French Property Owner’s Vocabulary & Essential Terms

Some of the key terms, taxes, and companies that you need to know as a French homeowner.

Assurance habitation: Home insurance, the most common of which is a contrat assurance multirisques habitation– multi-risk/comprehensive home insurance. Typically this includes civil liability insurance (see below).

Responsabilité civile propriétaire: Civil liability insurance – this protects against any damage caused accidentally or unintentionally to a neighbouring property or third party (for example, a tree from your property falling onto a neighbour’s fence) and is the minimum requirement for home insurance in France.

Attestation d’assurance: proof from your insurance company showing you have insurance.

Taxe d’habitation: A local property tax that is paid by the resident of the property or by the homeowner in the case of a vacant property, second home or holiday home.

Taxe foncière: A government property tax payable by all property owners including rental properties and second homes.

Taxe d’enlèvement des ordures ménagères (TEOM) – waste/refuse collection charge paid to the local commune.

Contribution à l’audiovisuel public (CAP): TV licence paid by all property owners or inhabitants that have a TV receiver or similar television reception device.

Zone tendue: Areas of France where there is a known housing shortage and tax d’habitation may be higher for owners of second homes or holiday homes. See the full list of zones tendu here.

EDF (Electricité de France): France’s state-owned electricity supplier who remain the country’s largest supplier and offer regulated tariffs.

Enedis: France’s electricity grid operator (a subsidiary of EDF), responsible for connecting and maintaining the electricity lines throughout France.

Engie: France’s state-owned gas supplier who remain the country’s largest supplier and offer regulated tariffs.

SPANC: The public service of non-collective sanitation who are responsible for inspecting non-collective sewage treatment systems and septic tanks.

Valeur locative cadastrale: The cadastral rental value of your property which is used to calculate property taxes.

Useful French phases and questions to help during the moving process. You might also want to see our guide to ‘Calling out a plumber or electrician’ and ‘Setting up internet in France’.

I am moving house: Je vais déménager

Can I transfer my electricty/gas/internet contract?: Puis-je faire transférer mon contrat de (d’électricité/gaz/internet) ?

I wish to cancel my electricty/gas/internet contract  : Je souhaite résilier mon contrat (d’électricité/gaz/internet)

What is the length of the contract?: Quelle est la durée du contrat?

Is there a connection charge? Y a t’il des frais de connexion?

Is there a cancellation charge?: Est-ce qu’il y a des frais de résilation?

How soon can you send somebody to install it? Quand pouvez-vous venir faire l’installation?

I would like to set up a phone line in my new house : Je souhaiterais mettre en place ma ligne téléphonique dans ma nouvelle maison.

My address is: Mon adresse est…

Will I receive monthly bills? Mes factures seront-elles mensuelles ?

Can I pay by direct debit? Puis-je payer par prélèvement ?

The house is connected to the mains gas network: La maison est raccordée au réseau de distribution de gaz.

Our Essential Reading articles cover everything you need to know as a French homeowner from property taxes and home insurance to paying your bills. Perhaps you also need recommendations on removals to France, advice on building and renovations, or tips for managing a second home? FrenchEntrée is here to help! We can even advise on selling your French property.