In this Rants & Bants episode (our shorter, more spontaneous, but always - okay, mostly - reno focused chats), we get all het up about everything from being ghosted after sending detailed quotes, to Facebook “expert” opinions on pricing, to the realities of buying and flipping property in today’s French property market. Most importantly though, we discuss Mr Kipling cakes and Burger King. Plus, the chic brackets we're importing from Poland...

Resources mentioned:

• The Connexion – English-language newspaper covering French news and current affairs
• Leroy Merlin – Major French DIY and renovation retailer
• Brico Dépôt – Budget building supplies chain in France
• Castorama – DIY and home improvement retailer
• Causton – Decorative hardware and electrical fittings supplier

Mini glossary:

• Devis – A formal, legally binding quote
• Artisan – Registered tradesperson
• Attestation d’assurance – Proof of insurance certificate
• Marchand de Bien – Property trader who buys, renovates and resells
• Taxe foncière – Annual French property ownership tax

Connect:

Facebook | Instagram

Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:

• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright

• Music: Grand Project

Planning rules can make or break a French renovation. So, in this episode, we unpack how planning permits in France actually work, why the mairie should always be your first stop - and what can go wrong if it isn’t!

If you’re renovating (or thinking about buying) property in France, this episode will help you avoid expensive mistakes, delays and legal headaches.

We’ve also pulled the key concepts, definitions and resources together in written form on our website, so you can revisit the details whenever you need to.

*** www.frenchrenodiaries.com ***

Resources mentioned in the episode

• Service-Public – Official French government guidance on planning and permits
• Local mairie – First point of contact for planning rules and applications
• PLU (Plan Local d’Urbanisme) – Local planning framework for each commune
• Géoportail – National mapping tool showing zoning, flood risk and boundaries

Mini glossary: French planning terms

• PLU (Plan Local d’Urbanisme) – Local planning rules set by the commune
• Déclaration Préalable (DP) – Simplified planning permission for certain works
• Permis de Construire – Full planning permission for larger projects
• Certificat d’Urbanisme (CU) – Document confirming development rights
• Bâtiments de France (ABF) – Authority overseeing protected and historic areas
• Affichage de permis – Mandatory on-site display of planning approval

Connect:

Facebook | Instagram

Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:

• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
• Music: Grand Project

What are you really paying for when you hire an artisan in France? Why do two quotes for the same work look so different? How much profit do artisans make on renovation work?

If you're asking yourself (or Google) these questions, you'll find all the answers here!

In this Rants & Bants episode, Rosie, Sue and Micala talk openly about the realities of running trade businesses in France - and what homeowners often misunderstand about how those businesses work (spoiler: we’re not milking you for all you’re worth and driving around in Ferraris).

We also hear about Sue's upcoming adventure in Kenya, where she’ll be building a mud hut for a family. Please consider supporting the project via Sue’s Just Giving page - even the smallest contribution will help provide tools, classroom resources, hot meals, and support for families who have so little.

👂If the money-talk in this episode grabbed your attention, make sure you listen to Episode #2 Why budgets blow: The brutal truth about renovation costs in France.

Resources mentioned in the episode

• Nasio Trust – UK charity supporting communities in Kenya through housing and education projects
• Facebook expat and renovation groups – places where renovation questions are often asked (and misinformation spreads)
• Riot Women (BBC One) – TV series about women finding their voice later in life

Mini glossary (for new renovators in France)

• Devis – a formal written quote for works
• Artisan – a qualified tradesperson operating in France
• TVA – French VAT
• BTP – ‘Bâtiment et travaux publics’ (the French construction and public works sector)

Connect

Facebook | Instagram

Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)