We have a holiday home in the Dordogne and are looking for help when we are not there.
In winter, when we are not there, we leave the heating on a “Frost” setting to prevent frost damage. I check the house remotely via the internet. Sometimes, if there has been a storm, the power may go off and the internet connection may be lost. At present we can ask friends to call round, check the fuse board and restart the router.
Our friends are moving away.
Can you please advise from where we might obtain such help in future?
You may need to sign up for a paid for service. These exist but you don’t say where you are in Dordogne so can’t offer a specific suggestion.
AFAIK, my router will restart as soon as power is restored?
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I think the OP is referring to storms causing the RCD / disjoncteur différentiel to trip, requiring someone to enter the premises and physically reset it to bring the power back on.
And, if even a short interruption is unacceptable, you can invest in a UPS and attach the router to it.
I bought an Eaton Ellipse ECO 650 FR. There are plenty of alternatives.
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We arenear Monpazier.
Maybe I am too old fashioned but 30 odd years ago when this place (also Dordogne) was our holiday home we simply disconnected and drained down everything. Never had a problem, but that was well before the stuff you speak of.
Welcome to SF btw. 
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Sadly times change David, alba little slower in rural France.
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Not much use if a storm has tripped the incoming supply …
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Exactly my point.
I’ve had the EDF disjoncteur trip 2-3 times here over the last 8 years during storms (lightning strikes and trees falling on power lines) and when a nearby farmer hit the concrete pylon in his field with a plough one time too many.
This covers that area. No doubt others if you look.
Best of course is to get to know a neighbour and give them a key,
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David ..that also has been my practice over 26 years
…1Try and leave the house clean ..and bleach in the toilet bowl .
2.Turn off water outside at the meter ..and inside under the sink run taps and shower until dry. That will eliminate frost damages , since there is no plumbed central heating
- Now we have an immersion … Unplug and drain .Previously I walked the external gas cylinder to the shed.
- In previous years I removed the TV so not to be caught for licence , but Will just leave it there in future
- Shut all the shutters bolted from inside
- Empty the fridge ..and close its door again ..the mistake of leaving the door open not to be repeated ..it destroys the magnetic seal over a winter. .a few towels or floor clothes will absorb the water run off .
- Turn on a few lights .
- Turn off gas cylinder
- Put torch beside the door and then turn off the main trip switch and leave …That is so if we returned at night or gloom, we would have light to get to the electric panel
- Lock the door . Forget about it for months
It makes no difference ..every time we return there is always a few black spots on a few walls or table where we missed a spot of grease …, And the shutters are harder to open.. Once we leave , we leave ..there is nothing we could do even if burglars broke in or a hurricane ripped off the roof … That is what insurance is for .and making flights and car hire at short notice might exceed the damage . But without a water feed and no electricity .. nothing internal can catastrophically damage over the year .
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Thank you, Brian
@Peshawk Welcome to the forum!
As an aside, does your Mairie have the necessary information for contacting you if something major occurs in your absence?
I ask as something major has arisen locally and our Mairie is currently having difficulties contacting the homeowner who lives abroad.
Maybe a post on FB ?
And/or ask at the mairie if they know anyone—it’ll always be cheaper than a concierge service 
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Stella .. Surely the Marie has access to the Cadastre information and water and refuse service billing information and Taxes ?. Those bills have no difficulty in finding me in Ireland. In fact I got an unsolicited request from a firm of Geometres in Pontivy who wanted access to my garden in order to setup building sites next door … .
There is an organisation called Allo Vosins which seems to have networks in a lot of towns..They are tradesmen and handymen ..and women doing all those little tasks.. including cleaning , laundry, gardening which don’t require the overheads of proper building services , I am sure that house minding would be one of those services …
Sadly there is often no useful information shared with the Mairie. If the Mairie is the instigator of billing, they will have the French address and (as so often happens) if a property changes hands no-one thinks to update info at the Mairie. and the bill will simply land in the local letter box.
This is why it is often suggested that a new owner goes to the Mairie, introduces themselves and gives necessary details. All well and good if they are here fulltime, but holiday homes need additional contact details.
the absentee in question had moved from the original UK contact some years ago and not updated anyone … aaargh.
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Curious. Mine seems to have survived at least 4 winters so far, being left ajar from September to April.
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Agreed. I leave our cottage fridge door open over winter and wouldn’t dream of closing it - mould!
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