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a bag of soiled nappies in the bathroom the rest having already ensured that your septic tank is useless (and smelly) for the incoming guests.
This is where your letting ‘terms and conditions’ must come into play. You need to state very clearly in these conditions just what is expected from outgoing guests.
for you to use) as a perfect excuse for those departing not to clean out the fridge.
Sadly, these unpleasant experiences do taint what are often many weeks of lovely, thoughtful visitors. If only there was a way of knowing which-were-which before they booked your property? It’s been suggested that, much in the same vein as TripAdvisor, what is required is a Guest Advisor, so that property owners can go on-line and learn from other owners’ experiences, before they agree to the let.
Is your business correctly registered and taxed?
There is much variation in what people believe is appropriate with the declaration of their income from their property in France. So diverse are people’s often
deeply held views of what is correct (and they cannot possibly all be right) that the best thing to say here is that it may be worth checking this out with someone that does know and is able to advise.
A rule of thumb is that if the property is in France, whatever your situation (and wherever you are paid to)
Many expats. rent out part or all of their buildings as 'gîtes'. This can provide a very useful secondary income or pension top up. Nicole Pemberton can make sure you get thing established correctly, Nicole points out that …
Gîtes are self-catering units, separate from your own house. Chambres d'Hôte are usually part of your own house, a meal (breakfast) is offered as part of the package, and you must offer a personalised service (ie: you personally greet your guests on arrival). Chambres d'Hôte must not exceed 5 bedrooms/15 guests, to avoid being classed as a hotel.
French taxation law classifies many people with Gîtes or Chambres d'Hôte as "location en meublé non professionnelle" (LMNP)*. This is an advantageous position compared with having to declare a business structure and register for a SIRET number.
You must advise your local 'Mairie' of your intentions if you wish to start this type of activity. Gross rental income is normally declared on the annual tax return in the Micro-BIC category*. This is a simplified system whereby a fixed allowance is given for costs, rather than you having to provide invoices and accounts.
Some communes have started to charge a "taxe de séjour"* - it would be your responsibility to pay this (either charge it to your guests or, better, include it in the price).
Penalties for non-declaration of income can be severe in France - furthermore, there are potential insurance issues if rental properties are not disclosed. *Circumstances vary - seek professional advice. Contact Nicole at
contact@afa82.com
You should also collect a reasonable deposit, or ensure that your agent has done this. If you state that excessive cleaning will be charged for, then do this. It is also well worth keeping a camera handy for extreme situations. The golden rule is never to return the deposit to people as they leave (because they seemed like nice folk), problems can be left lurking in many different guises, so it’s worth waiting until the property has been completely cleaned and inspected.
There are many ‘grey’ areas regarding damage done to your property and when you can call this gratuitous, excessive or deliberate. Common complaints include the need for excessive laundry following the departure of beautifully fake-tanned guests; pebbles in the pool filter and of course inedible food stuffs left ((kindly, of course,
you should be declaring your income to the French authorities but do get advice on how this should be done.
This year has seen more communes collecting a tourist tax. Whatever type of accommodation you offer you will have a per head/per night tax. This may make local administrators far more aware of properties not registered and avoiding this local tax.
All companies, that are insuring your buildings and contents should be advised if you are letting any part of your property. It is essential that you have the appropriate cover for any claims made against you as the property/pool owner. As soon as you are accepting money for your property, your relationship with the guest changes. Often, where the letting is only minimal
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