Costs and Fees

Buying a property like La Férme de La Viéville involves ongoing costs as well as the purchase price. This section covers the latest Utilities Costs for the property, and shows the previous DPE results as well as explaining the different types of annual taxes and other costs. Hopefully, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the costs are relative to a comparable property elsewhere.

Utilities Costs

	Frequency	Ave. Annual Consumption	2023 Amount in €
Taxe d'Habitation	Annual	NA	420.00
Taxe Foncieres	Annual	NA	909.00
Water Rates	Semi-Annual	NA	90.00
Elecricity (EDF)	Bi-Monthly	1,300 KW	300.00
Telephone (France Telecom)	Bi-Monthly	Standing Charge	480.00
TV Licence	Annual	NA	0.00
Buildings and Contents Insurance	Annual	NA	670.00

Diagnostic de Performance Energétique - DPE

More Information

• Property Taxes in France:

  If you own a second property in France, then there are still two local property taxes payable called the taxe d’habitation and the taxe foncière. Taxe d’habitation  (Residence Tax) is a annual residence tax imposed only on the occupier of a property which is capable of being occupied on 1st January of each year, but not a main residence. Taxe foncière is an annual property ownership tax imposed on the owner, whether or not the property is actually occupied by them, or rented out.

• Telephone Charges: Establishing a phone line in France usually takes 72 hours. If you are moving into an apartment or house where the line has been deactivated, you might have to wait a week or so for a technician to come. Some operators ask for proof of a residence permit (carte de séjour) and a French bank account » before they will establish a line for you. (France Telecom only required a bank account and utility bill.)
• Utility Costs: The French government partially privatised its utility companies, Gaz de France (GDF) and Electricité de France (EDF) in 2005. In July 2007, the market was completely opened to competing suppliers. A comprehensive guide to all the different suppliers you can choose from, as well as your consumer rights, is available in French on the Energie-Info » website.
• Buildings and Contents Insurance: If the purchase involves a mortgage, the lender or notaire will insist that a sufficient level of buildings cover is in place to protect the loan, or they may recommend a French Insurer.  Policies offered by French/European insurers may be cheaper, however cover may be different to your current policy, so check the small print very carefully and ensure that you are covered for the special risks of leaving a property unoccupied for extended periods.