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LIVING IN FRANCE

Working visas, street names and cheese: Essential articles for life in France

From moving to France for work and comparing France’s minimum wage to the rest of Europe to where you can watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony plus tips for buying cheese – here are this week’s must-reads from The Local.

Published: 14 July 2024 08:31 CEST
French cheeses
French cheese. (Photo by Ludovic Marin / AFP)

Hollywood has inspired many to dream of moving to France, whether that be for the peace and quiet in a small village or the romantic idea of working in Paris, mirroring the lives of iconic characters from hit series like Emily in Paris. The reality is somewhat different… 

If you are looking to move to France for work as a foreigner, then you will need to be realistic about your options and residency status. Here are some things you should know.

Explained: How to get a visa if you want to move to France for work

France’s left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire has made headlines with its economic policies, especially a pledge to raise minimum wage to €1,600 a month – but how high is that, really? Here’s how France’s minimum wage stacks up against European neighbours.

How would a €1,600 minimum wage in France compare to the rest of Europe?

It’s two weeks away… The Paris 2024 Olympics promise to be very special, with events planned across the city’s historic sites and the opening ceremony to take place along the River Seine. But, if you missed out on tickets, all is not lost – there are more ways to watch the opening ceremony.

Where to watch the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

You have probably seen them signposted at the side of a major road – but what, exactly, are France’s villages étapes? And why should you know about them?

Driving in France: What are the French ‘villages étapes’?

In French town after French town, you’ll see famous names from history honoured on street signs – but who wins the prize for the highest number of streets, avenues and boulevards bearing their name? Yes, inevitably, it’s a man…

Which French figure has the most streets named after them?

Important stuff now, so pay attention. Charles de Gaulle famously said of France, ‘how can anyone govern a country with 246 varieties of cheese?’. But the General had underestimated – France actually has closer to 1,000 different types of cheese, which can feel a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, we have tips…

7 tips for buying French cheese

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LIVING IN FRANCE

What are the rules on home exchanges in France?

Home exchanges are an up-and-coming way to spend a holiday, offering a low-cost alternative to Airbnb and hotels. Here are the rules about them in France.

Published: 29 August 2024 08:11 CEST
What are the rules on home exchanges in France?

Home exchanges are becoming popular across the world.

They represent a budget-friendly alternative to renting a hotel room or an Airbnb, where one person swaps their home with another for a short period of time. 

Many people will do so using a website, such as HomeExchange, Kindred or Swaphouse. These platforms usually offer some sort of vetting, such as asking for proof of ID and address.

What are the rules in France?

France has strict rules about renting, including for short-term rentals. In many cases, you would need to register with local authorities, and pay tax on your earnings.

READ MORE: What you need to know about renting out your French property on Airbnb

As for home exchanges, they are not regulated. As long as there is no money being exchanged, then it is more or less equivalent to inviting a friend to come stay at your house.

According to the French insurance company Allianz, “home exchanges are not taxable, as no financial transaction takes place between hosts and guests in this context.”

Both owners and tenants can engage in ‘home swaps’, but tenants must inform the landlord, according to the French government website Service-Public.

Tenants should also check to verify that there is not a clause in the lease preventing home exchanges.

If you do not go through a website that creates a formal, signed agreement, you should make one yourself. Be sure to specify the dates of the home exchange, as well as other expectations.

Home insurance

The main aspect you will need to consider is your home insurance contract and how to protect yourself from any possible damage.

The first step would be to check your home insurance contract to see whether home exchanges are covered. If so, you simply need to inform them of the identity of the occupants who will be staying in your home.

If your insurance does not cover home exchanges, then you should contact them to negotiate a new amendment, which would involve adding a supplementary document to your contract.

For those using an online platform to facilitate the exchange, you should also read the terms and conditions for the website for damages and responsibility.

READ MORE: A beginner’s guide to renting property in France

You may want to request that the family staying in your home have a ‘holiday civil liability’ insurance (garantie responsabilité civile villégiature). This could cover them in the event of a fire or water damage.

As for yourself, you will want to ensure that the other party has informed their insurance company you are staying in their home and purchase a holiday civil liability cover for yourself as well.

This may already be part of your home insurance, and if not you may be able to add it on.

Swimming pools

If you own a swimming pool, be sure it is up to all safety standards. If there is an accident and you have not followed the safety rules, then you could be held liable.

READ MORE: What rules do swimming pool owners in France have to follow?

French construction and housing code specifies that personal pools should be fitted with at least one of these four standard safety devices;

  • Fencing or walling around the pool, with access by a gate which can be locked (so for example if you have a pool in your garden you should make sure that the garden has a fence or wall around it with a lockable door or gate)
  • Alarms fitted which go off when the water is disturbed
  • Pool covers fitted that meet safety standards (ie can be walked on without the person falling in)
  • Pool shelters (eg a rigid cover, roof or folding roof) that meet safety standards.

All of the above must meet French or EU standards – and you can be fined up to €45,000 if your pool does comply with safety regulations. You can find more specific rules for each safety device here.

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