Real Estate

No Letter, No Deadline: a SAFER Ruling for Buyers Who Lost the Land

A buyer whose registered letter from the SAFER could not be delivered is never out of time to challenge the pre-emption, the Cour de cassation ruled on 9 July 2026, whatever he knew from other sources. What that means for foreign buyers of French farmland, and how the SAFER's reach grew on 20 August.

A Flat for as Long as You Keep the Job: France’s New Housing Law for Public-Service Workers

Loi 2026-553 ties social housing to the job that justified it, hands public employers half the flats built on land they sell at a discount, and lets town halls override the local plan to build for nurses, police and transport staff. Nothing in it touches a private lease. Here is what it changes for the buildings around you.

Who Pays the Copropriété Charges in the Year You Sell?

French law does not split copropriété charges by days when a flat changes hands. The owner on the due date pays the whole call, the owner on the accounts-approval date takes the whole adjustment, and the works fund is never refunded. What each rule means for a foreign seller or buyer.

The Relance Logement Bill, Article by Article: What the Senate Passed and What the Assemblée Still Has to Decide

The Senate has rewritten the Relance Logement bill and the Assemblée nationale takes it up this autumn. All ten articles explained: the works-contract reprieve for F and G homes, summer comfort in copropriété votes, planning derogation zones, the loosened Jeanbrun, the island second-home surcharge, and what each one means for a foreign owner.

Loi de 1948 Rents in 2026: the 0.78% Decree, the €204 Ceiling, and Why a Cheap Paris Flat Can Be a Bad Deal

Décret 2026-712 lets landlords of loi de 1948 homes raise rents by 0.78 percent from 1 July 2026, up to a ceiling that can be a tenth of the market rent. What the regime is, how the increase differs from an IRL revision, how a landlord gets out, and what a buyer of a flat with a 1948 tenant is really buying.

Boundary Disputes in France (2026): Encroachment, Bornage and How They End

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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.