House buying costs

[Puggit]

Hoping to join the forum in a permanent sense soon. Mrs Puggit and I loved Touraine when we visited a few weeks back, and are actively house hunting.

We've got the costs of buying the house (Notaire etc) sorted - but what costs can we expect once we have bought the property? We're planning to use it as a holiday let.

I guess there's a council tax? House insurance...

[neil-f]

You have to have home insurance in place ready for the day you purchase(a copy is required to be seen by the notaire) as it is law that your property is insured.If you are going to buy you should open up a non resident bank account so as that any surplus funds etc from the notaire can be paid to you also so that you can get your electric from EDF as they will only connect you with direct debit instruction
You will pay 2 local taxes these cover items such as your bin collection etc and your TV licence. I cannot remember what they are both called off hand but one is the Tax habitation.They are both due on yearly amount but one is the responsibility of the owner on the 1 January and the other is split to the part of the year you own it. They are considerably less than the UK.
If you are going to rent out you will need to notify the French tax authorities.

[Puggit]

Thanks Neil

[frenchwrinkly]

The other annual taz is tax fonciere - in total (tax habitation and tax fonciere) we pay 360 euros (approx £230) annually, this includes tv licence. Obviously cost will vary according to your area, and whether it is a town or country property, but it will be considerably less than UK.