Property Guides

Life in a French village

There is something about a typically ancient and pretty French village that really appeals to British people buying in France – and other would be expats. It is easy to conjure up a picture in one’s mind of cobbled streets, pretty half-timbered buildings, pavement cafes, hanging baskets, quirky shops and people generally relaxing in the sunshine. This picture represents many villages in France and so many of us yearn to be a part of this. We moved to a small village in the south of France almost seven years ago now – and have never looked back. We are part of the community and find that everyo

A Blood Sport or an Art form?

Love it or hate it, bullfighting is deeply imbedded in Spanish culture – although perhaps for not much longer, as the animal rights groups are slowly but surely upsetting this once all pervading so called “sport”.

Spanish authorities go to war on rentals

Many holiday home buyers factor into their calculations the likely income from renting out the property when they’re not using it, but are not aware that you need the correct licence to do so. That’s an increasingly dangerous game in Spain, as local authorities – in an effort to protect hotels and other official tourist accommodation providers – go to war against private individuals offering holiday rental.

A morning spent inside the Catalan Institute of Public Safety

There is a strong police presence in Spain. We often see various police forces stationed at roundabouts monitoring and stopping drivers, police patrolling the streets and beaches, police at public events large and small and patrol cars making nightly rounds. Catalonia has its own police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra which protects the 7 million people who live in the region and its own Police Academy, the ISPC (Institut de Seguretat Pública de Catalunya) located near Barcelona.

Top tips for renovating your French property

It is fair to say that many British people dream about owning an old French farmhouse brimming with character and original features, preferably with at least some outside space and probably set in a pretty village. Certainly these properties are reasonably easy to find, and there are still some excellent bargains across the country. However, many such properties have been neglected, and may need a complete overhaul – or at best a serious amount of decorating.

Lawnmowers and lemons: our Easter in the Costa Brava

Gin and tonic tastes a million times better with home-grown lemons. Trust me, I’ve tried it, so have the neighbours! So, finding my four-foot lemon tree dripping with fruit when I arrived at my Costa Brava villa this week was a real treat, at least for me and the wife, who enjoy a sundowner. The children – three year old Clemence, six year old Harry and nine year old Maddy – were more excited about slurping away on their all-time favourite drink, chocolate flavoured Cacaolat, which you don’t get in the UK. I think the youngest can see off a carton in under 10 seconds now.

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