How to get around the 90 day rule in France
With summer on the doorstep, here’s a way to work around the 90/180 rule. Since January 2021, the freedom of British people to come and go in France has been restricted to 90 days out of 180, with no possibility of re-entry until the time is up. While 90 days might sound like plenty for […]
How to find your dream home in France from another country
How do you go about finding your dream home in France when you live in another country? From an abandoned Château with everything to do, to a cute little one-up-one-down that’s ready to move into, everybody’s vision of ‘chez nous’ is unique. For Melanie Atkins from French Connections HCB, it’s a topic that’s dear to […]
How to retire in Europe after Brexit
At a time of their lives when they hoped life would be tranquil, many of our clients find themselves in the unenviable position of having to make sense of the pensions they acquired when working in different parts of Europe long before Brexit was a bad idea that turned into an even worse reality. The […]
Bringing your own car when you move to France or Italy? Here are some tips to help you save money
If you are researching how to register your vehicle in France, you will notice that two documents are frequently mentioned, the Certificat de Conformité and the Contrôle Technique. One or both are always essential, depending on what type and age of vehicle you have. Unfortunately, the information you find online can sometimes be misleading, costing […]
With unpredictable weather becoming a regular event, here’s what you need to know about Home Insurance
When it comes to home insurance, not all policies are created equal so it’s better to be informed than find out too late that your home isn’t covered.While certain factors can significantly increase your premiums, the good news is there are some easy solutions to keeping them down.We asked our insurance partner Fabien Pelissier from […]
It’s Spring and that means the taxman has come out of hibernation
For many people in France, seeing the first almond blossom and wildflowers emerge after a long cold winter is blighted by the imminent arrival of the taxman. Every year, the usual panic ensues. The French administration only allows tax returns to be submitted between the beginning of April and the end of May, which means […]
Need help to purchase a car in France? Ask somebody who has already bought 18 for himself!
There is nobody better qualified to help you buy a car in France than somebody who has already sourced more than 100 vehicles on behalf of his clients and owns 18 cars and 7 motorbikes himself. Meet Richard Hammond, founder of French Connections HCB, fully qualified car buff and our expert in tracking down a […]
There are more questions than answers when you dream about moving to France
One thing you learn very quickly when you move to France is that you don’t really have a choice about the order in which you do things. That’s because you often need to have completed one step in order to advance on something else. For example, if you want to buy or rent a house […]
Don’t be fooled by the latest carte vitale scam
This week, one of our clients alerted us to an email he had received, purportedly sent from the Améli account of l’Assurance Maladie, informing him that his Carte Vitale will be obsolete next year and urging him to order his new card now. Not one word of it was true. Below is the email he […]
Think French Tax Is Tough? Wait Until You Face a ‘Contrôle Fiscal’
Nobody enjoys paying tax, but when you live in France with its generous social security, egalitarian lifestyle and sense of fairness, at least you can feel a bit better about it. Unless you are the subject of a ‘contrôle fiscal’. French tax agents have the right to enter your property, install themselves in front of […]
