How to set up a contract with your local water company for your new home in France

Water is delivered by private companies in France. To find the water company in your area, ask your estate agent or the mairie.

The French water company will need:

• Your full name
• Your French address
• The name of the previous owners or tenants
• The readings
• Your French bank details (RIB)
• If you want the bills to be sent to the UK or anywhere else then your foreign address

You will pay a flat fee (abonnement) and consumption retroactively (consommation). Consumption is often estimated based on how many weeks you will be in your French home (if it is a holiday home) and how many people will be staying. It is advisable to set up a monthly direct debit. It gets readjusted when a technician comes and reads the meter once a year usually at the end of the year. Otherwise bills are sent twice a year.

The main water companies in France are Veolia, formerly Générale des Eaux, and Lyonnaise des Eaux. If you live around Dinan in Brittany, it could be SAUR.

If you require assistance, please contact me herehttp://www.anglofrenchcommunication.com/contact.php.

Smoke detectors for French homes

As from 1st January 2016 (not March 8th 2015), all properties in France must have a smoke detector installed. If you are a landlord, you have to install a smoke detector in each flat / house you own. If you are the tenant, you are responsible for the maintenance of it (ie you must replace the batteries when need be).

Smoke detectors don't have to be wired in, they can just be batterie ones.
This applies also for furnished and unfurnished properties in France. 

Make sure you buy a smoke detector which has the NF sign on. You will easily find some in DIY shops in France.

Our fire alarms were fitted the day we bought our French house 12 years ago, so I won't be rushing to the DIY shop! We are already complying to the French regulations.