View from the Foothills of France

Some personal views on living, working,
bringing up family and making the dream happen in the most beautiful region of France. View from the Foothills of France also includes some personal and professional thoughts and tips on finding and buying the perfect property in the Ariège and Haute Garonne regions.

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Health Care in France

By nadia, on 17th December 2020


The French healthcare system is considered one of the best examples of universal care at affordable rates – but how does it work?

The French health care service is provided mainly by the state through various state funds accessed by a card called a carte vitale which is rather like a credit card given to everyone in the French healthcare system. However, part of the cost of treatment and drugs is covered by a form of private health insurance which will depend on your level of income. If you are earning the minimum wage, then the majority of the cost of your healthcare will be covered by the state but, over this level, the general coverage is approximately 70% of the cost with you making up the final 30%. Most people do this by having an annual health insurance policy known in France as a mutuelle.

There are numerous insurers to choose from and, as with all types of insurance, a wide range of policies with varying degrees of cover and premiums. Basic packages tend to cover hospital costs and medicine, but you can choose to add things like dental costs.

This complementary health insurance should not be confused with private health cover in the UK or the US. Although bought by the individual, it simply assists financing the personal contribution element of French healthcare. It is inexpensive, does not guarantee faster treatment times and is not affiliated to private practitioners or clinics.

In terms of payment, the individual pays for treatment and the relevant state fund is automatically alerted via the carte vitale system. The percentage refunded by the State is then indicated to the relevant mutuelle which calculates accordingly how much it will reimburse.

For those not in the French healthcare system, Europeans are covered by a reciprocal agreement and for anyone outside of Europe private healthcare is available.

If you are planning a move to France, please get in touch for help with your property search and I can also recommend you to my partners for other help and advice with moving to France: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

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Obtaining planning permission in France

By nadia, on 8th December 2020

In the last few years, I have noticed an increase in buyers looking for either plots of land to build their own grand design or for rural barns that can be converted into flexible living accommodation. While in theory, this seems like a good option and, in the past has been relatively simple in France, planning laws have become much more restrictive, particularly in the countryside so it is worth being aware of the planning process in France before going down this route.

Buying a plot of land and building a new property
The planning regulations concerning building property in the French countryside are becoming tighter and new construction in open countryside is generally not permitted in order to protect farmland and agriculture as well as the natural environment.

There are however always exceptions because, while the planning laws are defined at national level, it is at the local level that these laws are interpreted. This means that the decision comes down to the local authorities as to what type of planning they allow. These decisions are determination by the rules that apply to the local plan, known as the Plan Local d’Urbanisme (PLU) or the more limited Carte Communale, which is more common in rural areas. These plans outline the areas where new residential buildings are allowed and where they are not within set boundaries. These will include various zones for example; constructible zones, non-constructible zones, woodland zones and agricultural zones.
In addition, there may also be in place a risk prevention plans called Plan de Prévention des Risques (PRR), which are becoming more important in terms of zones where building is and is not allowed relative to perceived natural dangers such as flooding or seismic zones.

Barn Conversion
Most local plans can authorise change of use of a former agricultural building such as converting a barn to living accommodation provided such a change of use does not compromise agricultural activity or the quality of the landscape.
However, in giving consideration to an application or change of use, the commune must also take into consideration the condition of the existing building, the services available, and changes that may be envisaged to the volume of the building. In practice this often means that a barn attached to an existing dwelling will be given planning permission whereas, for example, an ancient barn on its own with no utilities close by will not. In addition, in protected rural areas such as the national park of the Ariège Pyrénées, it is now very difficult to get planning permission to convert a mountain barn into living accommodation as the rules to protect the natural environment take priority. This is why mountain barns which have already been given ‘habitation’ status or already have outline planning permission from earlier are very hard to find and very expensive.

Extensions
Planning law is generally most favourable in the countryside when it comes to extensions to existing residential dwellings. Existing homeowners in agricultural or natural zones have the right to build ‘annexes’ and a make change of use to their property. This is, however, generally restricted to an extension that is smaller than the existing building and attached to it.
Separate garages, garden sheds and other independent annexes and swimming pools are not covered, but most local plans allow for such development. In all cases, development will remain subject to not infringing third-party rights, such as overlooking or proximity to the perimeter of the property.

For anyone looking to design a bespoke house, certainly a plot of land appears to be the most obviously appealing prospect but it is also the most difficult in terms of finding the perfect plot and getting planning permission. Hence a better option might be to look for a property that has an attached barn that could be converted or for a small property with the potential for conversion.

If you need help with your property search, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

 

 

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Déjà Vu (all over again)

By nadia, on 19th November 2020


So here we are back in lockdown in November. Thank goodness that we didn’t have a crystal ball in March as it turns out because I’m not sure how we would all have dealt with knowing this was on the cards yet again and just as we go into winter this time rather than when the days were lengthening and summer was on the way.

A crystal ball in March would also have shown that the rural French property market was going to have a very busy year, at least between May and October which certainly seemed unlikely in the Spring. It turned out that the challenges of living in urban areas during lockdown convinced many to sell up and move out to the sticks while others were driven by the wish to be more self-sufficient or for a complete lifestyle change. Noticeably, there has particularly been a rise in the number of young families, drawn in by the post-lockdown appeal of space, country air and fewer people.

In this region, there has been a notable rush from buyers looking to buy property within the newest Pyrenees national park; the Parc naturel régional Pyrénées Ariégeoises. Less mountainous than the Hautes Pyrenees and with more gentle valleys and rolling hills, this is a tucked away part of France that even many French people have never heard of. That was until this year when the appeal of protected countryside, off the beaten track, low population density but within striking distance of a major city suddenly became hugely in demand. And there are not many such places.

The Ariège Pyrenees ticks all of these boxes thanks to its proximity to Toulouse and its international airport along with miles and miles of unspoiled, gently wooded countryside given over to pasture and wilderness unlike much of the more intensely agricultural areas of South West France. Along with the desire for open space and flexible property, there seems to be a growing demand for areas with a bias towards the organic and for local producers and products, fresh water, a good climate and independent shops and businesses. The Ariège has all of these in spades.

In addition, with the increase in people working from home combined with a second national lockdown (which we were assured would not happen), many more people may now start dreaming of an escape to the country especially with the threat of a cycle of lockdowns stretching into the foreseeable future. However, property in many national parks is high on the house-hunting list and hence these properties may come at a high price and sellers have begun to use it as an advertising tool, demanding a premium so, yet again, next year might see a serious lack of supply for increasing demand and rising prices in this region.

In the meantime, I have been trying to find some positives in this latest lockdown; I am certainly driving much less and cooking has become more creative when we are only shopping once a week. I may even get to tackle my filing and sort the overflowing piles of papers on my desk. Even update my website (unlikely!) But most importantly, my dog seems very happy to have me at home all day….every cloud…Bon courage with the latest lockdowns wherever you are and, if you would like help in finding a property in this beautiful part of France, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

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Demand exceeds supply for rural country homes in France

By nadia, on 7th October 2020


Where you work and where you want to live are not always the same and yet in the past, most of us have had to live where the work is or at least compromise by either enduring an uncomfortable and long commute from where we want to live to where we work or sacrificing a garden and space and often quality of life for a shorter commute.

This has suddenly all changed for many people who discovered home working (or WFH as it seems to have become) because of Covid restrictions. Many will never need to go back to the office environment and others are now ‘flexi-working’ which can mean either going into the office once or twice a week or maybe just once or twice a month or only for occasional meetings. For all categories, proximity to the office is now a much lower priority and, unshackled from commitments to a physical workplace, many people are changing how and where they live.

Which could explain why the property market here in rural France is experiencing a mini-boom and a distinct lack of good properties for sale. The very sudden and profound transformation in how we work has translated very quickly into a change in the type of property that is in demand. Those city centre flats or suburban/edge of town developments are suddenly no longer so sought-after. The majority of people are now looking for more space and greater home comforts and hence large properties in the middle of the countryside with plenty of rooms and/or outbuildings for offices and with big gardens are at a premium and selling very fast.

The difference in property prices between city and countryside adds to the appeal; most of the time, moving from city to country means gaining twice the space inside and out for the same price with money left over. This price differential may be the first thing to change though if property values are shifting, in which case, it looks likely that prices will follow with rising property prices in the countryside and falling prices in the suburbs and city centres; a trend not seen for generations.

Is this likely to be a permanent change? It is probably too soon to tell. One thing is certain though; work has undergone a huge shift and, where work leads, lives tend to follow.

If you need help relocating or finding your perfect house, please get in touch: nadia@foothillsoffrance.com

 

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