Take
a first step by renting
Finding a property in France can be a real challenge if you are sat in front of
your computer back in the UK. Letting a property could be a solution allowing
you to spend time searching the area and seeing what it has to offer. However,
people who have yet to sell their UK house will have different demands than
those who have sold up and are ready to live in France. Someone with a house in
the UK may only be able to get a week or two away from work in one go, so it’s
vital you are well prepared.
Renting a holiday home out of season would naturally allow you to see an area
when it is quiet and often when the weather is at its worst. Many property
owners would be delighted to have someone rent for a short time in February or
March, just check the heating is sufficient. But before you head across make
sure you have the address details for estate agents close by and try and plan
out your viewings. It may also be worth dropping in on some French website
message boards to see if someone has a place available. Or you may find someone
willing to meet up with you for an hour when you are in France to give you some
pointers. So if you can find the time to get away from work there could still
be time to hunt down a property this spring.
But what about those people who have sold their UK house or let it for six
months or more?
One of the major problems when searching the internet for property to let is
that your searches are often mixed up with holiday lettings, so you need some
patience. If you use Google enter key words such as 'homes to rent' and areas
and if you want to target French possibilities then 'to let' is 'louer' and the
word used for 'lettings' is 'locations'. The cheapest way to rent a place is to
contact the landlord directly but for this you will need to have access to
local newspapers and possibly village shop windows. Remember, many of the
larger local newspapers will have online versions that you will be able to
search, again type the title into Google.
Estate agents will very likely have some property to let and again you may find
a holiday home that the owner is tired of cleaning every week and may let long
term. You also need to take into account your notice period for leaving the
property. If it is three months and you are well on your way to buying a
property you could well lose your deposit if you leave early. If you can time
your departure with your purchase that would be perfect. There is a real
advantage from being in an area longer term before buying as it gives you an
idea of the facilities, local schools and you can visit the Mairie. (27/08/04)
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