Two related topics to start with. Hugh, one of our U.K.-based readers, is thinking of buying a smallish apartment here “to get a bit of income from the rent”. What do I think? Well, leaving aside the possible ups and downs of the property market and of the euro’s value against the pound, Hugh needs to remember this. 

Basically, U.K. law favours the landlord, in France the reverse is true. On a worst-case scenario, he could find himself with a tenant who doesn’t pay his rent but is very difficult to get rid of. Even at the best of times an in situ renter can be hard to dislodge.

Of course, some French landlords try it on. Mike and Cathy, married Brits, are living in an apartment here. For his work Mike is spending six months in Uzbekistan (lucky dog!). Their landlord has told Cathy she must go as “the tenant” is currently absent. This is outrageous. In French law a spouse has all the rights of the other partner in whose name a property is rented. If the landlord’s rights haven’t been infringed (damage, non-payment of rent) there’s nothing he can do. Sounds a nasty piece of work. 

From Reporter 100 - Dec 2003

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