Connecting Utilities
Connecting to utilities in France
Arranging utility connections in France
You have had all the excitement of deciding to buy a property in France, you have finished with the heady days of property viewing holidays, you have had your fill of travelling from region to region in pursuit of your own piece of paradise and of nail biting your way through the long and sometimes complex buying process. It is easy to feel, as you sign the papers in front of your smiling Notaire, that you have done all the hard work, and now you can settle back and enjoy your new life or your holiday home. There is just the odd small task remaining to be done, such as getting the electricity turned on, arranging the telephone service, finding an Internet provider, sorting out a gas supply, sourcing a water supply, and, um, I hate to mention it, but have you considered sewage? All of a sudden you are weighed down with difficulties again, and unless you can find a straightforward way of dealing with them this can really take the edge off the relaxing new way of life you were planning.
Speaking French will always help
Fluent (or even half decent) French speakers shouldn’t find any of this much of a problem. Yes, the systems here are different, but if you can speak the language all you have to do is ask the relevant questions in the right places and you have it sorted. The vast majority of Brits moving to or buying property in France, however, are not skilled linguists, and the business of dealing with the utilities providers can seem more complex than it is. If this is your dilemma, don’t panic, help is at hand.
Estate Agents can help with connecting utilities
There can be a very simple solution to these difficulties, as many people have found. Many estate agents, particularly those who specialise in helping British people find and buy property in France, also offer an ‘after care’ service which includes helping you to get connected up to all the utilities and setting up payment methods. This can prove a very useful extra for many people, but remember that you will eventually need to understand the systems as the estate agents will not hold your hand forever!
Alternative help is available for those who buy property privately
There is another possibility for those of you who have not bought your property through such an agent. It is possible to join an agency who do not sell or rent property, but who offer the hand holding service alone. You may pay a flat fee for this, usually a joining fee and a yearly subscription, and once you have your membership you can call the agency and ask them to make all these type of arrangements for you. They will make the telephone calls and arrange appointments with the utility providers, and advise you on the best payment methods.
Information and papers needed to sort out utilities
Should you have decided that you are going to take the bull by the horns and make all the arrangements yourself, the first thing you need to understand is that, in France, things will only happen after you have provided the requisite mountain of papers. (All those stories you heard about French Bureaucracy really are true!) Your first task will be, therefore, to prepare a pile of papers and certificates which you will need to take to all your appointments. (Be prepared to still have to return home to collect yet more pieces of paper… it is an unwritten law in France that no matter how many certificates and papers you take to a meeting you will almost always need just one more!) These are likely to include:
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
RIB (Relevé d’Indentité Bancaire). This is a page from your cheque book which gives your bank details.
A copy of either a utility bill (if you have one!) or something from your notaire to prove that you have an address in France.
You may not need all of these items, but having them to hand could save time in the long run.
Make arrangements in person
Make appointments to go to the offices of the relevant providers, as you will find that things move more quickly and successfully if you make arrangements in person, rather than attempting to do these things by telephone or mail. (If you are going to make the appointments by phone, and your French is weak it can be useful to write down what you are going to say first, and also have some idea of the language that you are going to be hearing, for example, the days of the week, appointment times etc.)
Electricity in France
Electricity in France is most usually provided by EDF (Electricité de France), which is state owned. If you are moving into a property which has previously been occupied by someone else, you will need to ascertain that the meter has been read before your contract begins, to avoid the possibility of paying for someone else’s electricity. It may be wise to arrange a reading yourself. This is known as a Relevé Special. In cases where the property does have an existing supply, you will pay a fee (frais d’access) to allow you to access. (This not expensive, currently in the region of fifteen euros.) Payment of your bills is usually and most simply done by direct debit (prélèvement automatique) and can be arranged at the time of your initial appointment, as long as you have the relevant paperwork! At this initial meeting, you will also need to decide on the tariff you require. There are different tariffs available, and it is important to choose the best one for your needs. The most popular tariff is the off peak option, which works by offering cheap electricity at times chosen by yourself from a list offered by the company. This is good so long as you remember to do your washing, dishwashing and water heating etc in the off peak periods!
French power ratings
The electricity supply also differs somewhat in France from that of England. Many older properties are only supplied with a low power rating, perhaps as little as three or six kilowatts. (Power in France is available in three, six, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, twenty-four or thirty-six KW ratings.) You may need to upgrade your rating to cope with the demands of a modern life! This will incur a cost, however, and could increase your standing charges by up to 40%. If you are connecting electricity to a new build, or a renovation which has not previously had an electricity supply you will need to discuss the charges for this with EDF.
Gas supply in France
Mains gas is usually available only in cities and towns. The supplier is GDF (Gaz de France) which is connected to EDF. The system for getting connected and opening an account with GDF is similar in essence to that described above. If your property is in a town where there is a mains gas supply and you do not have gas connected, this can be arranged. You will need to contact GDF in order to get a price for this, as it can vary from property to property.
Supplying gas to French rural properties
If your property is in the country and does not have mains gas, you will need to decide whether your gas consumption is going to be great enough to require the installation of a tank, or if you will be able to make do with smaller bottles of propane or butane gas. These portable bottles are readily available at many outlets locally, including petrol stations and garden stores. One important consideration if using bottled gas is where you plan to store the bottles. Butane must be stored indoors, whilst propane can withstand greater extremes of temperatures and can safely be kept outside in a garden shed.
Gas central heating in rural areas of France
Gas central heating in a rural area will require a tank. It is possible to arrange to hire a tank from your supplier (Total and Antargaz provide gas supplies and tanks in most areas) which will cost you in the region of 300 to 400 euros a year.
Telephone connection in France
France Telecom is the first port of call for you with regard to setting up your telephone and Internet services in France. Most major offices have some English speaking staff, and there is even an English speaking hotline available (from France) 09 69 36 39 00 or 01 55 78 60 56 (this is a free line). If you are calling from the UK the number you will need is 0033 9 69 36 39 00 or 0033 1 55 78 60 56.
French properties with existing telephone lines
Setting up your telephone account for a property with an existing line is fast and simple, and unsurprisingly is best achieved by the usual visit to the office along with the usual bundle of papers! One difference from the UK system is that you will not be able to simply take over the number of the previous occupants. A new number will be allocated to you. As with all the other services, don’t forget to check that the previous occupants have closed their account before you take over!
Installing new telephone lines in France
If you are installing a new line into a property which has not been connected before, you should contact France Telecom to obtain an estimate. You will need to have dug trenches of the necessary depth for the laying of the cable (laws here are quite strict on this) and you will need to supply details of the number and type of sockets fitted in your property.
Internet services in France
Internet services are also provided by France Telecom, and many places in France can now receive ADSL broadband. Check the availability of this for your area. France Telecom claims that by the end of this year (2006) 98% of homes will have the possibility of broadband.
Paying telephone bills in France
Before we leave the subject of telephones, a brief word about the billing system is appropriate. You can pay your bill in the usual variety of ways, including on the internet, but be sure you do pay on time. France Telecom is quite quick to restrict calls in the event of non payment, sometimes even before a reminder has been delivered!
French water suppliers
Water is supplied in France by private companies. The company depends on the area in which you live. The largest of these companies are Lyonnaise d’Eaux, Cise and Vivendi. Unlike in the UK, most French properties have their water measured by a meter, and are individually charged according to consumption. Water tends to be more expensive in France than in England, with some areas much more expensive than others! Most properties can be connected to the mains water systems, so long as they are not too isolated, but very rural properties may have to rely on a well for their water. If this is the case with a property you are interested in, take care to find out if the well dries up in the summer or not! A new connection to the mains can be expensive due to the need for trenches and pipelines, so obtain a devi (a binding quotation) from the water company first. The changing of an account from sellers of a property to buyers is straightforward, with the usual proviso that you need to be sure the meter has been read.
Sorting out your sewage in France
Only the most rural of properties in the UK have septic tanks, but this is not the case in France. Even many village houses will have this sewage system, and it is really nothing to worry about as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. When buying your property, be sure that the system has been inspected and is up to all the standards. Find out what type of system you have, as there are different requirements for different types. Some need emptying yearly, some not for several years. Use toilet cleaning products designed for use with septic tanks (fosse septique) as these will help the system work properly.
Mains drainage in France
Urban properties will be connected to mains drainage, and the charges for this are normally included in the normal property taxation system. Information about this will be obtainable from your Mairie. New properties must by law be connected to mains drainage where possible, and there will be a one off charge for this connection.
Time for that glass of wine
So now you are not only the proud owner of a house in France, but you can also turn on the lights, cook a meal, wash the dishes, call a friend and flush the loo! Now sit down and pour yourself a glass of wine. After all that work, you deserve it!
Contacts
The companies you will need to contact will vary according to where you live in France. There are too many to cover here, but your telephone directory, Pages Jaunes is the equivalent to the UK yellow Pages. (Pages Jaunes is also accessible via the Internet www.pagesjaunes.fr .) Here you will find details of EDF, GDF, France Telecom and the water companies. Further specific local information regarding these services, sewage options and their associated charges will be available from your Mairie or Hotel de Ville (town hall). EDF have a useful website from their head office, www.mastered@edf.fr and the response from this is usually quite fast and helpful.