Q& I
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have a second home in France and am considering offering it as a holiday rental. I would appreciate any
insights into the pros and cons of this decision?
CARMEL O'CONNELL of LBV Property Management responds (
lbvfrance.com): Using a second home in France as a holiday rental can be both profitable and convenient. However, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s weigh both the advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, the pros. Income generation: The most
obvious benefit is the potential for generating income. Popular tourist areas like Provence, the Riviera and the Dordogne can attract a steady flow of tourists, providing you with a lucrative source of additional income. Tax benefits: Renting
out your property can offer
Ask the experts
HOLIDAY RENTALS PROS AND CONS
from leaving a property vacant for extended periods. Flexibility: Unlike a long-
term rental, you can choose when you wish to rent out your home. If you decide to spend your summer in France, simply block out those dates. Local economy support: By
Carmel O'Connell
potential tax advantages. You might be able to deduct expenses related to the property, including maintenance, advertising and property management fees. Maintenance and upkeep:
Having regular visitors can ensure that potential issues with the home are identified quickly. This can help avoid more significant problems down the road that could occur
renting out your property, you are indirectly supporting the local economy. Tourists will shop, dine and participate in local activities, which can be beneficial for the community. And now for the cons. Wear and tear: A constantly
rented property experiences more wear and tear than one that’s occasionally occupied. This can lead to more frequent repairs and replacements. Management challenges:
Managing bookings, ensuring the property is cleaned between guests, dealing with repairs and addressing guests’ concerns can be
time-consuming. You can hire a property management company, but it will eat into your profits. Regulatory and tax
implications: Holiday rentals regulations can vary across different parts of France. You might be required to register your property, pay local taxes or meet specific safety standards. Not complying can lead to hefty fines. Availability for personal
use: If your property becomes popular, it might be booked out when you wish to use it. This
OWNING A PROPERTY CLOSE TO A PROTECTED MONUMENT
We have owned our village house in Burgundy for almost 10 years but would now like to do some work to it. It's close to a protected/listed monument, a monument historique – what do we need to take into consideration before we start the renovations?
ANNE-SOPHIE DONECHE of Sweetch Architects explains (
sweetcharchitects.com): In France, a listed building can impact your property on different levels. French law, under the Ministry of Culture, doesn’t only protect listed buildings, it also
Anne-Sophie Doneche
protects the area around listed buildings. By default, the law creates a protected surrounding area 500m around a listed building (zone ABF), in order to preserve and
88 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: January/February 2024
encourage the restoration of the architectural heritage but also to contain over-urbanisation. For this reason, clients should
not assume that if they can’t see the protected monument from their property, they won’t be impacted by it. In some cases, the conservation area has no relation with a protected monument. Therefore, before considering
any renovation works on your own property, you should always question the mairie or an architect, to understand where the protected monument or protected area is and how it might impact your property. You can also visit the following
website:
atlas.patrimoines.
culture.fr/atlas/trunk Once you have confirmed that
your property is situated close to a listed building, you will want to know what type of planning permission you will need. It is important to mention that construction works on a property situated near a listed building will always require special approvals from the mairie and from the conservation architect (Architecte des Bâtiments de France). They may stop you from doing some of the work or force you to follow some rules (in terms of design or material). For example, you might not be
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