Clé France

Bienvenu to the first blog from the French Legal Services team at Ashton KCJ.

Our aim is to produce these regularly, keeping you up to date with any important legal developments.

So, whether you already own a house in France, or are currently looking to buy or sell a French property, our aim is to keep you informed about the issues you need to know.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised, then do please get in touch. 

You can speak to member of the team: Jean-Paul Vovor, who is a French national and holds notaire’s qualifications; Sarah Walker who is an English solicitor with a specialism in French and English inheritance law and tax matters or myself, a solicitor and head of the French team. We are all, of course, fully bilingual.

I hope you find the information interesting, and look forward to any comments you may have.

A bientôt!

Matthew Cameron

Head of French Legal Services.

We at Cle France - The French Property Network are proud to work in partnership with Ashton KCJ - Legal services. If we think our clients need further legal advice or have a specific legal question that needs solicitor involvement when buying or selling a property in France we can recommend Matthew Cameron and his team for expert advice.

It is always interesting seeing which property we have for sale in France gets the most "Hits" and when there is a French Property Exhibition in the UK it is even more interesting because the number of new visitors gives a slightly different result.

There has been one property that has left the rest standing and we think there is no contest as it is a really lovely home and a well priced property which has taken our "Star of the Show Weekend Spot" - This beautiful Traditional Longere in Brittany with a swimming pool - CXZ00703.

The organisers of A Place In The Sun exhibition even picked up on this property and made it there home page featured listing on the main Saturday of the Property exhibition -  if you want to see the listing on A Place in the Sun website then click here.

OR CLICK ON THE IMAGE - to be taken to the full property listing.

Having a property that has all the benefits of being in the countryside, but at the same time just outside of a town sounds like a bit of a tall order, but here is a lovely example of one. Set at the end of a lane with no neighbours, but within walking distance of a large busy village, you will find this glorious south facing Typically French Longere dating back to the 16th century, which has been fully renovated retaining all of its original character, including exposed beams and original character fireplaces.

The department of Morbihan in the south-eastern part of Brittany has a coastal area offering a micro-climate, the Morbihan Gulf on the south coast; where you will find the ancient town of Vannes. Morbihan is bordered by Cotes-d’Armor to the north, Ille-et-Vilaine to the east, Pays de la Loire to the southeast and Finistère to the west.

Morbihan’s main activities are agriculture, fishing and tourism. Oysters are cultivated in the Gulf of Morbihan. Tourism is popular along the Morbihan coastline and in the medieval towns and villages dotted around the countryside. Carnac is the French version of Stonehenge with stones laid in concentric circles by an ancient people.

These Megaliths and Dolmens and Menhirs are believed to have been placed there between 3500 and 1800 B.C and you see their symbols everywhere. Attractive Property in the area is easy to find with lovely Farmhouses, Water mills and sleepy Cottages in abundance.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

The Welsh retailer whose floral prints evoke Victorian England is to open websites in France and Germany to try to overturn a slowdown in annual online sales.

Laura Ashley reported a fall in profit before tax and exceptional items from £20.1 million to £19.3 million in the year to January 25 after like-for-like sales dipped 0.4 per cent.

The shares rose sharply, however, after the company said that sales had risen 2 per cent in the first two months of the year and the dividend was increased from 2p to 3.5p.

Seán Anglim, the chief financial officer, said that online sales had increased by 20 per cent in its British retail business in 2012, but that online sales were “broadly flat” last year.

“Over the last four or five years we’ve seen this [online] grow extremely well, he said. “We know there are enhancements we need to make.”

Laura Ashley offers customers a click-and-collect service, which is one of the fastest growing areas of the retail sector. Mr Anglim said that the company could do more to improve the way customers navigate the website.

Overseas markets are a key opportunity for the retailer, he said. A local language and currency website will open next month in France, where it has reduced its stores from 24 to 5, and in Germany, where it will return in the third quarter.

Cle France says this is great news for Ex Pats living in France and should cut down on delivery costs when ordering from the UK. This would have perfect when I lived in Haute-Vienne department of Limousin especially for the soft furnishings and even during our last 12 year stint in the Mayenne department near to Lassay-les-Chateaux in the region of Pays de la Loire it would have been welcoming.

But will it confuse the 'French interiors' design the Brits go for and instead be picked up by the young French who love all things 'Anglais'?

Blog submitted by: Sharon at The French Property Network - Cle France. 

Has this property got it all? CXZ00393 situated in a rural setting, in deepest Limousin with around an hectare of land. Most people who are looking for rural properties like this have a similar 'wish-list' so no need to look any further...

Our clients criteria or 'wish-lists' often have the following, what about yours?...

Rural location, Countryside views, Exposed beams, Wood burning stove, Outbuilding, Land, Character, not overlooked and potential for a holiday guest gite!

... and YES this property has all of that and much more! want to know more then click here for the full listing and 30+ photos.

AND one more thing - this property has just beed reduced in price to 219,000 euros FAI - it simply does not get any better!

This stunning property is beautifully appointed with spacious living areas including a fabulous farmhouse kitchen and 3 double bedrooms. A large barn is attached, ideal for conversion, along with a spacious stable which would make a lovely 1 bedroom gite. All in a peaceful hamlet on just short of 1ha of land. Stunning!

The property is not overlooked and is south facing, looking out towards spectacular countryside views.

The taxes are very low, approx. 158 euros per year for Taxe Fonciere. It has a handmade oak kitchen, lovely! A new central heating system, new plumbing, new electrics and new septic tank.

This house is situated in a small hamlet, just 2km from the nearest village, only 14 minutes from the nearest market town and less than an hour from each of the bigger cities of Limoges and Brive-la-Gaillarde.

This is a very well located property that benefits from the tranquility of its rural location, whilst maintaining easy access to all amenities. Must be seen.

The department of Haute-Vienne is in the region of Limousin and boasts a varied landscape of forests, countryside and lakes that attract many tourists each year looking for a range of activities including walking, fishing, sailing, boating and skiing. 

In addition, the department has a strong historical and cultural heritage and the landscape is dotted with Roman churches, abbeys and fortified castles. Beautiful man-made beaches are easily accessible and are an good alternative for a great day out. In particular, the Lake of Vassiviere, created in 1950, is extremely popular with visitors.

It is sometimes known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes, the Limousin and its Haute-Vienne department offer beautiful and preserved landscapes. Waterfalls sparkling in the middle of rocks and trees, myriads of flowers and impressive dense forests are the kind of treasures that can be discovered in the department.

Transport links are good too, the easy and cheap access from the United Kingdom with companies as Ryanair or from French cities made that Limoges and the Haute-Vienne became an attractive destination. There is also a project of enlargement for Limoges' airport.

The department has a semi-continential climate with summer temperatures in the mid 20's, perfect for enjoying the scenery.

See this stunning house on our Facebook page here...

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Just had a client email in to us their criteria and thought I would share it with everyone, having a solid criteria helps us find a selection of properties for you to visit and although we will need a little more to go on.... this criteria is a good one!

Our criteria is:

Don't mind some work

Got to be have good workshop

An hour from serviceable airport

An hour to get to coast

Detached, edge or not too far from town with train access

Cheap wine

Good food

Sunshine

Relaxation

They are looking for property in Herault in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon with Cle France.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.