If you have just discovered this site — bienvenue. You are in the right place.
The English Investor is a free resource for British and English-speaking investors buying, holding, and managing property in France. Every article is grounded in French law, written in plain English, and designed to give you the practical knowledge that notaires, estate agents, and expat forums usually leave out.
Whether you are researching your first purchase or managing a portfolio through an SCI, this page will point you to the guides that matter most — organised by topic, so you can jump straight to what is relevant to you.
Buying Property in France
If you are at the very beginning — thinking about buying but not sure where to start — this is your first stop.
How to Buy Property in France: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide for British Investors — The full process from search to signature, including the compromis de vente, the notaire’s role, and the costs nobody warns you about.
SCI & Legal Structures
The Société Civile Immobilière (SCI) is the most common structure for holding French property — and one of the most misunderstood. If you are considering setting one up, or you already own shares in one, start here.
The Ultimate Guide to French SCI — The comprehensive overview: what an SCI is, why investors use it, and how it works in practice.
How to Create a Société Civile in France — The step-by-step process for setting up your SCI, from drafting the statuts to registering with the greffe.
The Golden Cage: Owning Shares in an SCI — What it really means to hold parts sociales, how transfers work, and the restrictions you need to know about.
How to Change the Statutes of an SCI — When and how to amend your SCI’s founding documents.
SCI Accounting: Reporting, Profits & Legal Obligations — The annual requirements every SCI manager (gérant) needs to get right.
And if your SCI uses partner current accounts — the compte courant d’associé (CCA) — we have an entire deep-dive series:
The Ultimate Guide to CCA in Your SCI — The master guide to how CCAs work, why they matter, and how to manage them.
CCA vs. Capital Contributions: Which Should You Use?
CCA Interest: Rates, Deductibility & Tax Treatment
Your Right to Get Your CCA Money Back
When Your SCI Can Block or Delay Reimbursement
Tax & Regulation
French property taxation is notoriously complex — and even more so for non-residents. These guides break it down.
Capital Gains Tax on French Property for Non-Residents — How plus-values immobilières are calculated, what you owe, and the allowances that can reduce (or eliminate) your bill.
LMNP: The Complete Guide to Furnished Rental Tax Status — The Loueur en Meublé Non Professionnel regime explained: who qualifies, how to register, and the real tax savings it delivers.
Rental Strategy & Airbnb
Thinking about renting out your French property? The regulatory landscape has changed dramatically in recent years.
How to Airbnb in France: The Ultimate Guide for UK Investors — Registration requirements, tax obligations, local rules, and everything you need to run a short-term rental legally.
Your Neighbours Can Now Vote to Ban Your Airbnb — The loi Le Meur and what it means for investors in copropriétés.
Stay Up to Date
New guides are published regularly. If you want to be notified when something new goes live — no spam, no fluff — join the newsletter.
You can also explore the full site by category: Real Estate, SCI & Legal Structures, and Tax & Regulation.
And if you have a question or want to get in touch, head over to the contact page.