed with the headache of unexpected obstacles, never ending planning applications and things going wrong.

We asked them for their top tips and helpful advice for planning a new build in France:

What are your plans?

You may still be searching for your dream plot, or you may be about to sign on the dotted line but before you go any further, stop and ask yourself these all-important questions:

• Do you have a clear idea of what you want your French new build to look like? For example, do you want modern and chic, eco and sustainable, traditional and in keeping with other buildings, a small build, or an entire complex? Do you have any plans or drawings yet?
• Depending on what sort of build you are planning, there will be several different questions you need to ask before you buy, from knowing whether there are existing service connections for electricity and water to planning regulations in play. And there may be several types of permission required.

Designing your new build

You really need to have a detailed knowledge of the site and the build plan if you want your project to run smoothly and be a success. If you haven’t got a clear idea yet about the type of build you want, French Plans can work with you to come up with a bespoke design. They can also explore different design styles which can be as diverse, as eco-friendly or modular houses to more traditional style builds.

Hand in hand with design comes the feasibility of your site. You will need to assess the suitability of an area and what planning permissions you will need and are likely to get. For example, there may be certain local design considerations in a particular area that mean you will never get planning permission for a modern looking property. But equally, an area 30 miles down the road may be much more likely to grant permission.

All these considerations can and do have an impact on the time frame of your project, your budget and ultimately the success and smooth running of the build. French Plans are registered in France, and have 20+ years of experience of achieving planning permission for new builds in France and can help save you a lot of stress by ensuring that your location is a perfect match for your plans.

Getting permission

All new build projects in France will need planning permission, even if the land has previously been used for residential purposes. If you are buying a plot with planning permission included, and the designs that have approval are exactly what you want then great, but if you want to make any changes you will still need to submit a planning application of some kind.

If you’ve ever had to apply for planning permission, whether in France or elsewhere in the world, you’ll know it can be complicated. And slow. And how is your French? Because planning applications can be quite technical, and it’s essential that you understand the nuances of the language.

DIY planning

Planning applications for any property over 150 m2 (either footprint or habitable space whichever is the greater) must be prepared and submitted by a French-registered architect, such as those at French plans.

You can do the planning applications yourself if the property is going to be smaller than 150 m² (unless it’s for commercial properties), but the planning authorities are very strict and if you get any of the paperwork wrong, your application is likely to fail. Even if you already have a clear idea of the design you want and some basic plans, you may well need help transforming your blueprint into a format that is acceptable to the planning authorities.

There are various other aspects of your planning application that you need to consider such as whether you need to apply for change of use, whether there are any area specific planning issues and whether you can protect yourself by ensuring your purchase is conditional on planning permission being granted or being likely to be granted.

French Plans have the expertise and experience to handle this for you. They have a full understanding and experience of planning law and the requirements, and they speak French and English so they can explain all the details to you in straightforward language. They can prepare and submit all the documentation in the required format, liaise with the authorities on your behalf, and will always advise you about your prospects of success. That means you can focus on the fun parts of the planning and build.

Knowing what you’ve got and what you need

There are certain things that every new build needs namely water, electricity and sewers. Your plot may have these already but if it hasn’t, you’ve got some research to do. There are all sorts of question to consider including whether you can get access to mains drains or will need your own septic tank, and how easy (or expensive) it is going to be to get these vital services installed. And all new build properties must be built in line with specific thermal regulations. These are all elements the team at French plans can help you navigate.

Getting there

Finally, don’t forget, you’re going to need access to your site. This may seem straightforward but isn’t always. There can be issues around this if you’re accessing your plot over someone else’s land, need to add access or are hoping to let your property and therefore require access for holiday guests, etc.

Working together

The team at French Plans are fully qualified English-speaking architects and planning consultants. They offer end to end design and planning services for any size of project, anywhere in France. Says architect Tom Easdown:

“At French Plans, we are here to ensure that your planning application runs as smoothly as possible. Whether it be for pre-purchase advice about the plot you have chosen; working with you to design your dream home; or helping you to get planning permission for designs you already have in mind. We understand the complexities of working with international clients to successfully navigate the French planning system together. Get in touch to discuss how we can help you get permission to build your dream French home.”

Find out more and contact the team for all your planning permission and design needs in France at www.frenchplans.com

The post How to plan a new build in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

How often have you watched programmes about someone moving to France? Wouldn’t you love to know how they got on – not a fifteen-minute follow-up, but an honest look at whether the reality lived up to their dream?

Rebecca and Jack Jenkins have become YouTube stars because they do exactly that: they show you all the ups and downs of their house renovation in France and you can’t help being drawn into their story, because they’re so open about the whole process. There’s an unapologetic honesty in their videos that makes you feel as if you’re watching friends so you’re willing them to do well. But how did it all start?

Starting in New Zealand

The couple met in 2012 in New Zealand, where Jack had grown up, and where Rebecca had lived since the age of ten. In 2016, Rebecca took a trip that would change everything. Her parents had settled in the Charente, so she flew over to visit despite expecting a baby and bringing her toddler. She felt an incredible sense of belonging and couldn’t wait to bring Jack. The following year, the couple brought their two young children to spend five months in a tiny gîte, working remotely and exploring the region.

“Looking back, it was a big decision to make on minimal sleep, but everything is so relaxed here,” says Jack. “If someone stops the car in the middle of the road to chat to a neighbour, no-one hoots or shouts, and kids are treated like royalty, they’re always welcome. We knew this was where we wanted to bring up our family.”

Finding the house

In 2019, Jack and Rebecca sold everything and came to France. By that time, Rebecca’s parents had moved to the UK to help a relative, so the family were left to house-hunt alone.

They found their home accidentally on a country walk, and the decision was made instantly.

“It was an 1880s Maison de Maître with outbuildings that had been roughly renovated in previous decades but had birds nesting everywhere,” admits Rebecca. “It was also €40,000 over our budget, but it just felt like ‘the one’. We negotiated and arranged to pay the owner an extra €1,000 per month for twenty months. So we managed to buy the property, but had no money to do it up.”

 The reality of renovating

“People often ask why we waited four years before starting the renovation,” says Jack. “The truth is, we couldn’t do any major work until we’d finished paying for the property!”

They made the longère habitable, then Rebecca dealt with all the administrative aspects of their life in France and set up their businesses so Jack could continue IT consulting, while she grew her wedding photography business. Meanwhile, they started uncovering the house’s original features, but the catalyst for the major work was the toilet.

“I was on a work call and heard screaming,” recalls Jack, “so I ran to the bathroom to find that the old macerating toilet had exploded, splattering everything including Rebecca. There was a cartoon-style outline on the wall behind her. It was not pretty!”

Even worse, when Rebecca went to wash her clothes after the incident, they discovered that there was only one waste pipe out of the house, meaning that the washing machine then also exploded in the kitchen.

“We maybe should have given up at that point,” says Rebecca, “but all our money was in the house, we had no choice but to see it through.”

Thankfully, the house is now on mains drainage and that incident is just one example of their upbeat approach to situations that would have most of us running for the hills.

Accidental YouTube stars

“We’re pretty sociable and we’ve always loved sharing what we’re up to, so putting some videos online seemed logical,” says Jack. “Besides, I’m a wannabe film-maker, so it became a hobby, and making videos helped to motivate me for the next step, as you want to show progress. We were making a video every week but it was too much pressure so it’s now one a month, which gives us a better balance with family life.

“Most of our followers are from the UK and USA, and everyone has something in common with you. Either they’re renovating, too, or they simply love everything French and enjoy watching us making our home here. Lots of renovation channels are negative and overly dramatic but the feedback we get is that people appreciate how positive we are, and that we don’t let the setbacks bring us down.”

“Some people reminisce about similar projects they did years ago,” adds Rebecca, “others are hoping to do a renovation themselves. I’d say don’t be scared to try: you never know what you’re capable of until you face the challenge, and if it doesn’t work out straight away, you’ll still find a way through it.”

Find out what the next project is for Jack and Rebecca, and follow its progress on @growinginfrance

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When you have a home in France but you’re not always on site, it’s a relief to have reliable neighbours who will watch over your property and keep you informed. It’s even better if those neighbours are professionals that you can trust to manage all the aspects of your home when you can’t be there in person and that’s where Les Bons Voisins, the best property management service in France, can help.

Les Bons Voisins

Named after the French for ‘good neighbours’, Les Bons Voisins started in 2002 as a property-management business for people with second homes in France. Responding to demand, this gradually grew into a network of 18 teams covering most of the western and central regions of the country. In 2019, the company was taken over by Carmel O’Connell and husband Joe Wilson, who had experienced first-hand the challenges of owning a home in another country.

“We’d bought a property in France in 2007,” explains Carmel, “but we were living and working in Asia, so we could only visit two or three times a year. We needed to find reliable people to help maintain the garden and the house while we weren’t there, but the whole process was incredibly frustrating. With the language barriers, long-distance communication and potential risks of entrusting your home to someone else, it was more complicated than we’d anticipated. That was how we first heard about Les Bons Voisins and became part of the management team when we decided to move to France permanently, and eventually took over the network.”

The head office is now in their hometown of Lectoure, about 100 km northwest of Toulouse, and as well as managing teams across the country, Carmel and Joe are also property managers for their own region, keeping hands-on experience.

Neighbourly yet professional

What might a good neighbour take care of for you? LBV covers all of this and several extra options, depending on each person’s location and needs:

Holiday homes support

LBV offer a full support service for owners who rent out their property as a holiday home or gîte. They can carry out key-holding and guest-greeting services, cleaning and preparing the house for guests and providing regular garden maintenance so that guests arrive to find a welcoming home and, if required, a friendly face to hand over the keys. Property managers will either handle each aspect personally, or they will source reliable, local professionals such as chimney sweeps, pest control, and sanitation specialists, acting as the single point of contact.

Maintenance help for property owners in France

Even if you don’t rent out your property, LBV offer regular garden maintenance and cleaning or can organise for your home to be ready when you arrive for your own holiday, from a full spring clean and beds made up, to providing firewood and gas bottles ready for a winter break, or even leaving some milk, butter and grocery basics in the kitchen.

Practical chores

Some aspects that homeowners don’t necessarily plan for when buying a dream home in France are practical chores such as regular pool maintenance or sweeping the chimney, which can be a legal requirement for your home insurance. Being on-site makes it a lot easier to organise visits from tradespeople, and your local property manager can be there to let them in and ensure the work is done to the required standard.

The unexpected

One of the major concerns for absent owners is when an unexpected event occurs and they have no idea if their property has been damaged. Consider the forest fires that took place in western France earlier in 2024 and back in 2022 when over 150,000 acres of land were burned: many homeowners had no idea if their property was in the affected area or what to expect when they returned – but having a local contact on hand to visit in person makes all the difference.

This was also the case during the floods in the Aude region, for example, when LBV managers were able to help homeowners to deal with the practical aspects of an unforeseen flood as well as the paperwork of insurance claims.

“There’s no doubt about it,” agrees Carmel, “it gives you a lot of peace of mind knowing someone is there on the ground, able to tell you what’s happening, what to expect and tell you the real picture. Even knowing who to contact and where to start in these situations is a weight off your mind and helps you breathe more easily. That’s what we’re here for.”

How does it work?

As a homeowner, you agree with your property manager exactly what’s required, and you get an invoice at the end of each month. Costs are in line with professional rates in your area, and local tradespeople are used wherever possible. As a guideline, cleaning and changeovers cost around €25 an hour, gardening is around €30 per hour and maintenance is from €35 per hour plus materials.
LBV can also offer translation or administrative services, priced depending on the project and you can sign off on the quote before any work takes place.

With LBV’s help, there’s no time wasted trying to source the right people from a distance, you don’t need to navigate the French language, and you always have visibility on what you’ll be paying for before you receive any invoice.

Thanks to their reliability, professionalism and positivity, it’s no surprise that many homeowners have developed ongoing friendships with their ‘Bons Voisins’ property managers. In the words of the Australian TV soap theme tune: that really is when good neighbours become good friends!

Find out more about Les Bons Voisins services: propertymanagementinfrance.com

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Dreaming of, planning, or in the process of organising a move to France? When it comes to where to live in France, here’s what you should consider – from someone who’s been there, done that and worn the t-shirt! And if you want to know more, come and join us at The French Property Show in October and get expert advice to help you make your dreams of the good life in France come true – well even give you free tickets – just pick The Good Life France ticket option!

Location, location, location

Yes, we all know it but sometimes we’re ruled by our heart’s desires and not our sensible brain. Hands up if you’ve ever been to France on holiday, fallen in love with the town or village or area where you’re staying and spent more time looking in the estate agent windows than you did at the market. It’s normal. And there’s nothing wrong with that, I can’t say much as I bought my house in France after just 30 minutes in a town I’d never been to and knew nothing about.

It has worked out perfectly for me, but I wouldn’t recommend that as the best way to go about choosing where to live in France. There are plenty of English-speaking estate agents selling property in France. They know their area, they have local knowledge, and can work with you to help you choose the perfect location that has all you want. Read on…

The weather

Most people move to the south of France, south of Paris that is – Normandy, Brittany, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, French Riviera – they’re all very popular. But you need to think about whether the weather is right for you when it gets very hot. The north may have more rain but it’s also more mellow and excellent gardening weather! And consider the weather at different times of the year, will the lovely sunny seaside resort in southwest France be as much in November?

What’s it like year-round?

Try and spend more than a week or two in the place you’re considering. And try to spend time there in the season that is most likely to be your least favourite. If it’s somewhere touristy that gets thousands of visitors filling the restaurants, the parking spaces and the streets – will you be happy with that? If it’s somewhere isolated and miles from the shops, when it’s winter, will you still be happy to be there.

How far is transport if you need it?

If you need to go back ‘home’ for family, work or other reasons, think about how far you’ll be from an airport, ferry, railway. If you’re running a gite or B&B, think about your guests’ transport needs too.

Working in France – the internet

France has become increasingly popular with younger people and families, especially with remote working opportunities. Though generally speaking the internet and mobile phone service is good in France. There’s been a big push for super-fast fibre optic rollout across France – and if you’re reliant on the internet, check that you have a good service.

Not having mobile phone coverage can be a real problem. First, it’s a backup if your internet does go down, but more importantly, it’s very hard to do banking or buying things online if you can’t get a mobile phone signal. I have lost count of the times I had to run up a hill outside my house to get a signal to accept a code. Or my other half would have to jump in the car, drive a mile to get a signal and then phone me with it. Not fun. And we’re fine now, thanks for asking – we have an excellent mayor who fought for mobile phone coverage for our little village in the middle of nowhere.

Facilities

Everyone has different priorities for their facilities wish list.  Do you want/need to be near a hospital or doctor’s surgery? Do you need to be near schools for the kids? Some country villages offer a bus service to school – but what about after school, will you be driving them everywhere because there’s no other transport available. If you don’t drive, think about the distance to the shops and other facilities and how you will get there without a car.

There’s lots to consider when moving to France – come and meet experts in all aspects of moving to France – estate agents, finance, visas and more, at The French Property Show: October 19-20/2024

Find details and get your free ticket here: thefrenchpropertyshow

Janine Marsh is the author of  several internationally best-selling books about France. Her latest book How to be French – a celebration of the French lifestyle and art de vivre, is out now – a look at the French way of life. Find all books on her website janinemarsh.com.

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Discover more fabulous destinations in France with our free magazine The Good Life France

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The closest French department to Britain, but worlds away in atmosphere, our property guide to Pas-de-Calais offers multiple good reasons for a property purchase.

Think about buying property in France and you’ll probably find yourself dreaming of a Mediterranean villa, an Alpine chalet, or maybe a stone farmhouse in the vineyards. But let me plant another idea. If you’re not a fan of extreme temperatures, prefer the seaside to snowy slopes, and relish a relaxed blend of countryside and culture, take a look at Pas-de-Calais.

Close to the UK – authentic France

Closest French department to Britain, the port of Calais is barely 20 miles (33km) from the south coast of England, easily accessed by ferry or road and rail tunnel. Arriving from further afield? There are excellent rail links to Paris and London from Lille, just across the departmental border in the Nord, as well as a good network of provincial train lines and fast roads leading to Belgium, the Netherlands and all points French.

Whatever indoor or outdoor activity you’re into, with the exception of mountain sports, you’ll almost certainly find it here. And forget any preconceptions about the industrial north.  Many first-time visitors are surprised to find large areas of rural landscape punctuated with small villages and hamlets, as well as a variety of heritage towns, each with its own USP. Rural without being remote. Expect wide sandy beaches and a rolling farmland, lush river valleys and tranquil woodland. Even the former coal mining area in the east of the department is now full of green spaces and repurposed industrial sites.

Beside the Opal Coast

Dubbed the Côte d’Opale for its opalescent light, the coastline of Pas-de-Calais begins just north of Calais and undulates southwards for some 120km to Berck-Plage near the estuary of Authie river. Far more than just a transit town, Calais is well worth a stopover to visit the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, the Lace and Fashion Museum that celebrates the town’s signature craft. Enjoy a ride on the extraordinary mechanical Dragon and take the lift to the viewing gallery on the Town Hall bell tower, high above Rodin’s famous statue of The Burghers of Calais.

South of Calais, the coast road winds past the emblematic twin headlands of Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez – jointly awarded Grand Site de France status – and through the fishing villages of Audresselles and Ambleteuse. If you like hiking or biking, cliff walks or sand dunes, stop at the Maison du Site des Deux Caps for inspiration, bike hire and local produce. Stroll the promenade at Wimereux in front of colourful Belle Epoque villas and in Boulogne-sur-Mer, meet a wealth of deep-sea creatures at the renowned Nausicaa sea life centre.

Le Touquet’s Art Deco market

Despite having the sea in common, the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer couldn’t be more different from its near neighbour, Le Touquet-Paris Plage. Buy a home near the coast here and you have a heritage town with a fascinating hilltop museum and bustling quayside fish market on one hand; a chic seaside resort with flamboyant Art Deco properties and outstanding sports facilities on the other. Love a wide-open sandy beach? Le Touquet and neighbouring Hardelot have two of the best. Go sand-yachting, sailing, or maybe enjoy an exhilarating excursion on horseback.

Countryside delights

Saint-Omer

A large area of the Pas-de-Calais shoreline forms the western boundary of the Regional Natural Park of the Opal Coast Headlands and Marshes – le PNR des Caps et Marais d’Opale. Turn your back on the sea and the PNR rolls inland with vast fields of cereals eventually giving way to the Art & History Town of Saint-Omer.

The Marais Audomarois on the edge of Saint-Omer is a tranquil area guaranteed to soothe both body and soul, whether you choose to explore on foot or take a guided boat excursion from the Maison du Marais visitor centre. A UNESCO-listed Biosphere renowned for its market gardening, it is rich in rich in flora, fauna and a traditional way of life. Don’t be surprised to see the postman delivering by boat to a handful of island homes.

Nestled up against the border with Belgium, the area around Saint-Omer has a distinct Flemish feel in its architecture, customs and cuisine, which includes many recipes using locally brewed beer. It’s more than a century since the end of the Great War in 1918, but the sacrifices of a generation are remembered here at cemeteries small and large, representing the fallen of many nations in some of the most intense fighting of the conflict.

From Saint-Omer, it’s barely 50km to Hesdin, a historic market town on the southern boundary of the department in the heart of the Vallées d’Opale. A peaceful agricultural area bisected by seven river valleys, its many small hamlets include Azincourt, scene of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and home to an interactive museum.

Montreuil-sur-Mer

Flowing through the Vallées d’Opale to Le Touquet, the Canche river passes beneath the fortified hilltop town of Montreuil-sur-Mer, renowned for its food shops and restaurants as well as a substantial citadel, rampart walks and cobbled streets.

Bethune, Arras, Lens

Furthest away from the Channel coast, the eastern area of Pas-de-Calais around Béthune, Arras and Lens offers a wide range of heritage sites and cultural attractions, including one of France’s leading art museums, Louvre-Lens. With more than 200 works taken from the Louvre in Paris, this purpose-built gallery stands at the heart of the former mining basin at Lens, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here pitheads and slagheaps have been given new life as museums, sports facilities and community hubs in an outstanding example of industrial regeneration.

Also recognised by UNESCO are the belfries of Béthune, Arras and Douai, listed amongst 23 bell towers across Northern France and Belgium and regarded as symbols of local freedom since the Middle Ages. Like a mix of architectural styles? Then look out for Art Deco treasures such as Lens railway station; the swimming pool at Bruay-la-Buissière; and the flamboyant houses around Béthune.

Arras

Buy property near Arras and shopping will take on a whole new perspective as you browse the stalls in the two vast market squares. Grand’Place and Place des Héros. Fringed with arcades and Flemish gables, they were painstakingly rebuilt in Baroque style after the devastation of World War I. Take time to reflect too amongst the sobering beauty of Great War cemeteries and memorials that honour the sacrifices of many nations here on the Western Front.

Wherever you choose to buy in this cosmopolitan corner of Northern France, you are never short of places to go and things to do, all within easy reach of the UK, Paris, Belgium and the rest of Europe. Now isn’t that a location worth thinking about?

By Gillian Thornton, one of the UK’s leading travel writers and a regular writer for The Good Life France Magazine and website.

Want more France?

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