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WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHO IS LIABLE FOR TAX, BILLS, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS WHEN LETTING A PROPERTY The end of _taxe d’habitation_ on main homes has raised the issue of who pays what if French

properties are rented out. Since it was scrapped on primary residences this year, tenants are not usually liable for any property taxes. One exception is for people who rent out a second

home for a year or more – in which case, the tenant, not the owner, must pay _taxe d’habitation._ READ MORE: SECOND-HOME TAX MOVE CONFIRMED AND FOUR OTHER FRENCH PROPERTY UPDATES The main

remaining property tax, _taxe foncière_, is paid by the owner. However, there is a separate charge for rubbish removal, called the _taxe d’enlèvement des ordures ménagères_ (TEOM). This is

normally collected with the _taxe foncière_ but the cost can be passed on by the landlord to the tenant. Other monthly charges for services they use, such as electricity, gas, water,

telephone, and internet, are also paid by the tenant. They are responsible for _réparations locatives_ too – a broad category of routine maintenance and minor repairs. MAINTENANCE OF

EQUIPMENT Most important among these are those linked to the maintenance of equipment in the house, whether it be having the boiler serviced, the chimney swept, or a sink unblocked.

Maintenance of a boiler should be done once a year, though there is no legal obligation for installations that are only for heating hot water (not heating the home) and are powered by

electricity. Changing a calcified shower head, repairing cracked grouting in bathroom tiling, polishing a wooden floor, sticking wallpaper or changing a fuse in an electricity board are

other examples that have been cited at various times in the courts as being a tenant’s responsibility. If the rental includes a garden, then keeping gutters in good condition, mowing the

lawn, and keeping plant beds free of weeds are also for the tenant to do, or to pay someone else to do. One exception is if there is a ‘green wall’ – a wall designed to have plants growing

in it – in which case, it is the owner’s responsibility to look after it. Terraces and other built elements outside, such as paving stones, are the tenant’s responsibility, especially

cleaning them to avoid the build-up of moss and algae. They should also make sure gates are oiled and kept in good condition, repainting them if necessary. READ MORE: REFRIGERATED FRENCH

LORRY TRAILERS GET NEW LIFE AS BUILDINGS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HOUSE MAINTENANCE If the house has old windows, it is the tenant who has to replace cracked putty in them and, of course, any

panes broken during the course of the lease. Where there is no mains sewerage, emptying the _fosse septique_ when necessary is also the tenant’s responsibility – but repairs to the tank and

pipes fall on the owner. The maintenance of doors and windows, including replacing broken locks and lost keys, is the job of the tenant. The owner of the property is responsible for _gros

travaux_ – usually large investments in the property. These can include replacing doors and windows, or other elements that are part of the structure, such as installing or replacing

insulation in walls or ceilings. Changing an electricity meter, drains, or a heating system are all considered the owner’s responsibility. They are also responsible for making sure there is

a working smoke alarm in the house when it is rented out – but the tenant is responsible for its batteries, testing, and general upkeep. RELATED ARTICLES FRENCH FORMER PRISON TRANSFORMED

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