After sales service

Once you have bought your French property, you can benefit from Chez Riviera's after-sales service which offers complete peace of mind. Our team speak fluent French and will assist you with every aspect of settling into your new property. Owning a property in a foreign country can seem difficult to manage at first, from organising renovations to rentals, but with our help, this can be a breeze.

The first thing we do is change over the utilities and open a French bank account, if you have not done so already. A direct debit facility can be set up to deal with electricity, gas, water and the monthly charges for the management company (if you are living in a co-ownership complex). Home insurance is compulsory in France but the rates are low when one considers it generally includes third party liability insurance which is a must if you decide to let it. Chez Riviera will assist you with all of this, ensuring your path to owning a French property is a smooth one.

Renovations

Many buyers decide to renovate their property to their own tastes, adding individuality and transforming the property into a home from home. Renovation costs are generally lower than the UK and Ireland and the cost can be financed as part of the overall French mortgage. Here are some important points worth taking into consideration when renovating a property in France:

-The quote for works ('devis') is legally binding. So no matter what happens, the price does not increase. It is important to ensure that everything you want is in the quote to avoid future complications.

-Tradesmen are registered in France and must have the necessary experience, builder's insurance and a French company.

-VAT (Value Added Tax) on renovations of an existing property is charged at the lower rate of 5.5% as opposed to construction of a new property, which carries the standard 19.6% VAT rate.

Renting your apartment

Chez Riviera works with local property management companies that offer services for both long-term and short-term lettings. These agencies are professional and abide by all relevant regulations.

The property management fees on a property for long-term let is normally between 7% and 10%, while the fees for short-term let are between 25% and 30%, which reflects the higher workload associated with a high turnover of tenants.

For more on renting out your apartment, click here