French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED

Win a château? Sounds dreamy. Until you realise you might also need a business plan, a visa renewal strategy and enough income to satisfy the prefecture.
In this Rants & Bants episode, Sue, Rosie and Micala chat about the Win a Château TV show, the realities of post-Brexit life in France, language requirements, titre de séjour delays and yet another heated Facebook debate about décennale insurance.
It’s lighter than our chunky episodes, but if you’re renovating or planning to move to France, there are some important realities woven in.
As always, we’ve pulled together the key points on our website if you’d like to revisit anything - www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Resources mentioned
Château DIY: Win a Château – Channel 4 spin-off competition show
The Connexion – English-language publication covering expat legal issues in France
CAPEB – French trade body representing building professionals

Mini glossary
Décennale – 10-year structural insurance required for artisans
Préfecture – Regional administrative authority handling residency matters
Titre de séjour – Residency card
DCEM – Travel document for minors residing in France
Pompe à chaleur – Heat pump
Raccordement – Connection/fitting (e.g. around a Velux window)
SMIC – French minimum wage threshold used for visa income assessments
Connect:
Facebook | Instagram
Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com
Email: [email protected]
Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:
Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)
S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)
Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:
• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
• Music: Grand Project

What makes a French renovation project run smoothly? And what quietly destroys trust between a homeowner and their artisan? In this episode, we reveal the secret to being a good client in France - and what it's fair to expect from your artisan.
From communication and paperwork to boundaries, payment terms and unrealistic deadlines, we share what actually helps a project succeed (and what makes trades walk away).
If you’re renovating in France and want better results, fewer delays and a more positive working relationship, this episode is essential listening. We’ve also pulled together the key takeaways on our website if you’d like to revisit them.

Resources mentioned:
Artisan Central – Trade mentoring and marketing platform
OBAT – French quoting and invoicing software for building trades
Penny Lane – Accounting software used by French businesses
Qualibat / RGE – French certification bodies for building professionals

Mini glossary:
Devis – Formal written quote (legally binding once signed)
Facture – Invoice
Décennale – Mandatory 10-year building insurance
SIRET number – Official French business registration number
RGE – Government-recognised environmental certification for trades
Avenant – Written amendment to an existing quote

Connect with us!
Facebook | Instagram
Email: [email protected]
Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)
S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)
Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:
• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
• Music: Grand Project

In this Rants & Bants episode (our shorter, more spontaneous, but always - okay, mostly - reno focused chats), we get all het up about everything from being ghosted after sending detailed quotes, to Facebook “expert” opinions on pricing, to the realities of buying and flipping property in today’s French property market. Most importantly though, we discuss Mr Kipling cakes and Burger King. Plus, the chic brackets we're importing from Poland...

Resources mentioned:
The Connexion – English-language newspaper covering French news and current affairs
Leroy Merlin – Major French DIY and renovation retailer
Brico Dépôt – Budget building supplies chain in France
Castorama – DIY and home improvement retailer
Causton – Decorative hardware and electrical fittings supplier
Mini glossary:
Devis – A formal, legally binding quote
Artisan – Registered tradesperson
Attestation d’assurance – Proof of insurance certificate
Marchand de Bien – Property trader who buys, renovates and resells
Taxe foncière – Annual French property ownership tax
Connect:
Facebook | Instagram
Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com
Email: [email protected]
Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:
Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)
S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)
Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:
• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
• Music: Grand Project

Planning rules can make or break a French renovation. So, in this episode, we unpack how planning permits in France actually work, why the mairie should always be your first stop - and what can go wrong if it isn’t!
If you’re renovating (or thinking about buying) property in France, this episode will help you avoid expensive mistakes, delays and legal headaches.
We’ve also pulled the key concepts, definitions and resources together in written form on our website, so you can revisit the details whenever you need to.
*** www.frenchrenodiaries.com ***

Resources mentioned in the episode
Service-Public – Official French government guidance on planning and permits
Local mairie – First point of contact for planning rules and applications
PLU (Plan Local d’Urbanisme) – Local planning framework for each commune
Géoportail – National mapping tool showing zoning, flood risk and boundaries

Mini glossary: French planning terms
PLU (Plan Local d’Urbanisme) – Local planning rules set by the commune
Déclaration Préalable (DP) – Simplified planning permission for certain works
Permis de Construire – Full planning permission for larger projects
Certificat d’Urbanisme (CU) – Document confirming development rights
Bâtiments de France (ABF) – Authority overseeing protected and historic areas
Affichage de permis – Mandatory on-site display of planning approval

Connect:
Facebook | Instagram
Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com
Email: [email protected]
Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:
Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)
S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)
Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:
Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright
Music: Grand Project

What are you really paying for when you hire an artisan in France? Why do two quotes for the same work look so different? How much profit do artisans make on renovation work?
If you're asking yourself (or Google) these questions, you'll find all the answers here!
In this Rants & Bants episode, Rosie, Sue and Micala talk openly about the realities of running trade businesses in France - and what homeowners often misunderstand about how those businesses work (spoiler: we’re not milking you for all you’re worth and driving around in Ferraris).
We also hear about Sue's upcoming adventure in Kenya, where she’ll be building a mud hut for a family. Please consider supporting the project via Sue’s Just Giving page - even the smallest contribution will help provide tools, classroom resources, hot meals, and support for families who have so little.
👂If the money-talk in this episode grabbed your attention, make sure you listen to Episode #2 Why budgets blow: The brutal truth about renovation costs in France.

Resources mentioned in the episode
Nasio Trust – UK charity supporting communities in Kenya through housing and education projects
Facebook expat and renovation groups – places where renovation questions are often asked (and misinformation spreads)
Riot Women (BBC One) – TV series about women finding their voice later in life

Mini glossary (for new renovators in France)
Devis – a formal written quote for works
Artisan – a qualified tradesperson operating in France
TVA – French VAT
BTP – ‘Bâtiment et travaux publics’ (the French construction and public works sector)

Connect
Facebook | Instagram
Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com
Email: [email protected]
Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)
S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)
Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)