8 reasons to rent before buying a property in France
Before you take the plunge and move permanently to France, it makes sense to test the water by a renting a property out before buying your dream home in France. Here are 8 reasons why you should try before you buy…
Work out if you like the local weather
Temperatures of 30°C plus might sound appealing, but the reality of living and working in a climate that you’re not familiar with can be different to what you had envisioned. Renting will give you the chance to see what the weather is really like, and, if you stay long enough, will allow you to see how the climate changes throughout the year, and whether it lives up to your expectations.
Be close-by for house-hunting
Renting close to where you want to buy means you can get early viewings of properties as they come on the market, as opposed to house-hunting from the UK where distance makes it harder to see a property in person. It also means someone else is less likely to get there before you.
Make friends
Integrating into the community is an important aspect of a new life abroad for many expats. Renting will help you to get a first-hand account of life in the area and see if there are like-minded people that you could imagine being good friends with.
Improve your French
Brushing up on your French skills before you buy can be beneficial in many ways. From paperwork to job interviews and socialising with the locals, learning a little of the lingo before you become a permanent resident will help when it comes to settling into all aspects of French life.
Keeps your options open
Perhaps you don’t have a fixed plan and want to remain flexible when it comes to making arrangements for the future. If you are a homeowner, the process of up and leaving would be more complicated than renting, that largely allows for a bit of leeway to chop and change your mind, should you need or want to, with as little hassle as possible.
Allow your children to experience school
School can make or break a move so, to give yourself some extra security, try the area’s local one before buying the keys. Sometimes it helps to take baby steps when moving with children and renting will help you to manage this part better.
Landlords
Having a landlord to call on means that the responsibility for fixing things doesn’t fall on you, freeing up your time to get on with more important things like looking for jobs, finding your dream home and enjoying la belle vie
Get a flavour of the French lifestyle and culture
If you haven’t lived in France before, you may want to test the waters before signing on the dotted line. We’re sure you’ll love France, but renting allows you to make double sure it’s the life for you before making any permanent decisions.
Read more articles about renting in France:
Tax to pay when renting out property in France
Perfect French rental apartments
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