If you are renting, or planning to rent your home in France, whether you prefer to do your own management and publicity or decide to use a French agency to handle the letting of your property, we offer a complete range of marketing services for you to get the maximum benefit from renting your property in France for short term or seasonal rentals.

What was once a small "cottage" industry in France - the seasonal rental of villas, cottages and apartments - has now become one of the most important and fastest growing areas of tourism in Europe.

Importantly, you should be aware of three important considerations.

1. All income on your property must be declared in France and may be taxable in France. It does not matter where you take the money or in what currency - the property is in France therefore the income is considered as being earned in France and is liable to be declared for French taxation. There are taxation treaties in place between France and most other countries, but he important thing is for you to declare the income in France. You may then be able to choose whether to pay tax in France or in another country, but if you do not declare this income then you are liable for tax EVEN IF YOU HAVE PAID TAX ON THIS INCOME ELSEWHERE. There are simple and fair systems to assist you, the level of tax is low and may be offset against other taxes.

2. The property must be registered with the local authorities and meet the standards set for seasonal rentals. You may also be liable for local taxes for tourism and for occupation.

3. You may advertise and promote your own property, but you may not accept a commission or fee for the rental of any other property, or advertise another persons property as this can only be done by a licensed French agent.

Do make sure that you do let your property within the law as from 2003 appointed agencies will be "policing" all advertising and Internet sites to "regulate" this business.

I have written a some notes about this and give references to sources for some of the laws and articles at...

http://www.nizas.com/rentals/rentals_law.html

Private home rental is the fastest growing aspect of tourism in France. There are already over 1.2 million second homes in France and increasingly these are being offered for seasonal occupation. This is in addition to a home owner who rents out their main home for a time while they are on vacation elsewhere. In France there are two seasons defined as tourist seasons, summer and winter, neither must be longer than 3 months (93 days).

Local authorities must now register all properties which are available for seasonal letting and the owners and every agency offering seasonal rental accommodation have been identified by the official trade bodies of the real estate agents. The largest of these organisations, the FNAIM, has already appointed regional inspectors to investigate all advertising, in France and abroad, and to ensure that all rental properties are correctly registered and all agencies are operating within French law.

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If you prefer, we can be your letting agents, we do all the work of creating the web pages, advertising and marketing your property and can arrange for payment facilities, contracts and insurances. You pay nothing, it is part of our service - you are always in control - there are no set-up costs or other charges.

We work with some of the largest specialist travel companies in the world and we can, if your property is suitable you may include your property with them which will then get exposure to millions more potential clients. In this case the commission you pay depends on the service you require, from 15% to 35% of the rental.

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Renting private vacation accommodation should be a pleasure for both owner and renter. It is our job to make sure everything is safe, sure and satisfactory for both.

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