The English Investor is the go-to English-language resource for foreign property investors in France. Written by a tri-qualified lawyer, our guides cover legal structures, tax strategy, rental regulations, and practical advice for buying and managing French real estate.
A cross-border comparison of UK Stamp Duty Land Tax and French frais de notaire in 2026 — the bands, the surcharges, the carve-outs, and concrete worked examples at £500K and €500K for primary residence, second home, non-resident and new-build purchases.
A Cour de cassation ruling of 9 April 2026 confirms that a property owner expropriated in France can claim the indemnity for lost rental income for the first time on appeal — a useful procedural opening for any foreign owner of a let French property.
If you own French property and live abroad, you owe a French tax return by 21 May 2026 — even with zero rental income. Here is the box-by-box walkthrough, deadlines, and the five mistakes foreign owners make every year.
A cross-border comparison of UK Stamp Duty Land Tax and French frais de notaire in 2026 — the bands, the surcharges, the carve-outs, and concrete worked examples at £500K and €500K for primary residence, second home, non-resident and new-build purchases.
A Cour de cassation ruling of 9 April 2026 confirms that a property owner expropriated in France can claim the indemnity for lost rental income for the first time on appeal — a useful procedural opening for any foreign owner of a let French property.
If you own French property and live abroad, you owe a French tax return by 21 May 2026 — even with zero rental income. Here is the box-by-box walkthrough, deadlines, and the five mistakes foreign owners make every year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...