A Last-Minute Hiccup in Normandy: The Story of Henry and Tessa Howard-Vyse
Introduction
This week, we introduce you to Henry Howard-Vyse, who, along with his wife Tessa, made the move to Mortain in Normandy earlier this year. Although familiar with the area after many holidays, the process of moving to France presented some unexpected challenges. Fortunately, French Connections HCB was there to support them every step of the way.
“We had been coming here on holiday off and on for the last 10 years or so and decided that this was the place we wanted to be, an area we knew and liked, with lots of interesting things for people to do when they come to see us.”
A Decade of Planning: Why France?
The couple’s decision to move to France was influenced by personal events back in the UK and their long-standing connection with Normandy. Henry shares:
“The catalyst was a combination of events back home in the UK, with both my parents passing away, Tessa’s father dying, us reaching a certain stage in our jobs, and our children setting out on their own paths.”
After 10 years of visiting the area and knowing they wanted to retire abroad, Henry and Tessa began their search for a property in early Spring last year and found their dream home quickly.
“We had always planned to retire abroad, outside the UK, and about 18 months ago we decided that France was the preferred option. We started looking for a property to buy in early Spring last year and were lucky enough to find this house relatively quickly.”
However, they soon realised that while moving to France offers an exciting new chapter, it’s not without its complexities—particularly when navigating French real estate transactions and bureaucratic processes.
The Challenges of Purchasing a Home in France
Like many expats, Henry and Tessa encountered their first major challenge when it came time to complete the purchase of their home. Despite initial agreements, unforeseen issues arose on the day they were due to sign the Acte de Vente (completion of the purchase).
“We had a bit of a hiccup with the house purchase in that when we came over to France after signing the ‘compromis’, which is a commitment to purchase, we met the sellers and agreed that they would clean out the barn and the workshop of all their detritus.”
However, on the morning of the Acte de Vente, they discovered:
“When we arrived at the house in the morning of Completion, which we were due to sign in the afternoon, we encountered two issues. First of all, the sellers hadn’t cleaned out the barn and the workshop as agreed. They were both still full of all sorts of empty light bulb boxes, bits of carpet, old number plates and general rubbish! But there was also a bigger issue; the sellers had left hand-written instructions in the kitchen as to how to turn the heating on and make sure the hot water was working. We followed their instructions to the letter and suddenly had a flood, so we weren’t quite sure what was going on.”
At this point, language barriers and legal complexities could have easily delayed the purchase. For many expats, these situations can become stressful, especially when it’s necessary to resolve issues quickly in a foreign language.
French Connections HCB to the Rescue
Fortunately, Henry and Tessa had wisely opted for the full Moving to France package with French Connections HCB, which proved invaluable. Richard Hammond, the founder of French Connections HCB, along with their notary, Maître Françoise Calmels, stepped in to negotiate a solution.
“The heating was flooding the house so we shut everything down and got straight on the phone to Richard at FCHCB, who was brilliant. He phoned our notary straight away and said, right, we’ve got a problem that needs to be resolved.”
With French bureaucracy often involving intricate procedures, expats can find it overwhelming to navigate the paperwork, legal terms, and expectations of the French system. In Henry and Tessa’s case, French Connections HCB helped secure a €15,000 retention to ensure the problems with the property were promptly addressed.
“When we went through to do the signing, [our notary] Françoise told the sellers’ notary that we would agree to complete the sale but with a retention until these issues are resolved. The sellers were not happy, but they realised it was either that or we were going to pull out. From our point of view, the situation was extremely well handled.”
Getting Settled: French Bureaucracy and Services
After the house purchase was completed, Henry and Tessa encountered further challenges related to setting up essential services. From finding contractors to sorting out the heating issue during the winter, French Connections HCB continued to provide support.
“Juliette and Françoise were excellent in getting contractors to come and have a look at the problem and getting it solved. It was 2-3 weeks until we were able to use the heating in the main house and it was February, so it wasn’t ideal but the log burners in the house were working and our neighbour was very kind in helping us find a log supplier. Luckily, the house that we bought also has a gite and the heating was working in there, so we were able to trot across and have hot showers.”
When they decided to import and register their Land Rover in France, they also turned to French Connections HCB for help. The vehicle registration process in France can be daunting, requiring specific technical modifications, local inspections, and submission of forms to government agencies. Henry explains:
“The HCB team have been brilliant in helping me import and register my old Land Rover. They made an appointment for me with a local contrôle technique (MOT) centre, which identified a few minor things that needed to be done, basically swapping over the fog light and reversing light. When the work was complete, I went back to the contrôle technique centre and the FCHCB team sent off all the forms for me for the French registration. The entire process took just 7 weeks so now I have French number plates and a French carte grise. It was very quick.”
French Visas and Healthcare: The Next Steps
Like many retirees, Henry and Tessa’s move to France included healthcare and visa considerations. French Connections HCB is now organising their Carte Vitale (health card) and helping with the renewal of their retirement visa, which will allow them to legally operate their gite in the future. Navigating the French visa system can be complicated, especially as regulations shift frequently.
“At the moment, the gite is just sitting empty and is used as and when friends and relations come to stay, but the intention is very much to run it as a lettable property, so we need to be part of a visa system that allows us to do that.”
Many expats don’t realise how important it is to stay updated on visa requirements and the necessary documentation to avoid complications down the line.
Learning the Language and Building Relationships
One of the biggest challenges for expats moving to France is the language barrier, especially in rural areas. Although Henry and Tessa had basic French skills, they quickly realised that learning more French would be essential for their integration into the local community.
“Our French is basic, but we started proper French lessons last week and we are going right back to schoolboy/schoolgirl level. We both understand much more than we can speak and Google Translate is our friend!”
Learning French not only helps expats better understand legal contracts and French bureaucracy, but also enables smoother communication with neighbours and local services. French Connections HCB can assist by providing guidance on cultural integration and offering support for expats still learning the language.
Invaluable Support from French Connections HCB
Henry sums up his appreciation for French Connections HCB’s services, emphasising how critical their support was during the home purchase and beyond.
“When you combine that last-minute hiccup with all the other help we’ve had from FCHCB in arranging not just our visas but health insurance, vehicle insurance, getting the vehicle imported and registered, as well as the knowledge that we’ve got backup support if our neighbour goes for a planning application, finding doctors, that sort of thing… French Connections HCB are a very friendly, approachable team at the other end of an email or a phone whenever we say ‘Help!’ Initially we thought the full service package looked expensive, but having bitten the bullet we are very glad we did.”
With French Connections HCB involved in every aspect of their move—from visas to healthcare registration and even vehicle importation—Henry and Tessa felt reassured knowing they had a team of experts ready to help.
For expats unfamiliar with the complexities of French bureaucracy, having a partner like French Connections HCB can make the difference between a smooth transition and a frustrating experience.
Start Your French Journey with Confidence
Whether you’re planning a move to France or are already encountering some of the challenges of expat life, French Connections HCB is here to help. Our team provides tailored support in all areas, including real estate purchases, visa applications, healthcare registration, and vehicle imports.
If you’re ready to begin your journey to France, contact us today to book an initial one-to-one consultation. Begin your French adventure with confidence. You can also visit our YouTube channel for information, ‘How To’ videos and client interviews.
We look forward to helping you whichever way you choose.
