Not yet that is on my list but I am ok with the property as it is.
Anything I want to do extra I will be seeking advice and help from Architects, and the Mairie, but I did talk with some of the neighbors who have installed solar panels and made alterations to their properties that are viable from the road. the work I would be doing is some distance from the road and facing into the garden. so not visible at all
The main thing is I have started my move over and once I start to progress things I will reach out and put some of my ideas to the Mairie seeking advice from them on how best to achieve them.
If they say No it wont be something that stops me buying the property it will just make me re-think and ask them how I can get some of what I want done that they will be happy with.
I did talk with my legal advisor and they confirmed that all I want to do internally is legally allowed without any permission. The external things conform to what the French Government is wanting so lets hope its just a formality
I have time as it will be at least a year before I start many of the plans I want to get over and enjoy the property, area and life I am planning for my son and I
Must confess that we thought similarly when we bought our home, donkeys years ago.
If it canāt be seen, whoās to knowā¦
Since then, we (and many others) have found out the hard way that no matter whatā¦ speaking with the Mairie and completing the appropriate paperwork asking for Permission before spending money/starting work is the correct way to go (and saves wasting money/time.)
Thereās always Paperwork it seemsā¦
even a āForm to Declare Work which doesnāt actually need Permissionā
This Form is still essential and keeps everyone happyā¦
I hope your Purchase gets finalised speedily and without hiccups. Youāve already lived in France, so you know how great it isā¦
Donāt forget manpower is more expensive in France than the UK as small and medium-sized businesses have to pay higher social charges and taxes than in the UK. So, obviously depending on your budget, you may well be better off doing some of the renovation yourself.
Property has been in the same family and they have extended it as the family grew. But it is a solid built house and has in the last 5 years been double glazed, and new roof.
It was lived in until last year when the mum had to go into a care home and the family have kept it going since mowing the lawn, keeping it clean and keeping the heating on low
Yes luckily I am handy. Trouble is I like things done properly so it takes me a lot longer to do some jobs, but they are done well.
I have lined up the jobs I can do and have already spoken with the Mairie Office to inquire about the work I want to do and is there any restrictions or concerns about it.
I have also been looking into what architects I could use and local artisans as although I am handy and have all the tools needed I wont do anything structural and when I do electrical installations I will lay the cables and I will fit the switches and fuse spurs I wont tamper with the main electricity fuse box. These I will leave to the professionals, same goes for the artisans I use they will have architects drawings to work off.
Also from some of the experience shared here I wont take it at face value it will be ok and does not need permission. I will seek confirmation like I have just done about the work
Before you get involved in any DIY electrical work please, please, please engage a professional to tell you what to put in. Your comment thatā¦
ā¦does indicate that you donāt have in depth knowledge of French electrical systems - fused spurs are not a thing here &, by extension, nor are ring mains.
Speaking as a pro electrician itās a nightmare being presented with a load of uninformed client installed wiring to be hooked up to a tableau. Often the client ends up paying for a lot of extra time for the pro to sort everything out, & thatās assuming that you can find a one who is prepared to take on a partial install in the first place.
I have to echo this too. We were constantly asked to ājust sign this offā from clients that did their own work, often to a standard that only existed within their own heads. Eventually we decided that if we did not do the work, we would not take the job.
I quite understandā¦ @Badger and @Dr-Le-Dolly
When the watzit hits the fan and the Insurance Assessors are asking āwho did thisāā¦ so they can offload responsibility onto your shoulders ā¦ aaaargh.
Around here, some folk have short memories and when I hear them discussing what they plan to do themselves rather than hire the Professionalā¦ I find myself needing to remind 'em of the horrendous fire 8/9 years agoā¦
no disrespect to any of you but non of you know my background. I was only given examples of the work I have done and can do in the UK.
I do have an electrical background and before I take on any work I do my research and as I have said many times in this post when I need to I engage with a professional.
I am not a casual DIYāer who bodges the job just because I want to save a few pounds I realise that we have professionals for a reason
I wonder if you are misunderstanding some of our misgivings.
Heaven forbid it should, but if a catastrophe occursā¦ one of the first things Insurance Investigators will ask is "who did what work on the property? of course it will depend on the catastropheā¦
for example: if it concerns Water, theyāll want to see the Plumberās Invoice & Insurance, if itās Electricalā¦ similarlyā¦ Iām sure you get my drift.
It sounded as if you were planning major changesā¦ hence my concerns.
I am just coming to a point of the wiring in my place that I didnt replace when re wiring. Its the little light above the kitchen sink, no earth, after all who needs that? But its just a short run of cable 2m or so, at the distribution board its blue for neutral and red for phase. Because I have changed the light fitting I just gave the emerging cable a test, blue is the live and red is neutral! Just what they did I shall find out when I pull the distribution board off the wall and also hunt for the missing bathroom radiator wiring. I have put my cable signal tester on the route so I know where they routed it. All dandy compared to the lethal setup carried out by some nameless french electrician prior.
Our old property had amazing wiring when we bought itā¦ but we knew the situation as this was all pointed out by the Notaireā¦ we had page after page listing everything bad (and just a little good) about the property.
The previous owner of our house had been a medical technician who maintained the electrical equipment in our local hospital. Heād also done quite a bit of work on the house - badly mounted, wonky single plug sockets everywhere and a co-axial connection in every room.
Iām sure the hospital must be a safer place since he moved awayā¦
