Press

Press Releases

• NEW RULES FOR SWIMMING POOL SAFETY
  
  A new French law has been announced that calls for increased security to swimming pools on French property and requires the swimming pool owners to install special security systems. The law, which was announced on 3 January 2003 and will come into effect on 1 January 2004, has been introduced following the alarming increase of drowning cases, in particular of young children.
  
  The law will only apply to those swimming pools that are buried in the ground and are not enclosed within a building. They will affect both pools used for a collective and a private individual use. Any swimming pool failing within these criteria will need to have a specific security system installed, in accordance with norms to be decided in the coming months.
  
  Owners of an existing pool that is kept for their private use will have until 1 January 2006 to have an approved system installed. However, in cases where the pool is with a property let on seasonal short-term lettings, the deadline is shortened to 1 January 2004.
  
  For all new swimming pools built after 1 January 2004 the constructor must give the owner a technical note indicating the method of security adopted. Owners face a fine of up to €45,000 if they fail to comply with the new rules. Although the precise details of the kind of security measures the law will enforce have yet to be decided, it appears that the systems will probably be varied and will comprise notably security fences, a secure access gate or a rolling type of shutter over the pool.
  
  

• New rules governing residency
  
  As from 26 November 2003, any UK national taking up residence in France will no longer be required to obtain a Carte de Séjour "residence permit". This is now abolished for all purposes including the running of a business and will no longer apply whether you spend less or more than three months in France. The residence permits still continue to apply for non-EU nationals and the previous residence requirements will apply.
  
  If you require any further information on this subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.
   

• SIPPS and purchasing a property in France
  
  The new legal framework for SIPPS (Self Invested Personal Pensions) applicable from April 2006 and enabling the SIPP to purchase property abroad, has generated a substantial amount of interest.
  
  As far as France is concerned, particular care is needed as the situation is far from simple and investors should be aware that the UK advice available to them in connection with the proposal will often not adequately deal with the French legal and taxation issues arising out of the purchase, all of which merit particular attention.
  

• French Wealth Tax New Schedule *2007 Update*
  
  French wealth tax (impôt de solidarité sur la fortune - ISF) applies to UK residents whose French assets have a net value of more than 760,000 Euros (approx, £500,000) with a number of exclusions, in particular for businesses and non-resident financial assets.
  

• Cross Border Legacies and Charities
  
  For an ever increasing number of UK nationals holding property abroad, a bequest of the foreign immovable's to a charity would seem a simple and convenient solution to deal with the property on their death.
  

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Le spécialiste de la maison de campagne
dans les Deux-Sèvres et la Vendée



         



Thanks to their closeness to the sea, the Deux-Sèvres and Vendée départements enjoy a gentle climate with 2,600 hours annual sunshine on average, similar to the Côte d’Azur in the south of France, but have the additional attraction of verdant countryside.