All Articles

All articles from The English Investor, in reverse chronological order — across every category. Click any title to read the full piece.

The Real Cost of a Paris Pied-à-Terre in 2026: An Honest Spreadsheet for Foreign Buyers

Real Estate
What does a Paris pied-à-terre actually cost a foreign owner in 2026? We walked through a representative €500,000 one-bedroom and added up every line — DMTO, copropriété, taxe d'habitation surtax, CSG/CRDS, exit CGT. The honest after-tax net yield is 2.1%, lifestyle value notwithstanding.

France’s LMP Reform 2026: Foreign Income Now Counts in the Non-Resident Threshold (Loi de Finances 2026)

Real Estate
The Loi de Finances 2026 has ended a long-standing French quirk: non-resident landlords previously qualified for LMP status because only French-source income was compared against rental receipts. From 1 January 2026, foreign income now counts — pushing many non-resident owners back to LMNP, with material CGT consequences.

France’s 120-Day Airbnb Cap: The Cour de cassation Closes the ‘Internship’ Loophole (Civ. 3e, 16 April 2026)

Real Estate
The Cour de cassation has ruled that a student internship — even one embedded in a university curriculum — does not count as a 'professional obligation' for the purposes of the 120-day annual cap on tourism rentals of a French primary residence. We unpack what the 16 April 2026 ruling closes off, what it leaves intact, and how it interacts with the Loi Le Meur tightening.

Buying French Property as a US Person: The Tax-Reporting Stack You Cannot Skip (2026)

Real Estate
A field guide to the IRS reporting stack — FBAR, Form 8938, Form 8865, Schedule E, Foreign Tax Credit — that US persons take on the moment they buy French property, with the SCI classification puzzle and the post-2019 CSG/CRDS creditability under LB&I-04-0819-007.

When a French Tenant Hides Their Assets: The 2026 Criminal Pathway

Real Estate
When a French tenant overstays after lease termination, refuses to pay, AND shuffles their assets to dodge enforcement, the landlord has a criminal-law tool most don't know about. The Cour de Cassation, on 9 April 2026, confirmed that the post-termination occupation indemnity is quasi-delictual — and therefore covered by the criminal offence of organising fraudulent insolvency under article 314-7 of the Code pénal. Punishable by up to 3 years' imprisonment and a €45,000 fine. What every French landlord — domestic or foreign — should know.

France’s 2026 Notary-Fee Hike: Why British Buyers Pay More

Real Estate
From 1 April 2025, French départements can raise their DMTO rate from 4.5% to 5% under article 116 of the Loi de finances 2025. By April 2026, ~83 of France's 100 départements have done so. For a typical British buyer of a resale flat in Paris or the Côte d'Azur, the practical effect is a notary-fee bill that's €2,500 to €5,000 higher than a year ago — and most British buyers can't claim the primo-accédant exemption that would let them avoid it.

France’s 2026 CSG Hike: The 7.5% Carve-Out for UK Landlords

Real Estate
France raised CSG on capital income by 1.4 points on 1 January 2026 — but bare rental and real-estate gains were specifically exempted, while LMNP got hit. And UK-resident landlords with the right A1 or S1 paperwork can pay just 7.5% on every euro of net rental income, an 11-point saving most British landlords have never been told about.

How a Tontine Clause Can Void Your French SCI (2026 Ruling)

Real Estate
The Cour de Cassation's 9 April 2026 ruling is a brutal warning to British couples holding a French property through a small SCI: a tontine clause that covers all the shares makes the SCI null from inception. We unpack the trap, the practical fix that preserves the tax-efficient outcome, and what to do if your existing statutes are at risk.

French Copropriété AGM: The 2-Month Contestation Clock (2026 Ruling)

Real Estate
The Cour de Cassation has just confirmed that the 2-month deadline to contest a French copropriete AGM decision runs from the day the registered letter was first presented at your address — even if you never picked it up. A procedural trap for non-resident British landlords, explained with the 16 April 2026 ruling and the wider French property timetable.

Fixing a French Notarial Deed Error: The 5-Year Window (2026 Ruling)

Real Estate
A 16 April 2026 Cour de Cassation ruling settles, for the first time, that an action to rectify a French notarial deed of property sale is a personal action with a 5-year prescription. What British buyers need to know.

Renters’ Rights Act 2026: How Britain Just Caught Up to France

Real Estate
At one minute past midnight on 1 May 2026, England's biggest tenancy reform in nearly four decades came into force. What the Renters' Rights Act does, and how the new English regime compares to French law that's been in place since 1989.

Bail à Vie at French Auction: A 2010 Ruling British Buyers Must Know

Guides
In 2004, two buyers won a French house at auction — only to discover the existing tenant had a lifetime clause they'd inherited. The 2010 Cour de Cassation ruling every British investor must know.

IRL Q1 2026: French Rent Revision for British Landlords

Real Estate
INSEE's Q1 2026 IRL of 146.60 (+0.78% YoY) sets the rent-revision cap on French residential leases. A British landlord's guide to article 17-1, the DPE F/G freeze, the DOM/Corsica indices, and the one-year invocation deadline.

French Capital Gains Tax for Non-Residents: A British Investor’s 2026 Guide

Guides
Selling French property as a UK resident? A precise 2026 guide to plus-value immobilière: the 19% + 17.2% rate, the 22- and 30-year abattement schedules, the de Ruyter UK national-insurance carve-out giving a 26.5% effective rate, the représentant fiscal threshold, and the loi de finances 2026 LMP update.

Commandement de Quitter les Lieux 2026: The French Eviction Notice Explained

Guides
What the commandement de quitter les lieux must contain, when it can be voided, and the réintégration risk for British landlords. A precise guide to the French eviction notice and the four mandatory mentions of article R. 411-1 CPCE.

French Eviction Timeline 2026: 8 Months to 2 Years (and Why)

Guides
How long does it actually take to evict a tenant in France? A 9-step walk-through of every délai, from first missed rent to the bailiff at the door, with realistic timeframes for best, average and worst cases.

Trêve Hivernale 2025-2026: Britain’s Guide to France’s Winter Eviction Ban

Guides
From 1 November to 31 March every year, France suspends the physical execution of evictions. A British landlord's guide to the trêve hivernale: dates, exceptions, the L. 412-2 hardship extension, and how to keep the procedural clock running through the winter.

French Squatter Law in 2026: The Loi Anti-Squat Explained for British Landlords

Real Estate
Squatters in your French property? Since the loi anti-squat of 27 July 2023, you can be out in days, not months — if you know which procedure applies. The 2026 guide for British landlords: prefectoral fast-track, criminal penalties, and the domicile trap most guides miss.

How to Evict a French Tenant: The Complete 2026 Guide for British Landlords

Guides
Evicting a tenant in France is slow and procedural — but it is possible. The complete 2026 guide for British landlords: the 8-step procedure, the délais, the trêve hivernale, the loi anti-squat 2023, and what to do when the préfet refuses to send the police.

Lecornu Just Softened the DPE Letting Ban: What British Landlords Need to Know

Real Estate
PM Sébastien Lecornu just unveiled a housing bill that softens the DPE F/G letting ban: landlords can keep letting, provided they sign a renovation contract. Three years for houses, five for flats — here's what British landlords need to know.

The French DPE in 2026: What British Landlords Need to Know Before the Next Rental Ban

Real Estate
France's 2026 DPE rules silently re-score electric-heated homes, pull smaller copropriétés into the collective-DPE net, and move the rental ban closer to F-rated stock. Here's what British landlords need to check before they re-let.

How to maximize your Council Tax refund: the 2026 guide

Guides
A 2025-26 walk-through of every legitimate route to a lower UK Council Tax bill or an outright refund — band challenges, single-occupier and SMI disregards, the new 100% second-home premium, CTR, and moving-out refunds.

TEOM and REOM: The French Household-Waste Tax Explained for British Investors (2026)

Real Estate
What the TEOM and REOM actually are, who pays, how they're calculated, whether you can recharge them to tenants, and how to claim a refund when your French property sits empty — a complete 2026 guide for British investors.

IFI: The French Wealth Tax on Real Estate — Complete Guide for British Investors (2026)

Real Estate
France's IFI wealth tax on real estate catches out British investors faster than they expect — a €1.3M threshold, a worldwide-income cap that does not apply to non-residents, and a 21 May 2026 online filing deadline. Here's the complete 2026 guide.

French Tax Deadlines 2026: A Complete Calendar for British Property Owners

Tax & Regulation
A plain-English calendar of every French tax deadline a British property owner will meet in 2026 — income tax, IFI, GMBI, taxe foncière, taxe d'habitation — plus the 7.5% post-Brexit social-charges carve-out and the taux moyen election.

The British Buyer’s Guide to Moving GBP to EUR for a French Property Purchase

Markets & Investing
A no-nonsense, unaffiliated look at the best ways to move GBP to EUR for a French property purchase — Wise, Revolut, CurrencyFair, specialist brokers and high-street banks, compared on cost, speed and safety.

Paris Is Doubling Its Vacant Property Tax: What British Investors Need to Know

Real Estate
Paris is doubling its vacant property tax from 2027, with first-year rates jumping from 17% to 30% and second-year rates from 34% to 60%. Here's what the new TVLH means for British investors with a Parisian pied-à-terre or buy-to-let.

Higher Caps, Looser Rules: Inside France’s 2026 Visale Refresh

Real Estate
France's free Visale rent guarantee got a meaningful refresh in January 2026 — higher rent caps (up to €1,940/month in Île-de-France), a looser income threshold, easier access for seasonal workers, and a new intergenerational cohabitation pilot. Here's what it means for landlords.

Holding Over, Paying Up: France’s Cour de cassation Strengthens Landlords’ Hand on the Security Deposit

Real Estate
France's Cour de cassation has confirmed that landlords can deduct the indemnité d'occupation from the security deposit when a tenant overstays — and the tenant can't dodge this by arguing prescription. Here's what the ruling says.

It’s Constitutional: France’s Highest Court Validates the Copropriété Airbnb Ban

Real Estate
The Conseil constitutionnel has ruled that French co-owners can vote by two-thirds majority to ban Airbnb-style tourist rentals in residential buildings. Here's what the decision means for British property investors.

Managing French Property Remotely: The Complete Guide for Non-Resident Owners

Real Estate
A comprehensive guide for non-resident owners on managing French rental property from abroad — covering tax obligations, social contributions, DPE regulations, hiring a property manager under the Loi Hoguet, copropriété management, and the practical systems that make remote ownership work.

The 10-Year Rule: How Good-Faith Buyers Can Secure Property Ownership in France

Real Estate
The prescription abrégée under Article 2272 lets good-faith buyers acquire full ownership in just 10 years — even if the seller wasn't the real owner. Here's how the juste titre and bonne foi conditions work, and what British property owners need to know.

Boundary Disputes in France: A Practical Guide for British Property Owners

Real Estate
How French boundary law works — from bornage to prescription acquisitive — and what British property owners need to know to protect their land, resolve neighbor disputes, and avoid costly litigation.

Adverse Possession in France: What British Property Owners Need to Know About Squatter’s Rights

Real Estate
French law allows someone to acquire ownership of your property through 30 years of continuous possession — even in bad faith. Here's what British property owners need to know about prescription acquisitive, how it works, and how to protect yourself.

French Mortgage Guide for Non-Residents: How British Investors Can Finance Property in France

Real Estate
Everything British investors need to know about getting a French mortgage as a non-resident — from bank selection and HCSF rules to the offre de prêt process, costs, insurance, and tax deductibility.

Regional Property Guide: Paris vs. the French Riviera — Where Should Investors Buy?

Real Estate
Our first regional property guide compares Paris and the French Riviera for British investors — covering prices per square metre, rental yields, local tax differences, and which region suits your investment strategy.

Inheritance in France: The Complete Guide for British Property Owners

Real Estate
Everything British property investors need to know about French inheritance law — from the réserve héréditaire and Brussels IV election to SCI succession planning, démembrement, and the UK-France double tax treaty.

LMNP in France: The Complete Guide to Furnished Rental Tax Status for British Investors

Tax & Regulation
LMNP (Loueur en Meublé Non Professionnel) is one of the most powerful tax tools available to British investors buying property in France. Here's everything you need to know about the furnished rental tax status — from how it works and who qualifies, to the real tax savings it can deliver.

How to Buy Property in France: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide for British Investors

Guides
A comprehensive guide to buying property in France as a British investor. From making an offer to signing the acte authentique  every step explained, including costs, timelines, notaire fees, mortgage options, and recent 20242025 legal changes.

Your French Neighbours Can Now Vote to Ban Your Airbnb — and the Courts Just Said That’s...

Real Estate
A French appeals court has upheld a copropriété vote banning short-term tourist rentals under the Loi Le Meur. What this landmark ruling means for Airbnb investors in France — and what you should check in your own building rules.

Capital Gains Tax on French Property: How Non-Residents Are Taxed (and How to Reduce It)

Guides
Complete guide to French capital gains tax (plus-value immobilière) for non-residents in 2026. Rates, the new 17-year taper relief schedule, exemptions, SCI implications, and strategies to legally reduce your tax bill when selling property in France.

CCA vs. Capital Contributions in a French SCI: Which Should You Use?

SCI & Legal Structures
When setting up a French SCI to buy property, one of the first decisions you'll face is how to get money into the company....

CCA Interest in a French SCI: Rates, Deductibility, and Tax Treatment Explained

SCI & Legal Structures
When you lend money to your SCI through a compte courant d'associé (CCA), one question comes up almost immediately: can you charge interest on...

Compte Courant d’Associé: When Your SCI Can Block or Delay Reimbursement

SCI & Legal Structures
Your CCA is reimbursable on demand — in principle. But blocking clauses, statutory grace periods, and insolvency rules can restrict or delay your right to withdraw funds from your French SCI. Here is what every foreign investor needs to know about the limits on CCA reimbursement.

Compte Courant d’Associé in a French SCI: Your Right to Get Your Money Back at Any Time

SCI & Legal Structures
You’ve lent money to your own SCI through a compte courant d’associé. Can you get it back whenever you want? French law says yes — and the Cour de cassation has been remarkably firm about it. Here’s what every foreign investor needs to know.

The Market That Forgot How to Move

Real Estate
The UK housing market has ground to a standstill. Prices hold firm but activity has collapsed, with mortgage approvals at two-year lows and nearly half of listed properties being withdrawn unsold. What's driving this stalemate, and what does it mean for buyers, sellers, and investors?

The Unofficial Bank: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Partner Current Accounts (CCA) in Your French SCI

You have formed your Société Civile Immobilière (SCI). You followed the common advice to keep the share capital low—perhaps €1,000—to minimize setup costs and keep the...

French SCI Accounting: Your Guide to Reporting, Profits, and Legal Obligations

SCI & Legal Structures
You own the property. You have the keys. You have even navigated the initial setup. But now, a year has passed, and a quiet...

How to Change the Statutes of a French SCI: A Complete Guide for Investors

Guides
You have done it. The Société Civile Immobilière (SCI) is set up. The property is bought. The keys are in your pocket. You might think the...

The Golden Cage: The Complete Guide to Owning Shares in a French SCI

SCI & Legal Structures
So, you have successfully navigated the French bureaucracy. You have your Société Civile Immobilière (SCI), the K-bis is in the safe, and the champagne has been...

The English Investor Guide: How to Create a Société Civile in France

Guides
For many British investors looking across the Channel, the dream of owning French property—whether a Parisian apartment or a farmhouse in Dordogne—often leads to...

How to Continue Trading on Interactive Brokers After a PDT Flag (Even If You’ve Used Your One-Time...

Guides
TL;DR (April 2026) — You've used your one-time IBKR PDT reset and you're stuck. The three workarounds that actually keep you trading: (1) switch...

How to Airbnb in France: The Ultimate Guide for UK Property Investors (2026)

Guides
Last Updated: April 2026 (originally July 2025) – Thinking of investing in short-term rentals (à la Airbnb) in France? You’re not alone. But be warned: France has...

UK House Prices in 2026: The Market That Stopped Inflating

Real Estate
The 2026 update to our UK housing guide: essentially flat headline prices, a two-speed regional split, the April 2025 stamp duty reset, collapsed net migration, and what it all means for buyers and investors.

France’s Political Turmoil Revisited: What Actually Happened to British Households

Markets & Investing
The April 2026 update to our December 2024 piece: three French prime ministers in fifteen months, Le Pen's conviction and 2027 ban, the OAT-Bund spread at 74bps, and how much of the predicted UK ripple effect actually arrived.

UK House Prices Revisited: The Crash That Never Quite Arrived

Real Estate
Three years after our January 2023 piece asked if there was any end in sight to the UK house-price slide, here is what actually happened: a shallow floor, three years of sideways nominal prices, and a real-terms repricing via inflation.

How to claim EIS and SEIS tax relief

Guides
A 2026 refresh of our EIS and SEIS guide: the doubled SEIS limits, the schemes now running to 2035, the April 2026 expansion of EIS company thresholds, and the four ways to actually claim the relief.

London Housing Revisited: The Real-Terms Correction That Quietly Arrived

Real Estate
In 2018 we predicted London house prices would keep falling. Seven years on, here is what actually happened to the capital - and what non-dom reforms mean for 2026 buyers.

UK Buy-to-Let Revisited: The Slow Professionalisation of a Squeezed Market

Real Estate
In 2018 we argued the Government had murdered UK buy-to-let. Seven years on, here is how Section 24, the Renters' Rights Act, and the 5% SDLT surcharge actually reshaped the market.
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