We have a plan......

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dantheman1958
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We have a plan......

Post by dantheman1958 »

Always longed for the French way of life, owned a house a few years ago in the south which had to sell, so sort of aware of what to expect buying etc.

We plan to sell up here in UK and buy a lock up and leave place wot a view to finding a nice family house, land and a gite or two, or out buildings to develop etc.

Were in our later years ( 60 and 58 ) but still fit and healthy and have lots to offer, innovation and creatively to a gite business, having built up several businesses in the UK, not afraid of hard work.

Dependent upon what we end up what and where ( Charente area we think ) well occupy main house appx half the year and UK other half, using the holiday seasons in France ( April – sept ) to best advantage. But then ad hoc visits during winter seasons for perhaps courses in our skills, specialist cooking and outdoor activities, guided tours, walks, bush crafts, etc ( think of us as lesser versions of Sarah raven and ray mears )

Wede really appreciate hearing from anyone else that might have been foolish enough to try this, in later years, as the imporession we get is that a lot of people at that age seem to be moving back to the UK?

Any tips, advise, warning, would really be appreciated.

Cheers

Dan
:D
Dusty
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Post by Dusty »

Hi Dan,

we did just what you're planning on doing 5 years ago and don't regret it at all. We are both in ealry 60s now so we just a couple of years younger than you when we took the plunge.

In our view you are doing the right thing by maintaining a foot hold in the UK. We hear of so many problems from people who sell up entirely and for one reason or other can't make things work over here but are then trapped as they can't afford to move back to the UK.

My main piece of advice would be not to assume that you can make enough money running a gite or 2 to live on, you need some other income to augment those earnings.

You only live once so you need to follow your dreams, go for it.

If you have any specific questions post them on here, there are lots of very helpful people who will provide lots of advise and guidance if you need it.
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Moliere
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Post by Moliere »

Well nobody round here seems to be going back to the UK, quite the reverse in fact as the half-in, half-out ones are settling permanently. You can start this thing at any age, as long as you're realistic about what you can do yourselves and when you need professionals.

It's better to have tried and lost than to live a lifetime of "if only . . ."

Go for it. 8)

Moliere
Jumping is just dressage with speed-bumps.
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Post by French Cricket »

Just remember that after Brexit UK residents will be third country nationals and almost certainly restricted to stays of 90 days in an EU country without applying for a long stay visa - a very complicated procedure that has to be begun before you travel. So your plans to spend 6 months at a time in France are probably not going to be do-able, unless something is negotiated as a part of the 'future relationship' between the UK and the EU (and there are no plans for this afoot yet).

You can get round this by shifting your country of habitual residence to France before Brexit day, but that does mean that you need to fulfil the conditions for that and of course it has other implications. PM me if you want more details!
farley
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Post by farley »

Hi FC
Thanks for this information. Re the 90 day day maximum stay. Would that be per annum or per visit?
If we were restricted to 90 days per year it would make running our gites very difficult and more expensive as we’d need to employ folk to do the stuff we normally do.
:(
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Post by French Cricket »

Farley, it's a limit of 90 days in any period of 180 days - which means a period of 180 days immediately preceding each day of the stay, if that makes sense.

This is the common rule for anyone who isn't a citizen of an EU country wanting to spend time in the Schengen area, and the UK would default to that when (if!) it leaves the EU.

If the UK remained in the EEA or the Single Market, it wouldn't apply, but at the moment that's not looking likely. It's possible that the UK will want to try and negotiate an exception but (a) that won't happen immediately; and (b) it would be unlikely to succeed!

If there is a transition period, it would apply at the end of transition, not from Brexit day. So a bit of leeway, perhaps. But the loss of freedom of movement is something that would affect many, many people and sadly hasn't really hit home in the UK, I think.
farley
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Post by farley »

Thanks for your prompt reply FC.
I’m still a wee bit confused. I wonder if you could give me an example.
If we stay in France for 90 days during June/July/August which months each year would we be able to return to do our maintenance work?
Sorry I know I’m being rather slow :(
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Post by French Cricket »

Here's the text from one of the EU sites:

2. How long can I stay without a visa in the Schengen area?
You can stay 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area.
When applying this rule, the following aspects should be taken into account:
• The date of entry is considered as the first day of stay in the Schengen territory;
• The date of exit is considered as the last day of stay in the Schengen territory;
• The 180-day reference period is not fixed. It is a moving window, based on the approach of looking backwards
at each day of the stay (be it at the moment of entry or at the day of an actual check, such as inland police
control or border check upon departure);
• Absence for an uninterrupted period of 90 days allows for a new stay for up to 90 days.

The easiest way to calculate it is to say that if you leave on 31 August, you'd be able to come back again for another 3 months on 1 December. Then December to February in France, then March to May in the UK, then June to August in France ... etc!
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CSE
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Post by CSE »

What FC is describing is called Schengen Area Visa. Some countries within the Schengen Agreement area are not members of the EU. The UK, amongst other EU countries, are outside of the Schengen Agreement area. It was an initiative undertaken by the EEC back in 1985.I cannot call for us to have a visa or a visa exclusion before then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area


So as we do not know what the .... will happen There is really no need need to get crazy about all the different solutions to this perplexing issue. That is until we have news from those who will make or break any decent outcome. Even then we will have to accept it.

Going back to the OPs plans. Why would you want to renovate a property? It can take many years, loads more money then planned, Loads of paper work and all the time with no income. Purchase a up and running business and build on that. In 5 years time it will be retirement time.
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
farley
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Post by farley »

Thank you for your clarification FC.
Food for thought. Im very grateful for the advice from folk on this forum. Brexit really has caused a lot of upheaval 🙁
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CSE
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Post by CSE »

It may have done. But remember that the Brits were still able to purchase property, live, work, take vacations before it joined what was the ECC. After 1973 , when the UK joined the ECC the Brits were still moving around Europe. Including Spain, Greece, Sweden etc.
Now things have got more oppressive. Maybe it will get more obsessive if any action is taken after the a few failings in the cooperation between countries. So I repeat we wait and see what the future will bring.
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
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Post by COYS »

Go for it OP .... nothing ventured etc etc. Although not in France & just a few years younger we are currently making transitional plans to do the same over the course of this year. Plenty to think/worry/procrastinate over obviously but also much to be excited about.
Good advice too from casasantoestevo, & I agree there is little to be had by trying to second guess what (if anything) Brexit may or may not bring.
This time next year Rodney, we'll be millionaires.
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Post by French Cricket »

I'm not going to get into an argument on this but I'll just say that the info I've given on here isn't second guessing - it's legally and factually correct. Some of you know that I'm involved in the citizens' rights negotiations at a close level - and one thing that's important is that people make decisions for their futures with all the info and legalities to hand if they're not to come a very big cropper in 2019 (or 2021 if there's a transition period)!
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CSE
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Post by CSE »

That is very good news...... I would invite you to give us all the information you have; links copies of correspondence etc.
Judging from this we in Spain are going to be treated differently to the rest of the Brits in Europe.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-41714435
Maybe this will change things?
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove ... ht-to-vote
what you have been saying is quite different from the existing advice.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/status-of-e ... r-families
However I will stand by my statements. Because it is only what we hear from the UK government that changes to who likes to open their mouth. The cabinet (and a few outside) can be very vocal but never seemly singing from the same hymn sheet. Plus the opposition do not know if it is Monday or Friday. Add to this the likes of Junkers and his homies who are on yet a different planet.
So I will finish as I started this post please give us the full facts.
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
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Post by louloup »

In France, Agnès Fontana, responsible for foreigners’ acquisition of residence rights and French nationality, recently told MPs and campaigners that after Brexit protecting rights of Britons who have obtained permanent residence cards will be a priority for France.
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