Long Term Let in Vaucluse - Provence

Mas de la Boissiere
Cucuron, Vaucluse - Provence

Farmhouse restoration located 1/2 hour to the north of Aix-en-Provence, benefiting from six double, en-suite bedrooms, a large swimming pool and shady terrace for dining alfresco whilst enjoying the stunning views of the Grand Luberon. Three of the bedrooms have Superking sized beds or can be made up as twins and the other three are Kingsize. All bedrooms have been furnished to a very high standard with antiques blended carefully with decoration that is typically Provençal in style.

Follow the link for full details of this long term let in Provence

Christmas At My Property In France

Just a quick post to firstly wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and also to let you know I'll be 'out of the office' until around the 5th January. I'll be returning to the UK after spending Christmas in the Limousin and bringing in the New Year en France. I do have an internet connection here and my trusty lap top so I can still access my email if I happen tire from over eating and drinking too much...... unlikely :O)

Best regards and all the best for 2008

Steve
Webmaster
Let's Rent Property In France

Short Term Let in Vaucluse, Provence

L'Amandier
St. Didier, Vaucluse - Provence Alpes Azur

L'Amandier underwent a renovation in the year 2000 and can be found tucked into a corner of the owners gardens. The driveway that runs along the side of the property offers views over a vineyard. This rental property offers you a double bedroom, a spacious living-room that opens on to the terrace through French windows and a kitchen area that benefits from full sized cooker, refrigerator, micro-wave and plenty of storage space. The kitchen is also ready equipped with all the necessary utensils for the serious cook.

Follow the link to find out more about this rental property in Provence

Long Let in Lot et Garonne, Aquitaine

Lantogne
Miramont, Lot et Garonne

This Swiss chalet styled house was built approximately eighteen years ago and has bedrooms on the first floor that open to a balcony with a southern aspect. A large and partially covered terrace sits below the balcony and offers a built in BBQ. The ground floor features a spacious dining and living room that is tastefully furnished in modern as well as aged, modern French furniture.

Located on one side of this property is the kitchen and utility room while to the other side you will find two bedrooms and bathroom. One of the bedrooms opens out to the terrace. A magnificent, oakwood staircase takes you to the first floor with its large landing area, shower room with WC and two more double bedrooms.

Follow the link for more details of this Long Let in Aquitaine....

Some Attractions & Sights of the Pays de la Loire

A Sample of Attractions From The Pays de la Loire
by Sue & Jon Fletcher of Les Fleurs Holiday Gites

Although the immediate surroundings of Les Fleurs exudes an aura of tranquillity, we do appreciate that not everyones ideal holiday is spent soaking in the peace of a quiet garden or lazing in the sun. Fear not however, as the surrounding area has more than its fair share of attractions to entertain, from the cultural to the educational, the adventurous to the sublime. The region produces many exquisite wines from the world renowned Saumur Brut to the lesser known but delicious wines produced by the smaller wineries such as Jacki Clee's Domaine du Moulin de l'Horizon. This includes several traditional wine producers, who will welcome you with a visit around the caves where they produce the wines, followed by tastings and the opportunity to buy at far cheaper prices than in the UK. Appointments are necessary for many of the visits to the wineries and we will happily arrange these for you Alternatively, if time is limited or you have small children who say "not another one!!", we can arrange a mixed case from several producers for you to try. Simply tell us the type of wine you like (on which, the price will naturally vary) and we will have your case ready and waiting

The region offers so many varied and beautiful places to visit that you will want to return time and time again. You can see everything from a rose garden (Les Chemins de la Rose) at Doue La Fontaine, to a Tank Museum at Saumur For somewhere out of the ordinary, why not pay a visit to MUSEE DU CHAMPIGNON just five Kilometers from Saumur? A centre that cultivates 75% of the country's mushrooms!! You will visit the tufa caves, an experience never to be forgotten where the gourmets amongst you can enjoy a varied mushroom meal at lunch time.

Futurscope at Poitiers is a theme park packed with thrills and despite being an ideal day out for the children, it has plenty to entertain the 'big kid' in anyone with adventures for all ages. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary and seek thrills, this is the place for you. Check out their website at http://www.futuroscope.com. The night shows are fantastic.

On the South Bank in the suburb of St-Hilaire-St-Florent is the ECOLE NATIONALE d'EQUITATION ( the National Riding School) where the prestigious Cadre Noir stage very exciting equestrian shows. For more information, The Loire is world famous for its beautiful Chateaux, very many of which are open to the public and should not be missed.

The historic towns of Amboise, Blois, Saumur and Beaugency are jewels in the Loire's crown and therefore worth visiting Saumur, which is only a 15 minute drive from the gite is a beautiful town, bordering the Loire river where there are many pretty walks to amble along. A visit to the Chateaux is a must, there is an optional 90 minute guided tour which covers the porcelain and equestrian exhibits The 'Parc Mini Chateaux' at Amboise is a revelation. Go along and marvel at the 44 chateaux in miniture which grace the Loire. Gasp in admiration of workmanship and the care taken building these fantastic 'mini' chateaux. Everything is laid on for you to enjoy: a fantastic meal either in the restaurant, sandwich bar or picnic area. Chateau Villandry; The elegance of the renaissance. Villandry is renownedfor the harmony of its architecture and its gardens and is the last of the great Renaissance Chateaus built on the banks of the Loire and less than 45 minutes drive from the gîtes. The area boasts, golf courses, riding, fishing, swimming, cycling, canoeing and wonderful walks.

The Zoo at Doué La Fontaine is world famous. The animals are housed as near as possible to the terrain they originate from. The zoo boasts a very successful breeding programme which reinforces how happy and contented the animals are. You can even feed a vulture from your hand!!

Saumur has a small but very friendly airport, where it is also possible to buy fuel if you have flown yourselves in. Parking is cheap and the people couldn't be more helpful in providing a high quality aeronautical service. It is also possible to book parachute tandem jumps or lone jumps, or organise a complete parachute training course.

Doue la Fontaine
Located between the North Loire and South Loire, Doue is in the heart of the Loire, a town rich in history and formed by it.

20 to 25 million years ago the present location of the town was covered by the Falun Sea, as the sea seeped away it left a thick layer of fossilized limestone. We have discovered many fossils in the gardens of the gites and some of these are on display in the office/shop.
The name Doue came from Theoadus, “The Ford of God” which, in 814 appeared for the first time as Doue. Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, had a residence here, and whilst living here he discovered that on the death of his father he would become king. In the 10th Century the royal residence was known as Carolingian House, it was, unfortunately burned to the ground.
In the 16th Century the open-air theatre, known as, les Arnes, was built on the site of old quarries.

The 18th Century was a prosperous time for the inhabitants of Doue and it was thanks to Baron Foullin, Lord of Doue, in 1765, that the town acquired a national reputation. The Baron was one of the first victims of the Revolution. His chateau was destroyed and the superb stables now house the museum.

Doue was very wealthy and prosperous in the 18th Century. Agriculture, craftwork and pre-industrial activity were very important. There were 20 fairs and large markets held every year and the Monday market was established as long ago as 1841.
The town gradually expanded through the centuries and today the inhabitant’s number almost 8,000.

Places to Visit.

Place de Fontaines:-The Baron had two pools built side by side, only one still exists and can be found outside the Tourist Information Office.

Collegiale Saint Denis:- 10th Century ruined church, the stones were plundered for various constructions, until a halt was called.

Rue des Perrieres:- A wonderful place for a stroll. Roses blossom all along this rue and mingle with troglodyte dwellings. Please do not pick the flowers.

La Cave aux Sarcophagus:- Monolithic sarcophagi of the 5th and 6th Century.

Zoo:- A world renowned zoo and well worth a visit. The animals are housed in wonderful surroundings, quite unlike anything you will have seen before.

Swimming pool!!:- An open air swimming pool in the heart of Doue.

These are just a very few of the places to visit in this lovely town


CHINON.

Chinon is a picturesque and historical little town of 10,000, on the banks of the river Vienne, 45 kilometers south of Tours in the heart of Touraine, which is called the "Garden of France" and the "Cradle of the French Language".

The town has many bars and restaurants where one can sit in the sunshine and enjoy a wonderful meal washed down by a local wine and watch the world go by. Alternatively, take a picnic and enjoy it on one of the many benches facing the river. Pick a wonderful cake from one of the fabulous patisserie and savour every mouthful as you take in the wonderful view along the river.

There is a magnificent statue of Joan of Arc in a square facing the river. It depicts Joan on horseback leading a charge into battle. If you look carefully, as you walk around the town you will see various points, where it is claimed Joan watered her horse, or dismounted etc.

Once a month the town hosts a Brocante Market, see our notice board for further information.
Sitting high on a plateau, a huge castle dominates the entire town. The chateau Chinon was built on the site of a Gallo-Roman castrum as a fortified stronghold byTheobald 1, Count of BloisThis chateau, was built for the first time in stone in 954 By Theobald I, Comte de Blois, on a steep plateau. The stronghold, which replaced a lighter wooden structure, the passed to the rival Comte d"anjou, Geoffroy Martel in 1044.

This Old city is located nearby Chenonceau and Montpoupon , on the bank of river Cher. The square keep which stands above was built in 1010 by Fulk Nerra ...

The Comte d"Anjou was the first to join the walls of the two original defensive structures as well as adding towers and the chapel of St. Melanie. The far east wing was added by Henry II Plantagenet Until 1205 he and his descendants continued construction work, adding the fortress to the east and the internal chapel, the mill tower and the numerous reinforcement towers.
In the 12th century Chinon, located in Anjou in present day France, was a primary residence of Henry 11 (Angevin King and King of England) and served with Poitiers and Bordeaux as a key southern capital of the vast Angevin holdings. Henry was responsible for construction of almost all of the massive chateau, built over 1,300 feet long and 250 feet wide with a clock tower (14th century) rising 115 feet high. King Henry, his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son King Richard the Lionheart were all buried at nearby Fontevraud Abbey.

The castle is divided, along its length, into three enclosures, each separated by a deep dry moat. The easternmost is known as Fort St.-Georges, the central called the Château de Milieu, while the westernmost is known as the Fort du Coudray. In the early 13th century, following the Capetian annexation of Anjou , a cylindrical keep similar to those at Rouen and Paris , was added by Phillip 11 Augustus of France to the entrance of the Fort du Coudray.

In the keep or donjon called the Tour de Coudray, Templar knights were imprisoned during the brutal suppression of the Templar Order that occurred in 1307.

Chinon once was the residence of the King of England, Henry II Plantagenet, when that part of France was under English rule. It became the residence of Charles VII, the heir of the throne of France in the early 1400's, and was where the legendary Joan of Arc came to recognize him and raise an army to liberate the country from the English domination. Chinon is also the birthplace of François Rabelais, the renaissance man, monk, doctor, philosopher, and writer, creator of Gargantua.

The château was a residence of Charles V11 the dauphin of France in the early 15th Century. It is the place where Joan of Arc came on March 8 1429 to recognize the dauphin and to urge him to declare himself king and raise an army to liberate France from the English. Jeanne d'Arc visited the Dauphin CharlesVII in Chinon at the beginning of his reign on March 8, 1429. She recognized him hiding among his court members in spite of his disguise, which he put on to test her. In 1429 , the young Joan of Arc recognized the King of France among 300 courtiers and told him she was a "Messenger of God" ...and the king believed in the courageous girl's mission to defeat the English forces....

In 1429 ,the young Joan of Arc recognized the King of France among 300 courtiers and told him she was a "Messenger of God" ...and the king believed in the courageous girl's mission to defeat the English forces....

She helped him reconquer his kingdom from the English invader. For almost a hundred years, Chinon profited from the fact that it had become the capital of the kingdom. The legendary Joan of Arc was later captured and burnt alive at the stake in the city of Rouen in 1431. She was barely 20 years old..

In 1562 the château came into the possession of the Hugenots and was turned into a state prison by Henri 1V of France . After that it was abandoned until 1793 when, during the Reign of Terror, the castle was temporarily occupied by Vendeans. Soon though, it was left to decay until Emperor Napoleon 111began a partial effort at restoration.

Today, it is managed by the Town of Chinon and is a major tourist attraction.

Chinon was also the birthplace of Francois Abelard , (c1493 – 1553) a renowned Renaissance writer, famous for his Gargantua series.

Chinon is the setting for the historic fiction story The Lion in Winter.

In La Devinière, a nearby hamlet, stands the house where the poet Rabelais was born (c.1490).
Places to visit either in Chinon or close by.

Château d'Usse , SW of Tours, a romantic, fairy-tale château overlooking the river Indre, Open:Mid Feb - Mid Nov:daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 95 54 05

Château de Langeais , SW of Tours, a superb château built for defense purposes by Louis XI.
Open:Daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 96 72 60

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau , S of Tours, called a "multi-faceted diamond" by Balzac this superb Château is a must on the list of Loire attractions.
Open:Apr-Sep: daily; Oct-Mar: Wed-Mon Tel: +33 (0)2 47 45 42 04

Château de Villandry , SW of Tours, the last great Renaissance Château built in the Loire Valley - a true gem!
Open:Feb-Mid Nov: daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 50 02 09

La Deviniere Seuilly, visit the birthplace of Francois Rabelais the 16th century writer, priest & doctor.
Open:Daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 95 91 18

Tour's history & archaeological musuem housed in the Renaissance home of a former silk merchant.
Open:Daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 66 22 32

Château de Chinon, 37500, a huge medieval fortress once favoured by the Plantagenet Kings.
Open:Mar - Oct: daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 93 13 45

Musee anime du Vin 12 rue Voltaire, Chinon, 37500, an interesting insight into how wine and wine barrels are made including tasting of course!,
Open:Easter - Sep: daily Tel: +33 (0)2 47 93 25 63

Musee des Beaux Arts 18 Place Francois Sicard, Tours, 37000, is set in an 18th century archbishop's palace with worthy paintings by Mantegna taken from Italy by Napoleon, Open:Wed-Mon Tel: +33 (0)2 47 05 68 73

Saumur.

Saumur town has numerous cafes, bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and wallets!! The shopping is very good and markets are held throughout the week, the largest being held on Saturday. On the build up to Christmas the town takes on a wonderful glittering array of lights and an open air ice rink is laid behind the tourist information office.

There are many events held throughout the year in this historic town. The world famous Cadre Noir riding school is open to the public at certain times of the year and they also stage spectacular shows.

A wonderful way to view the river in all its glory is to take one of the many boat trips which begin their journey from various points along the Loire.

A good way to see the town’s historic sites would be to begin in the centre of town, the Place Saint Pierre with its beautiful 12th century church. A sloped street, bordered with houses with wooden overhanging roofs, will take you to the entrance to the chateau. There are numerous cafes and bars in the ‘Place’.

Alternatively, there is a car park to the east of the Chateau. A short walk through the chateaus vineyards brings you to a pretty bridge which will take you across the moat. Be sure and take a look at the remarkable stone-lined ramp that leads to the chateau the beautiful flamboyant Gothic staircase in the courtyard, the curious machinery of the goods lift with its gears the oubliettes and the superb view of the town and the river. Inside, there is a Decorative Arts museum as well as an Equestrian museum. There is an entrance fee to the chateau and an additional fee for entrance to the two museums.

Built at the junction of the Loire and the Thouet rivers, the former Carolingian city is known for its fortifications built by Thibault, the Count of Blois, in the 10th century. In 1026, the town passed into the hands of the Count of Anjou, the famous Foulques Nera and then on to his Plantagenet heirs. Philippe Auguste, the King of France and a Capetian brought into the hands of the crown.

Long Let In The Languedoc

Madeleine
Herault, Languedoc

Restored in 2004, the house is in the heart of the old town and in the region of four hundred years old. Kitchens are fully equipped with numerous modern appliances including fridges and microwaves. Newly furnished throughout the house still manages to retain a typical French feeling within. The top floor benefits from an open-plan living area featuring a high ceiling that extends into the roof.

Follow the link for more info on this house for long let in the Languedoc

How to Invest in French Property for Pleasure & Profit

Buy To Let In France.
How to Invest in French Property for Pleasure and Profit
by Clive Kristen

New from Clive Kristen, the author of "Buying a Property in France", this guide shows you how to maximize your investment by renting your French home out and how to avoid the downfalls so often encountered by the under prepared.

If you are serious about investing in a home in France to let you must check out this absolutely essential read here.

Remember us at Let's Rent Property In France when the time comes and you wonder how to advertise your French house for let as we offer some great deals on French property listings.

Long Term Let, Var Department of Provence

Mas de l'Hermitage
Figanieres

Offering tranquillity for those who want it but ideally situated for exploring the countryside of this delightful department of Provence. With olive mills, wineries, perfumeries, historical sites and the stunning coast this area of France must be explored from this ideal base.

Follow this link for more information about this long term let in Provence

Long Term Let, Languedoc. NEW.

Villa des Roses
Gard, Languedoc

This villa is located in a peaceful residential area close to a medieval chapel at the edge of a picturesque, heritage village near Uzès. Breathtaking views of the countryside surround the villa and the terrace offers a view of the Cevennes in the distance.

Follow the link for more details about this rental Villa in the Languedoc

Villa for long term let in the Pyrennes Orientales, Languedoc

Sainte Marie La Mer
Pyrenees Orientales, Languedoc

Three bedroomed, villa situated in a complex with secure parking that offers an open aspect across a large courtyard with views of Mount Canigou in the distance. Accommodating up to eight people this traditional style villa is just as comfortable, having been refurnished in 2007, for a couple.

Follow the link to this long term let in the Languedoc for full details.

Luxury Studio For Let, Languedoc

Luxury Studio
Gard, Languedoc

Spacious studio with separate kitchen and bathroom. This luxury apartment is situated in a secluded, wooded area 1 kilometre from the medieval centre of Langlade. The studio has independent access and facilities including landscaped garden with pool.

Follow the link for full details and owner contact for this short term rental in the Languedoc

Long Term Let in Herault, Languedoc Roussillon

Marguerite
Roquebrun, Herault

Marguerite is a newly renovated, 3 bedroomed village house with traditional stone front situated in the delightful, medieval village of Roquebrun. This long term let has both the living and eating areas at the top of the house, allowing you to benefit from the wonderful light, and stunning view of the surrounding countryside. The bedrooms and bathroom are on the lower floors with all of the rooms leading from a central staircase that climbs the full height of the house.

Follow the link for full details and owner contact information for this long term let in the Languedoc

Gite in the Haute Vienne, Limousin

La Porcherie Gite
Haute Vienne, Limousin

La Porcherie is a high-quality gite offering accommodation for two people among the tranquil landscape of the Haute Vienne department of the Limousin. Located in the hamlet of Villemonteix, which is at the gateway to the Monts et Barrages National Park the Gite has recently been renovated to a very high standard. The building (which used to house both a piggery and a bread oven) has kept all the character one would expect in a building of this nature (but the pigs have been evicted!). Wooden beams and original stone walls are balanced with the comfort of modern conveniences, resulting in a light and airy place to stay.

Follow the link for full details and owner contact information regarding this delightful Gite in the Limousin

Holiday Rental in the Dordogne, Aquitaine.

La Filolie
Le Buisson de Cadouin, Dordogne

Traditional, luxury rental holiday farm house with heated swimming pool and tennis court Le Buisson de Cadouin in the Dordogne valley France 4 bedrooms, sleeps 10 people and 1 baby cot. The ground floor has a large fully equipped kitchen (25m²) that opens onto the terrace (25m²), which includes a dishwasher and washing machine, an oven and hob and a fridge/freezer. The living room (40m²) has a big open fire place and there is television, DVD and a CD/radio stereo system. There is a bedroom (15m²) with a double bed (160*200), a private wc and washbasin, and a bathroom with a massage shower and toilet.

Follow the link for full details on this Holiday Rental In The Dordogne

Long Term Let - Haute Vienne, Limousin

La Trappe
St. Sulpice Laurière

A traditional detached village house situated right in the heart of St Sulpice Laurière (the local store and boulangerie are only one minute away). The house has recently been renovated retaining most of the original features.

Follow the link for full details and owner contact information for this long term let in the Limousin

Limousin Long Term Let - New

Le Moulin de Sansonneche
Gioux, La Creuse - Limousin

The picturesque Moulin de Sansonneche is a renovated wool mill set on the banks of the river Gioune. The mill is reached by crossing a lovely stone bridge. An enchanting fairytale setting perfect for an idyllic holiday in the heart of the beautiful Limousin region of France. This 3 bedroom gite offers immaculate 'home from home' accommodation prettily and lovingly furnished and decorated throughout.

The delightful gardens and wooded grounds,heated swimming pool and river ensure tranquillity and relaxation. A small piece of paradise in which to restore and revive a tired mind and body. The nearby market town of Felletin has a pretty square, bars and cafes and the towns of Aubusson and Gueret and the city of Limoges are all within easy reach for days out shopping or sightseeing. The spectacular Lac de Vassiviere with its sandy beaches and watersports is also only a short drive away.

Follow the link for details and owner contact information for this delightful Limousin rental property

Getting a mortgage for your property in France.

This is the second part of a series of articles related to the French property mortgage market.
By Alan Tyrrell.

Getting a mortgage to buy a property in France need not be intimidating, as long as you are sensible and take precautions. You must seek independent professional advice, and be aware that there will be differences between the UK and France regarding property and mortgage law. There will also be variations in practice, customs and local regulations. This is one reason why many British people decide renting property in France long term, is the way to go before buying.

If you are troubled by the prospect of buying a French property using a French mortgage lender, then you could raise capital on an existing property in the UK, as long as there is sufficient equity in the property you intend to use. This may be an easy option because generally the loan will be in Sterling, and the cash from the equity of a UK property is released quickly, accelerating the purchase of your French home. You must be careful of using this option, as it may present some risks, especially if specialist independent legal advice isn’t sought.

If raising the mortgage for your French property in the UK is not an option, or you prefer to look for a deal in France, then consider taking out a mortgage secured on the French property from an overseas lender. One advantage with this route is that the lender will usually carry out checks on the property themselves. They will ensure that a proper legal title exists, that the property is registered in the buyer’s name and that a valuation of the property takes place. They will also check other issues such as whether proper planning permissions have been obtained or that building licences are correct.

Taking a mortgage with a French lender is fairly straightforward, especially if you use an overseas mortgage specialist. They will be familiar with and understand French lenders. They will also know the restrictions and administration requirements, which can save the buyer time, cost and hassle.

This is especially valuable if you intend to buy a property in France to rent long term and time is of the essence. There are many British people who make a living from the French property rental market. They buy a number of properties over a period of time and in summer rent them to holiday makers at very high margins, and in the quieter months, they capitalise upon the market for renting property in France long term, which is aimed at those wishing to buy in France but who decide to rent a property long term while they find what they want to buy. Another benefit is, an overseas mortgage specialist will generally work with other local professionals, such as lawyers, surveyors and currency exchanges. But remember things rarely move in France as quickly as you'd expect.

There is little difference between UK and French mortgage lenders. Both use property as security and have set criteria regarding eligibility for securing a mortgage. Interest rates are also set by the lenders, and are influenced by the Bank of England for UK lenders or the Euribor for French lenders.

As with UK mortgages, if you enjoy a fixed rate for an introductory period on you mortgage, you are liable to be penalised, with extra charges for paying it off before the end of the ‘fixed rate period. So, if you are anticipating paying off your mortgage early, think hard about fixed rate offers.

List Your French Property For Rent

The Gold premium listing option we offer to advertise your French rental property now has even more great features available.

We have now included a cool Google map that allows visitors to your page to scroll around your area* and even calculate travel distances and times to your village from anywhere in the world.

Check out this example for Montpellier in the Languedoc Roussillon.

View Larger Map

Secondly, we have added a 'Send To A Friend' function which allows a page visitor to send a link to your property page to someone they know. This is a great marketing tool which quickly and easily allows your property listing to spread amongst people looking for rental properties in France.

You can view a full working demo listing when you visit our Gold Premium Listing page and all for less than £100 a year!

*Note: For your security and privacy we do not set the map to your property address but near enough, eg your village or town, to give visitors an idea of where you are.

French Property Mortgages

This is the first in a series of articles relating to the ‘French property mortgage’ market in France.

If you are looking to buy property in France you need to consider the mortgage market seriously. In our experience, rushing out and buying a home is fraught with danger. However, until you decide on where to live in France, what type of property to buy and, what type of mortgage to take use, you can rent a French property for as long as you like.

Fixed and variable rate mortgages are available to buy property in France, but it is worth considering, that the French market for these products is vastly different to that in the United Kingdom.

Interest only mortgages are available, but the criteria for obtaining such a product, is extremely high. Therefore, not many non French residents qualify for this type of mortgage.

The majority of French property mortgages are based on a variable interest rate, which is similar to a UK tracker mortgage. However, although variable, most banks offer a fixed rate for the first 3-12 months, sometimes with rates as low as 3.5%. For the remainder of the mortgage term, the interest rate will be on a fixed margin above the Euribor, which stands for the Euro Inter Bank Offered Rate. This is the rate at which European banks borrow from each other for a fixed period, 3, 6 or 12 months.

The margin, which the bank adds to the Euribor figure when calculating the amount it charges, is usually between 1.1 and 2% above the Euribor. However, this will depend on the mortgage company you are talking to, and on the odd occasion, 0.7-1% may be offered.

Fixed interest rate mortgages are available in France for property purchases, but unlike the UK, rates start higher and are fixed at one rate for the entire mortgage term, because of this, early repayment penalties will be put in placed.

The advantage of having a variable rate linked to the EURIBOR is that your bank cannot keep your payments high, if general money markets fall in Europe - the bank can only charge their set margin above the current level of the EURIBOR.

You are advised to seek professional financial advice before committing yourself to a mortgage in France or the United Kingdom. All facts and figures quoted in this and subsequent articles relating to this subject are indicative only. Until you have found, committed yourself to and purchased your property in France, remember you can always rent long term.

By Alan Tyrrell

New Sitemap

Another quickie update today. I've added a new sitemap page to the site to enable quick reference as to what pages are in relation to which other pages.

Steve

Links Page Shuffle

Just a quick post to point out that our links page has now begun the organisation re-shuffle I have been threatening to do for weeks now.

Rather than a bunch of links to related sites, useful services and sites that are kind enough to link to us all dumped on one page I've broken them into categories, see below:

• Life In France
• Directory Sites
• French Property Sites
• Learning French

There are other catergories still to appear over the coming months and obviously we hope to add many more links to the existing ones.

Visit the links page here: Let's Rent Property In France Links

Note to Webmasters: If you have a reciprocal link with us it will have been moved from the /links.php to the most relevant category page. No reciprocal links in effect prior to today have been removed so please double check before you think I've removed your link.

Steve.

Charente Maritime Property To Let

Chez Bardon
Chaunac, Charente Maritime

Stunning, Charente stone Maison de Maitre set in a hectare of attractively landscaped park with large swimming pool. Chez Bardon provides superb, light, spacious accommodation of one, two and four bedrooms, available for rent throughout the year. During mid and high season the property is available to rent as a whole comfortably accommodating parties of up to 23 people.

Follow the link for full details and owner contact information on this property to let in France

Place For Rent In Charente

Alcott
Near Mainzac, Charente - Poitou Charentes, France

Alcott is set in the middle of 55 acres of its own gardens, pasture, farm and woodland. Alcott is adjacent to our home near the small village of Mainzac, 5km from the Charente/Dordogne border. Alcott's a beautifully restored 500 year old charentese farmhouse, above the ancient voute (vault) thought to be over 700 years old. There are grapevines growing over the front of the house, which is accessed by ancient stone steps. The gite has been restored to the highest standard, newly furnished and offers large and very comfortable accomodation, which comprises of 3 bedrooms all with large shower rooms and WC. The living room incorporates all the original features including exposed stone work, beams, even the original stone sink and a large fireplace.

Follow this link for more details about this property to rent in France

Long Term Let, Charente Maritime - Poitou Charentes

La Basse Pommeraie
Poitou Charentes

This property occupies a delightful rural location offering peace, quiet and space, but at the same time being only 10 mins. from all amenities and 40 mins. from several wonderful pine-fringed sandy beaches. Although no pool, there is the river Charente 200m down a grassy track with a small pebble beach for easy access for swimming, canoeing (we have one here you can use) or fishing (we have rods). The cottage is bright sunny and airy with high ceilings and exposed beams. There are mature trees and space offering shade and privacy where wanted. There is a very large garden and adjoining field which is wonderful for children, large or small, to amuse themselves, play, pitch tents etc. or for you to choose a shady (or sunny) nook to sit and contemplate. English-French speaker on site all year round.

Follow the link for more details on this Long Term Let In France

Why not buy a place in France right away?

With house prices being so much cheaper in France than in the UK it is tempting to pile in and buy a place straight away. This temptation is getting harder to resist due to the inevitable rise in property prices in France due to the influx of 'cashed up' Brits, certainly in the more popular locations.

So, why should I rent a property in France? you may be asking.

So many factors aren't immediately apparent when considering buying a home in France and it's easy to fall foul of the end of house hunter holiday panic buying. People have bought the place of their dreams only to find out too late the money required to refurbish it is over their budget. Other aspects not immediately apparent when caught up in the excitement of a beautiful, rural property purchase are the 45 minute drive to reach a town starts to lose it's appeal especially when you forget something off your list, after all it's not like nipping out to Sainsburys.

The worry of being so remote if the unthinkable happened and you were to suffer an accident is something many people won't consider possibly until the first heavy snowfall cuts them off with no power, no phone and a 10 mile walk to get to the nearest house. Well at least the oil fired heating will still work in the event of a power cut wont it? .... Not without a generator to run the fuel pump it won't.....

For some people this may be part of the adventure but for others it can creep up and slap them in the face when they least need it or it may just be a constant worry nagging in the back of their mind, what if? What if?

How important is it to know you're buying a place where you want to live that is everything you really want and expect?

Rent a French property long term before you buy, try it out and know for sure you want to buy a place in France and that you want to buy a place that is where it is.

Gite in the Pays de la Loire

Les Fleurs, Lys
Near Saumur, Maine et Loire

Lys has been sympathetically renovated and has wonderful views from the mezzanine, over the vineyards and countryside. Lys is perfect for two people. The lounge is very comfortably furnished, having a TV, DVD, hifi, DVD's, books and games. The delightful kitchen / dining room is open plan. The kitchen is fully equipped with washing machine, dishwasher, fridge, cooker and microwave. French doors lead onto a very private patio with BBQ and garden furniture. 4 STAR French Tourist Board Rated

Follow the link for full details about this short term rental property in France

Long Term Let in Vendée, Pays de la Loire

Chez Tara
Vouvant, Vendée

Chez Tara is a lovely 3 bedroom detached cottage with a private garden full of character set in the Vendée countryside 2kms outside the beautiful village of Vouvant with shops, supermarket, bars and restaurants. Tara has a large lounge-diner with English TV a large fireplace with a wood burner nicely decorated and furnished, there's a well equipped fitted kitchen with washing machine microwave and a full size cooker with oven.

Follow the link for full details on this long term let in Vendée

FAQ - Photograph Resizing For Property Listings

Q: My photographs are too large to submit with my rental property listing, How can I resize them?

A full tutorial on image re-sizing could be difficult due to the number of different software packages available. BUT, do not despair for after a quick search on t'internet I found this.

A simple, convenient and FREE way to resize your photos is to use the online service provided by Pic Resize (if you click the link the website will open in a new browser window so you can keep reading these instructions.)

Step 1
When you go to the website you will see a screen like this:

Use the 'Browse' button which opens a browse window to select the photo you want to resize from your computer.

When you have found your photo in the browse window, select it by double clicking your left mouse button on it and you will see your photo details appear in the bar to the left of the 'Browse' button.

Then click 'Continue' to get to the next stage (may take a few moments) which looks like this:

Step 2

Ignore 1 Select Area and go to 2 Choose New Size.

Check the small box (arrowed above) to select Custom Size.
Type 600 into the Width box (You can ignore Height as it will automatically change width the width).
Alter the drop down from Percent to Pixels.

Scroll down the page and it looks like this:

Step 3

You won't be needing any Special Effects so,
1 Check the box above None.
2 Select JPG from the dropdown menu. (saves image as a .jpeg file - what's this?)
3 Click on Resize Pic!

Step 4

Download your re-sized photo



That's it, you can repeat it for each one of your photos.

Le Vieux Moulin, Long Term Let in Provence

Le Vieux Moulin.
Mirabeau, Provence.

This lovely house is located on a large piece of land with oak, cedar, and pine trees and a field of flowers bordering a stream in the south-east corner of the Natural Park of the Luberon Mountain range in the heart of Provence.

The ancient hilltop village of Mirabeau with its famous château is just a mile away. It is strategically located in the Durance River Valley between Aix-en-Provence and Manosque, near the intersection of four departments, the Vaucluse, the Var, the Bouches du Rhone, and the Alpes de Haute Provence. The grounds are landscaped with flowers, herbs, fruit trees, terraces and swimming pool (with alarm and lights).

Follow this link for more details on this long term let in Provence

Long Term Let in Charente, Poitou Charentes

Auld Reekie
Jauldes, Charente

This modern studio apartment is an upper floor barn conversion attached to a traditional styled Charentaise house. Situated on the edge of the village of Jauldes just 13km north of the cathedral city of Angouleme. The studio is open plan living, dining and sleeping with kitchen area and separate shower-toilet. 24/7 hot water. Oil fired central heating and wood burning stove (for winter lets). The studio is entered from the barn door at the front of the building. It has a private balcony at the back of the property (with table, chairs, brolly and cushions) and circular staircase leading down to the pool and garden area.

Follow the link for full details of this French Long Term Let

New Long Term Let - Charente Maritime, Poitou Charentes

La Grange, Fresneau

A 4 bedroom converted barn set on an 18th century Charentaise farm, ideal for discovering the region, house-hunting or just relaxing in France. 20 minutes away from Cognac & Saintes. Set in a small friendly village with boulangerie. Close to Matha, a typical French market town, with a short journey to Cognac and Saintes, with Angouleme 40 mins away.

Follow the link for full details and contact information for this long term let in Poitou Charentes

How do I advertise my French Rental Property on Let's Rent Property In France?

We currently have three options available for listing your rental property on Let's Rent Property In France. For lack of thinking of a better name for them, we came up with the very imaginatively titled Bronze, Silver & Gold options.

Have a study and see which suits you best then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the relevant form and get your property visible to the hundreds of new visitors this site receives each week (and that number is growing weekly).

To find out more please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page

New Long Term Let in Charente Maritime, Poitou Charentes

Recently converted 3 bedroom (1 en-suite) cottage in peaceful rural location just 20 minutes to the coast. Large, well equipped kitchen, dining room seats 8, living room with TV/DVD (UK free to air channels)and WIFI.

Read more about this Long Term French Property Rental

Short Term Let in Aude, Languedoc

Villa Paradis is situated among orchards and vineyards in a quiet location on the edge of the village of St Nazaire about 8km from Narbonne close to the Canal du Midi. The accommodation is self-contained on the the ground floor of the villa and can sleep up to 8 people in 1 double room, 1 twin room, and 1 double room with 2 bunk beds.

Follow the link to read more about this short term let in the Languedoc...

Artisan Brewery In The Limousin

bières23, (named to match the departmental number of the Creuse), is located in St Etienne de Fursac, a small town that sits astride the River Gartempe, about 10 km south of La Souterraine.

After many years brewing award winning beers in England we have created bières23. As devotees of artisan brewing our aim is to produce English and Continental style beers by the high fermentation method, using only natural ingredients, water, malt, hops and yeast.

The 3 vessel brewery was designed and built in Austria to our requirements, for our unique brewhouse. All our beers are fermented and matured in a turn of the century granite cave.

By John Davidson

Bières-23

New Long Term Let in Poitou Charentes

Chez Phillipaud - Charente
Sleeps: 6

The house is set in a small hamlet surrounded by sunflowers and grapevines. It has a large garden area and a large orchard. A barbecue and garden furniture are provided for alfresco dining. The interior of the house is large and furnished to a high standard in French style. There is a fully equipped kitchen and laundry room, linen is provided and there are two bathrooms.

Read more about this Long Term French Property Rental

Short Term Let, Midi Pyrenees - Languedoc

Situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees, La Terrace sits in the quiet and pretty village of Le Vivier. Approximately 40 miles west of Perpignan and its airport La Terrace is perfectly situated to cater for all types of holidays, be it lazy days on the roof terrace, enjoying the many sites and the stunning scenery of the area, enjoying the sandy beaches and warm Mediterranean waters or even skiing in the winter months, this comfortable and well equipped holiday cottage offers couples absolute comfort throughout the year.

Follow the link for full details on this short term property rental in the Languedoc

Long Term Let, Pyrenees Orientales - Languedoc

Estagel offers village life at its best: great wine making, bustling local shops and a full calendar of traditional and social events. Our three storey, stone-built village house has a large roof terrace on a quiet, narrow street just behind the village square. There is a romantic four poster bed, large dining and sitting room, modern kitchen and shower, loads of storage space and a beautiful spiral staircase.

The property: L'Avenir is a traditional village house. The stone foundations are part of the ancient circle of houses built by the Catalans for defense. The ground floor has a marble and wood entrance hall leading to the spiral staircase and two large storage rooms. (These house the central heating and washing machine but the rooms are available to tenants to store bikes and beach gear for holidays or furniture etc. for longer term house-hunters.)

Follow the link for full details for this Long Term Let in the Languedoc, France

Long Term Let in Aude, Languedoc

Spacious 3 bedroomed property in the heart of this friendly village of Puivert, near Quillan and 1 hour south of Carcassonne. Completely renovated and newly furnished village house close to all amenities.

Follow the link for full details of this Long Let In Languedoc

Short Term Let - Pyrenees Orientales, Languedoc

The Orchard Studio

The Orchard Studio has been furnished for couples who want comfort and privacy. It is entered via the large, private garden and west facing terrace. On the terrace there is a table and 2 chairs for outside dining, a gas barbecue and 2 sun loungers.

Follow the link for full details of this short term let in the Languedoc

Property For Rent, Dordogne - Aquitaine

Luxury cottage with private pool, in the countryside of the medieval village of EYMET near BERGERAC. Very comfortable and spacious. We can welcome 2 to 8 people. Come and meet the animals of the farm : our donkey, horse, geese, goats, sheep, rabbits, cows .... And enjoy the peaceful and beautiful rolling countryside.

Not far from the famous places like Bergerac, Sarlat, Les Eyzies, Lascaux, Rocamadour, Bordeaux ... the castles : Monbazillac, Biron, Lanquais, Castelnaud ... the medieval villages : Eymet, Issigeac, Monpazier ... the food : foie gras, confits, magrets, cèpes or truffes ... the good wine : St Emilion, Medoc, Bergerac, Duras ...

Long winter lets possible between September and March. Internet access for free (broadband) and satellite TV.

Come to discover South West France with Lauzanac.

View the full listing on our main site: Long term let in the Dordogne

Let's Rent A Property In France

More people than ever are leaving Britain and moving abroad and many of those are deciding that France is the place for them. No wonder then that experts are saying that property prices in areas of France popular with the British are beginning to climb.

Of course there are many web-sites, magazines and British Estate Agents all dedicated to persuading you that they have the perfect property for you, so it’s not surprising that people get confused.

But, how do you go about finding that perfect place that you can call home amongst all these offers? There really is no substitute for living in France and finding your own perfect home, but of course that means you will need to look for a property that is to let and then take your time finding your dream home.

There are many British people with properties in France who will rent them out to make a little extra cash, which of course helps to pay the bills. Experience tells us that you should be looking for a long term let in France, to enable you to spend time finding your dream home. And this means that you can now experience the wonderful life available to you, before committing yourself on a more permanent basis to a particular area.

Check out our main site for available long term lets in France.

Good hunting.

Life in France.

Saturday night, Rugby semi-finals England v France.

Once again I was reminded how very different life in France is to life in the UK.

I'm back here in my house in the Limousin again for a few weeks and on Saturday night headed down to my local tabac/bar for a few beers and a discreet peek at the Rugby. The place was packed, face paint was flying and horns were blaring. The atmosphere was electric and at the same time so very friendly. We're well enough known to the locals now that there was a chorus of cheers and boo's albeit with happy smiling faces. No sign of the aggressive glares common in my local back 'home'. I use the term home loosely, this delightful region is becoming more my home nowadays.

We had sneaked a few England flags in as a cheeky joke, ready to wave them when/if England scored. It didn't enter our heads that there would be any problem and indeed there wasn't. In fact when England scored in the first few moments of the game some of the nearby French guys came and borrowed our flags to wave.... Big smiles, much wine and good natured banter all night.

When the game was finally over with England the victors there were no fights, arguments or destruction of chairs, glasses etc. Quite the opposite, the French supporters complimented the English team on a game well played and again, much wine was consumed.

I couldn't help picturing a similar scene in my local back in the UK. Not a chance! Had a French person set foot in my local back there they'd have been lynched. The locals there are too keen to fight each other and fall out over a game of sport. Too busy being angry to enjoy themselves or the sport they supposedly support.

Such a different world and separated by not a million miles. How have we grown so differently in our behaviour towards other people? It's getting to the point in my home town that merely making eye contact with someone can earn you a severe beating. I dread to think what waving a French flag in an English bar last Saturday night would have caused.

Each week thousands of Brits are leaving the country to start new lives in France, Spain and Australia.

Why?

Answers on a post card please...

It's getting harder and harder for me to return to the UK, but for now I have to. I still call it going home, but I leave lovely, warm and genuine neighbours here to return to sour faced, small minded and miserable neighbours back in the UK. The only time they ever speak is to moan that the wheely bin was left out or to remind me that the fence is actually my property and can I get it painted soon..... and on.... and on..... The thing that keeps me smiling is that I know very soon I won't be there any more, I'll be here and they'll still be moaning about the wheely bin and fence and other such 'important' things............ How sad.

Not everybody is sure they want to move abroad and taking the gamble of buying a property in France is a big gamble, fraught with dangers. Many people choose to rent long term in France for several months, maybe even a year or two to see if it's really what they want. A long term let is an ideal way of not having to rush into buying the first property you find. I have spoken with several people who came on holiday for a week house-hunting and by the last day had to quickly decide on a property that turned out to be totally unsuitable for them. Renting long term is becoming very popular and if you do decide to buy a place in France the chances are there will be a secondary property you can rent out long term.

French Gite or Long Term Let In France?

by Steve Ellis
Co-Founder of LetsRentPropertyInFrance

Being a French property owner myself and quickly finding that I had a 'spare' house so to speak got me to asking myself, should I let it short term as a rural French gite or aim for a long term French property let and save on the hassle of weekly change-overs possibly having to pay for a key-holder or other form of property management service.

I'm still undecided to tell you the truth and having tried both approaches have found benefits either way.

French Gite
Certainly this can be very profitable but it is only a short term option, better if you are nearby and unlikely that you will be able to consistently rent out your French property for more than a few 'prime' weeks of the year. The main benefits are probably to be found in the summer months depending on your region:

• Low heating costs <-- I have no idea why the font here is different... <--- and here????
• High weekly rental rates
• Hot weather and lots of local attractions open (so your guests are out most of the day) :O)
• erm......
  

Having owned a holiday home in sunny Cleethorpes and found that after ten years the only person renting it was Mr. Kenzo Spagg of Purley who came three times a year to spot strange objects on the beach the idea of letting it long term began to appeal, obviously not to Mr. Spagg though who ended up in jail. It seems that him flashing his torch into the dark waters of the Humber at night wasn't as innocent as first thought.... Just goes to show you never know when HM Customs Officers are out and about. But, I digress.

Long Term Let In France
Possibly not as profitable in the short term but the long term benefits of a long term let can outweigh any financial rewards.

• Security for your property, possibly year round.
• A steady, albeit slightly lower, monthly income.
• If you're lucky, you let to a person who loves gardening.
• Creation of a little income for a local person to manage your property

For people who have a secondary property on the same land as their primary residence a long term let could become invasive and indeed a total pain in the *%@# not worthy the few quid a month you may earn. Come the winter time the possibility of a heating malfunction or power cut (not unknown in rural France, and not unknown to last several days) could have your tenant clamouring at your door for resolution, refund or even your first born...

Difficult choices to make but it's worth trying both options to see what suits you.

For me I'd rather win the lottery but seeing as how I haven't bought a ticket for 5 years it's unlikely.

Happy letting.