Nightmares in France
The joys of owning a holiday home in France.
If you are able to spend many months every year using a second home, then I would always say they are a worthwhile investment. I fear however, that most people like me buy a second home for the wrong reasons – ego – it sounds great having the holiday home chat with your friends on a Saturday night.
We have had the property just outside of Cannes for over six years. It is a great place to go to and we have had some great holidays. 48 weeks a year of administration and cost do not really equate to four weeks of fun in your holiday home.
The French legal system is based on Napoleonic law and is antiquated to say the least. If you do not pay your Council Tax, they send the Police around and seal up your property with wax. Yes, they turned up and were greeted by the people renting the place. Wax in hand they were turned away and I had the urgent telephone call suggesting I send over a large pile of Euros. I rough guide is that the local tax is 100% higher than what we pay in the UK.
Add to this the property has subsidence so we have to start an insurance claim to rebuild the pool. I wonder what will happen next week!
The moral of the story – don’t buy a holiday home, rent from some mug like me instead.
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