Renovating a house in France is something which many Brits yearn to do.  Like anywhere, there are rules and regulations but the good news is that in general in France you can alter the interior of your property as you wish (with some rare exceptions). 

Planning permission of some kind is normally necessary for any alterations or extensions to the exterior however. One must abide by  the “Normes Francaises”, equivalent to the British Standard for certain aspects such as electricity, plumbing and roofing. Note that any product with the initials “NF” on it means it has been controlled, conforms to the norm and is therefore suitable for use.

Regarding electricity, there is no ring main system in France, as in the UK, and the system is wired on spurs running from a distribution box. Each appliance must have its own individual spur. Your first stop for an idea of exactly which permissions you need to seek will be your local “Mairie”, or town hall. Bear in mind that if you have any construction work undertaken by a professional, you will be insured for 10 years. You can still carry out much of the work yourself but in the case of electricity or plumbing for example, it is wise to have a professional oversee what you have done and leave the final connections to him. 

Planning rules in France are set out in the “Code d’Urbanisme” which states the right to build on a particular type of land and also documents the taxation on the land and buildings. There are different levels of planning consent and your Mairie will gladly advise on what is applicable to your particular project.

A “Declaration de Travaux” will be required for any exterior works such as installing a garden shed or swimming pool or any alteration to the façade of the building. You will have to wait around 4 weeks to receive permission and your application should be as clear and detailed as possible, preferably with drawings and photographs of what you intend to do. Planning permission or “Permis de Construire” is required for any construction which changes the use or volume of the façade and also for works carried out to what is termed a “monument historique”. If you live close to a church, for example, as we do, the rules are rather more rigid.

Employing local artisans will stand you in good stead in your local community although you can now find many English builders in France and as long as they are properly registered there should not be a problem employing them.
It is tremendously satisfying to see your dream renovation coming to fruition.  Many French people are happy to find that the English are keen to renovate in their country. As long as you abide by the rules and are patient (everything takes longer in France!), it is perfectly feasible to restore your French house to your own taste.

Start your hunt for a home in France here…
If you’re searching for a French property, a good place to start is the France Buying Guide’s property search facility. To start your search now visit http://www.francebuyingguide.com/content/france-properties