James Mansfield,  Saturday, 1 July 2017

 

Some homeowners in France want to generate income by converting part of their property, such as a barn, into a gite. What does this involve? Is it really as simple as it seems?

You can't just start a gite without informing various government agencies. For example, the local municipality and the tax office need to be informed. If you live in a remote area and occasionally rent out part of your home to a select group, you might be able to do this under the radar, without paying taxes. However, as soon as it becomes more serious, you must register the rental with the French government, such as the local municipality and the tax office. This means you'll also have to deal with French bureaucracy.

Before deciding to convert your barn into a gite, you should first conduct a market analysis. What is the availability of gites in the area, and is the region frequently visited by tourists? What type of accommodation is in demand? Don’t start a luxury gite in a remote area where there isn’t much to do.

You can register your gite with the influential rental organization Gites de France. This is not mandatory but does give your gite a quality label from the organization. Tourists then know what quality to expect, and Gites de France will promote your gite extensively. Many foreign owners, however, choose not to register their gites because the organization charges a significant commission for rentals. Gites de France uses a classification system, which is thoroughly explained on this page: . The rules of Gites de France state that you cannot offer extra services (such as laundry, breakfast, or dinner) when renting out gites. If you want to offer additional services, you fall into the B&B or Chambres D’Hotes category.

If you want to convert an existing living space into a gite, you can do so without needing permission from the municipality, as long as you don't change the exterior of the house. The situation is different if you want to convert a barn into a gite. For this, you must first apply for a *certificat d'urbanisme* at the town hall. This *certificat d'urbanisme* states that a certain building can be used for residential purposes and specifies the maximum allowable square meters of living space. However, this does not give you permission to start the renovation. Converting a barn into living space is called a *changement de destination* in France. For a *changement de destination*, you need to apply for a building permit. It’s best to hire an architect to create a design, which you then submit to the town hall. Typically, you have to wait about 2 to 3 months for approval. If you are in a protected nature area, the process may take longer. In an area under the jurisdiction of the *architecte des batiments de France*, it can even take up to six months before you get a response. It's generally a good idea to let the architect handle the entire application process. The architect knows the ropes and has the right contacts at the town hall, saving you a lot of bureaucratic hassle and frustration.

Once you have received permission for the renovation, you must first display a clear sign along the public road for 2 months, providing information about the construction plans. This allows third parties the opportunity to file objections against the renovation. If you don’t place the sign and people file an appeal later, you could face serious delays that can last up to 3 years. Always put up the sign to avoid any problems.

Once the gites are ready, a new phase begins with several important points of attention. For example, you need to be aware that you are liable if accidents occur. There could be a fire. Are there enough fire extinguishers, and are they regularly inspected? Each year, several children drown in private swimming pools. The regulations for private pools have become quite strict in recent years. As a landlord, you must know and comply with these rules.