A little disappointed

 

 

One thing we did notice was that compared to the other countries we visited, a fair number of the houses were in a poor state of repair.

It was something that we noticed on our two visits. I'm told by a friend who lives there that many families have problems agreeing how to dispose of inherited houses!?

They are everywhere from shabby painted render to trees growing out of the roof and all stages inbetween.

French inheritance laws mean that property has to be passed down the family - which can mean that many members of an extended family each have a share in the property of someone who has died.  They are often completely unable to agree what to do with it - sometimes a property may need major repairs, which no one wants to pay for in case the house doesn't sell, sometimes the split leaves them with so small a share that they're just not interested....... so the house is left to fall into disrepair.  If no one is living in the house no taxes are paid, so there is no impetus to dispose of an empty property.  Sometimes, even with properties which are fit to live in, the beneficiaries can't agree with what should be done to dispose of it, or one person will say they wish to use it for  holidays........ and so it goes on.  We met one chap who had part of a property on his land, which had been subject to a dispute between three brothers for nearly sixty years!  No doubt when they pass it on to their children there will be a similar ongoing dispute.

We know of houses which have been empty for forty years, and are owned, in part, by up to twenty-seven different people - sometimes living in different countries.  There are also issues with access because of historical inheritances and sharing out of properties  .......... yet another bar to properies being sold!

A year ago there was a discussion about revisiting the inheritance laws, so that property didn't get split in so many ways but this has all gone quiet recently.

Thanks Val, that's the gist of my friends comments.

It's a mad world

Update: The sun is shining more now and it's hot. I'm beginning to enjoy it now we can get out and about without getting wet.

Let's hope the sun continues to shine, your dog is happy with the new pet sitter (discussed elsewhere) and you become a lover of France, just like a lot of us on here!

Whjat has France got that the UK hasn't - ambience. Hard to quantify but part of the reason so many make the trip across the moat.

Very true Cyberyacht and they have it in bucket loads.

Apart from, say Broadway, it is very difficult to name many other outstanding villages whereas France must have hundreds.

 

Apart from, say Broadway, it is very difficult to name many other outstanding villages whereas France must have hundreds.

Write your comments here...

I'm not going to bother naming examples but there are many throughout England,eg in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Warwickshire,Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire Staffordshire, Dorset, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland.......and
many other places. Then of course we could think of very pleasant, pretty and interesing villages we have visited in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If you really want to be "in the numbers game" don't forget that France is a much larger country.

We enjoy visiting various countries in mainland Europe (including France) but we also enjoy holidays and touring in UK.