Lyon House & Home Improvements

Building plans, permissions, regulations, responsibility and builders insurance: information on contractual terms for contractors, architects or engineers. What you need to know when planning to build, renovate or alter property in France.

The processes, permits and organisations you need when planning to build, renovate or alter a house in France. With explanations on the Code de l'Urbanisme, Plan Local d'Urbanisme (PLU), Carte Communale, understanding COS and calculating SHON.

Information for consumers in France, includes; how to stop spam being sent to your mobile cellular phone, your rights in a restaurant or with holiday property, returns policy when shopping online and how to handle disputes with contractors and services.

Imperial/American to Metric (Fahrenheit to Celsius/centigrade) conversions for length and area, air, body and oven temperatures, and US to UK to Euro clothing conversion tables.

The Cheque Emploi Service Universel (CESU) method of paying for domestic workers. How to register and use it (both employers and employees). Also information on Cheque Emploi Tres Petites Entreprises (CETPE) staff payment system for small business owners

Got questions about the local plant life? Need to know where to get those DIY bits? Not sure about something - anything - to do with your home and garden in Lyon or the Rhone Valley? Ask your fellow locals with the Home & Garden Discussion Forum.

nformation on your rights in the event of a natural disaster destroying your property in France; how to go about making an insurance claim. Includes details on what might be covered in the event of damage by a storm not recognised as a natural disaster.

Information on what to do when it's time to leave France; including notifying schools and residency officials, closing bank accounts, ending contracts for utilities and insurance, exporting cars and moving pets.

Moving house is complicated: changing address, notifying the gas, water and telephone companies, your satellite provider, tax office, bank. This list of essential "to-do" items should simplify your French move as much as possible.

Information on the regulations, workings, installation and maintenance of a wastewater system - the fosse septique - in France.

The basics on French house wiring and how it compares to home electrics in the United Kingdom.

Problems with your telephone, water, electricity or gas? Find the contact numbers for the main utility services in the departments of Rhone, Loire, Drome and Ardeche.

Moving in? Information on the essential services in France and how to get them connected to your home or office in Lyon. Who to call and what paperwork to have handy in order to get your electricity, water and gas.

Information and links to daily French government information on the heat warnings and water restrictions for the summer season.