Taxes

Q. What are the taxes levied on properties in France ?

A. In France there are two forms of taxation on a property. These are taxe d'habitation and taxe foncière. These payments will vary from property to property and are now based on who and how many people are living at the property. Destination La France is often able to provide details of the taxes applied to the property with the current owners and this can be a useful guide for future levies. Taxe d'habitation now includes the fee for the television licence which is currently set at €116.00.

Cost of living

Q. Our dream is to move to the Loire Valley , what's the cost of living like compared to the UK ?

A. Apart from enjoying the way of life in France and especially the Loire Valley there are some pleasant surprises in stall when it comes to working out how much things cost. Generally the cost of living compared to the UK is approximately 25% lower in France . The local taxes are considerably cheaper and electricity in France is one of the cheapest in Europe . Supermarkets and the weekly shop tend to be around the same price in Euros as Sterling . So we find it around 25-30% cheaper. In addition you will find further savings are possible when you reap the rewards of your labour in your vegetable patch! If you have a diesel car then savings are made here as the price is around 20% cheaper than that of the UK .

One thing we do say, buy your wine in France and buy your paint in the UK ! Although you will find good French wines in the UK you can pay a great deal more for them. However, the same cannot be said for paint in France . It is generally poor quality and sometimes double the price.

If you are interested in getting more detailed information of the cost of living in France the we suggest you log on to www.centreurope.org for a citywide guide comparison throughout the world.

Electrics

Q. We are relocating to the Loire Valley , will our electrical items work?

A. In France electricity is delivered at 380/440 volts through 3 separate phases with each phase being 220/240 volts of 50Hz. For most UK appliances such as white goods and other electrical items it is quite possible to change the plug and experience no or little change in performance. However, check with your manufacturer or the technical information. If the appliance reads 60Hz it will run hotter and require extra space for ventilation and cooling.

For appliances with transformers it may be possible to use them by using an adaptor. However, check with the manufacturer of the product to ensure safe working and compliance with warranty if valid.

One tip we can offer is don't change all your plugs. Buy banks or multiples and change the plug on those, then all you need to do is plug you appliance along with others you have brought over rather than change plugs on every appliance. This saves you time and money especially with televisions, videos, satellite boxes etc. and possibly micro waves, kettles and fridges.

Television

Q. Will my television, satellite box and digibox work in France ?

A. If you take your own television to France then, if you want to watch French television you will need to make sure it can receive the French transmission standard SECAM L. If you purchase a French television then you will need to ensure that it also receives the UK transmission standard PAL 1 if you wish to receive UK transmissions. Multi standard sets are available so there should not be too much problem there. Now if you wish to continue watching your favourite soap or keep up with the football then you will be pleased to know that your Sky box and UK digibox will pick up UK satellite programs. Freeview, which offers digital channels in the UK is not available in France . However free to air channels can be viewed with a dish and digibox and there are approximately 140 channels to choose from.

To receive Sky you require the contract card. The card needs to be registered in the UK and to overcome this then many people tend to having a willing family member or friend in the UK to assist, but please note this is against regulations. Sky do not have a licence to broadcast outside the UK and if they are made aware of this then they will terminate your contract.