Looking at house purchase - what work can I do myself?
Discussion
My wife and I have found a lovely property in the Ardeche, 19th century, big but not too big, views to die for, and not ruined. It had a brand new roof 10 years ago.
However, the electrics will need completely redoing, and there is no hot water beyond a geyser, nor a bathroom (just a sink and loo) despite there once being a family of 6 living there. (Insert stereotypical remark about the French and washing here!)
Can I read up on the specs and do a rewire and do new plumbing + hot water tank myself or is it like the UK where you need to pay a pro to make it legal?
However, the electrics will need completely redoing, and there is no hot water beyond a geyser, nor a bathroom (just a sink and loo) despite there once being a family of 6 living there. (Insert stereotypical remark about the French and washing here!)
Can I read up on the specs and do a rewire and do new plumbing + hot water tank myself or is it like the UK where you need to pay a pro to make it legal?
All excellent advice, thanks.
In the end we decided not to buy the place. On a second visit, and after reading through all the survey and fosse reports we could see that it would be years before we could actually just enjoy a holiday there. And installing a legal fosse would probably wreck the best bit of garden.
Not all bad news though. My in-laws have a nice place in the Lot valley where they have lived for 25 years, and which my wife will inherit. Visiting all these other places gave us a renewed appreciation for just how good theirs is. Not quite the right area but very nice nevertheless.
In the end we decided not to buy the place. On a second visit, and after reading through all the survey and fosse reports we could see that it would be years before we could actually just enjoy a holiday there. And installing a legal fosse would probably wreck the best bit of garden.
Not all bad news though. My in-laws have a nice place in the Lot valley where they have lived for 25 years, and which my wife will inherit. Visiting all these other places gave us a renewed appreciation for just how good theirs is. Not quite the right area but very nice nevertheless.
Given that the French property market is more or less static, and my in-laws paid something equivalent to €70k 25 years ago, would the state appraise the inheritance tax on that value or would it get a current market valuation?
Over the years a lot of renovation and improvement work (e.g. a pool) has happened. Is it like selling where you should produce a box full of receipts for work done to offset the capital gains tax or does inheritance work a different way?
Also, does anyone know if the Fosse Septique regulations apply on an inheritance in the same way as with a purchase? Google isn't helping me here.
Over the years a lot of renovation and improvement work (e.g. a pool) has happened. Is it like selling where you should produce a box full of receipts for work done to offset the capital gains tax or does inheritance work a different way?
Also, does anyone know if the Fosse Septique regulations apply on an inheritance in the same way as with a purchase? Google isn't helping me here.
Gassing Station | France | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff