Exactly, people in the UK used to brick up windows. You end up with run down poor condition housing. Bad plan long term. If the Gov are short of tax (aren’t they always) then be upfront and add a small increase don’t stop with the ones who have running water, windows, a wash basin in the toilet etc.
I too thought this was an April Fool joke as it appeared around that time.
When we were looking around for a property to purchase we were shown one house which had a tap at the end of the garden and no way of accessing the upstairs of the house either, not even outside steps There was a ladder we could use to seethe room upstairs
Someone had been burning down a small area of what I imagined to be Japanese Knotweed as there was a small amount still growing nearby. To his credit the French Estate Agent had told us that we wouldn’t like it before we went He was right!
The other week we were in Begur, just west of Girona, which is very rich architecturally. Local families made fortunes in Cuba, then returned to build extravagant villas in the town centre. Many of these have defensive towers (Barbary pirates), that lack internal staircases. Instead, they had ladders and the last person in would climb up the ladder, then haul it up after them. Meanwhile, people on top of the tower would drop on the attackers large stones that were kept up there for that purpose.
But when we were there, it seemed OK…
1 Like
Not too far from here, perhaps somewhere to go in the summer for a day out if petrol is cheaper and available.
I have, and it doesn’t involve the car. The highest point of my new forest, the top corner where the lockable gate gives access to forest and field beyond, is a silent cool heaven. I first installed a chair up there, then a sun lounger that had not yet found its true home.
Weather permitting, like now, on our return from the walk he goes off to inspect his terrain as I sit or stretch out to read or simply chill. The tops of the giant trees sway gently if there is a breeze and the occasional bird flies though. Yesterday I joined in with 2 pigeons I could see, 3 trees apart, coo cooing at each other. My accent seemed to confuse them and they soon flew away. 
But I can just see, in between all the trees, Jules in his bright orange harness appearing and re-appearing, by slight movements of my head. I would be very happy to be buried there, if it wasn’t for the law against it, and the beckoning call from Fran in the valley. 
There is no ‘new’ tax. Most people’s property taxes already include the ‘comfort’ element. The only ones affected will be those whose properties are still recorded as having no running water etc when in fact they do, and who have therefore been paying unrealistically low taxes based on incorrect information.
2 Likes
When I read the title it makes me wonder if your bottom is squodgy and tummy rather large. 
1 Like
I agree with you Sandcastle. This must refer to those dwellings which have been improved over the years but by those who have never applied for planning permission! Bit like some neighbours in the UK.
We bought our property in France years ago now but it had all the ‘comfort features’ listed on the estate agents details. Might have been rather basic but presumably recorded as existing in estate agents language.
But being recorded by the estate agent gives no surety that they have been declared and your taxe foncière is based on reality. Our previous neighbour was caught out many years after purchase as for some reason (I forget what) was asked to complete and H1 which he did accurately. And 50m2 of the house and a bathroom was unrecorded,
Our house insurance, buildings and contents, were supplied to our house insurance company by our estate agents who set it up for us in the first place. We also had a visit from our Insurance Agent who inspected the house later on. There were no adjustments made to our insurance policy. Our local tax is not that cheap and has gone up over the years. I don’t think we underpay in that respect. Perhaps we’ll call in at the Mairie when we are there and make sure we are paying appropriately. When we needed a new septic system installed recently our first visit was to the Mairie. Our Maire was there and he actually advised us not to bother replacing our ancient system! Not a very responsible way of dealing with the situation. We went ahead anyway, after all if anyone came and discovered that our system did not comply with current regulations it would not have been the Maire who was responsible for paying à fine for non-compliance.
It is your local tax office that deals with this, not the mairie. Mairies do not have access to tax office data. The best way to check what data the tax office has is on the “mes biens immobiliers’ section of your espace particulier on impots. There was and I assume still is a tab that you can click and see exactly what information the fisc have on your property - storeys, individual rooms, surface area etc.
2 Likes
Thanks, Sandcastle. Will have a look online as you suggest. Surely the Mairie also has information about the properties in their area?
What was the reason Robert?
The mairie will have records of what permissions have been granted and what works have been declared as complete. The tax office uses the information submitted to them via the most recent H1 form for that property. I don’t believe there is any system to allow the fisc to update the data they hold without an H1 on file to back it up. Thus it is the homeowner’s responsibility to complete an H1 where necessary in order to inform the tax office of the changes.
I imagine that there are many cases where the mairie is aware of changes that the tax office is not aware of, but as far as I am aware there is no mechanism for sharing data. So yes the mairie has information but it may not be the same as the information that the tax office holds.
Thanks for your input
Reading this thread has raised a question in my mind. Does the purchase of extra land incur further taxes, or is it just buildings and their contents?
The Maire was with me when I bought the next bit but that does not mean he passed it on to anyone, but it was done via a notaire, so is that enough or am I going to get into the same pickle I’m having over unknown social charges? 
It counts! Look at the Bien Immobilier tab on your personal tax space and the notaire should have added it. If not the you can do so. But won’t cost much.
If you are at all concerned that there might be anomalies having looked at what is listed for your biens immobilier on your personal space (whatever it is called now!) then you can always download an H1 form, fill it in and send it off.
Tax man, not maire.
You pay taxe foncière bâti on built on land, and on non built on land you pay taxe foncière non bâti. All very logical! The non bâti is at a significantly lower rate than the bâti.
Thanks both, just had a quick look but don’t remember a password nor being there before. I’ll check it out in the morning.
A visiting local historian pointed to the classic half-timbered Normandy barn (longère) opposite us and said you can tell whether it was built before or after the Revolution. Apparently the ancien régime taxed property owners based on the length of the facade facing the road. Naturally, pre-Revolution tax planning typically ensured that buildings were constructed so that the shortest/narrowest part of the house faced the road..After the Revolution this tax was altered or abandoned (not sure which) so that houses could be safely constructed with the longest part of the facade facing the road - without tax consequences. The longère opposite us has its shortest facade facing the road, so was likely pre Revolutionary….
5 Likes