Driving in France: how to get a French ‘permis de conduire’

by Nicole Hammond | Sep 4, 2018 | Lifestyle | 19 comments

Want to know how to get a French permis de conduire? It may depend on whether you have a Driving Licence or a Driver’s License! Read more in this comprehensive guide for English speakers on how to get a French driver’s license (permis de...

French Bank Account: All you Need to Know to Open One

by Nicole Hammond | Jul 29, 2018 | Finances, Lifestyle | 11 comments

Have you heard about the famous Catch-22 in France where you need a bank account to rent housing but need an address to open an account? If you’re moving to France, this may be one of the first administrative hurdles you face. As our mission at Renestance is...

Buying a Second Hand Car in France

by Nicole Hammond | Jan 30, 2018 | Lifestyle, Tips and tricks | 18 comments

Driving in France can be quite a challenge at times, particularly if you’ve only just arrived! The French do have a reputation for being maniacs on the road, and they have a different relationship with their vehicles. You’ve probably seen many well-used...

Surviving cancer in France

by Nicole Hammond | Nov 20, 2017 | Health, Lifestyle | 0 comments

Last September, Cancer Support France (CSF) groups all across France organized “Activity for Life” events to raise awareness and funds for the national and regional charities. At Renestance, we know what a fantastic job CSF do helping English-speakers...

Death and Dying in France – What you Need to Know

by Nicole Hammond | Sep 15, 2017 | Health, Lifestyle | 1 comment

They say there are only two sure things in life: death and taxes. We’ve published several blogs about taxes but what happens when you die in France? What should you do if you are bereaved? This blog outlines the main things you need to know and a list of useful...

Passport Renewal Tips While in France

by Nicole Hammond | Jul 15, 2017 | Tips and tricks | 6 comments

One of the many benefits since the advent of the Internet is the ease with which we can now process our administrative tasks, such as passport renewals. Gone are the days of a long drive to your nearest passport center, armed with reams of paperwork, to stand in a...

Cancer Support France – What do they do?

by Nicole Hammond | Jun 17, 2017 | Expat corner, Health, Lifestyle | 0 comments

To find out, we talked to Theo Platings about her work for Cancer Support France Languedoc.Theo Platings has lived in France for 26 years and, fortunately for CSF, she discovered them just as she was slowing down work-wise and had more time on her hands. Add in the...

It’s tax time again!

by Nicole Hammond | May 1, 2017 | Tips and tricks | 0 comments

Yep – Springtime in France brings warm, sunny weather, green gardens – and taxes! Tax season officially opened on April 12th and the online filing deadlines differ according to which department you live in.Departments Deadline Date01 to 19 Tuesday May...

Important Legal Changes to Furnished Rental Accommodation Income

by Nicole Hammond | Apr 17, 2017 | Lifestyle | 1 comment

Do you make extra income renting out accommodation for a few weeks a year to holidaymakers? Or maybe you rent out your ‘maison secondaire’ in France in the high season? Perhaps you have renovated a few outbuildings into little holiday homes and rent these...

Important changes to the tax declaration system in France (Part 2)

by Nicole Hammond | Mar 23, 2017 | Tips and tricks | 0 comments

We published a blog last year (Should you be paying taxes in France?) about the ins and outs of paying taxes in France. Since then, new legislation has been introduced which means that changes are afoot! Here, we will briefly overview what these changes are, re-issue...