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LIVING IN FRANCE

Retirement to rosé season: Six essential articles about life in France

From flu shots to spa treatments, the 90-day rule to saucy French firemen calendars, here are six essential articles to read about life in France.

Published: 24 October 2021 10:00 CEST
Lily-of-the-Valley is a May Day tradition in France
France's traditional May Day flower. Photo: Georges Gobet/AFP

We know that many people dream of retiring to France one day, but before you give up work and start practising for the village pétanque team there are some boring but important matters to consider first.

We’ve put together this guide on how you can retire to France, taking in visas and residency, pensions, healthcare, transport and taxes.

How to retire to France

For those already in France the winter flu vaccination campaign has begun, brought forward from its planned start date.

Here’s how you can get your shot, which groups are eligible for free vaccination and how much it costs for those not in priority groups.

How to get your flu vaccination in France

If you’re already in France you will probably know that the season for calendar-sellers is beginning.

An annual tradition by various groups including firefighters to raise money for charity, the door-to-door selling can also be taken advantage of by scammers, so we look at how to make sure your money is going to a worthy cause.

France’s calendar sellers: How to avoid scams

Talking of seasons, it something feels as though France has a season for everything from rosé and oysters to protests and sales.

So if you want to know when you should get your big coat out of the wardrobe and which flowers to buy in May, we’ve put together a cultural calendar of France, explaining its real ‘seasons’.

Oysters to fireman’s balls: France’s cultural calendar

As travel opens up again, our British readers are coming back to the second homes in France, and many are encountering the 90-day rule for the first time.

This post-Brexit restriction on the amount of time British visitors can stay in France has had a big impact on the plans of some second-home owners, so we’re looking at your options if you want to spend more than 90 days at a time at your French property.

How can British second-home owners spend more than 90 days in France?

You may have read that the Italian government is giving out €200 spa vouchers for anyone who feels that they need a bit of pampering.

Unfortunately, the French government doesn’t appear to be following suit (we have suggested it, obviously) but did you know that your doctor could prescribe a spa cure?

It’s one of several surprising things that are available via the French state health system.

Carte vitale: Five surprising things available on your French health insurance

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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