Living in France: Retirement

Only 5% of French citizens plan to leave France when they retire and none of them plan to head for the UK. This compares with 56% of Brits who wish to leave home and move abroad and most of these are planning to retire to France.

So, what tempts so many Brits to move to France? Why is France seen as offering a lifestyle that many older people want? When we asked the question through a survey on the VEF website in November 2007, the main reasons for people planning to retire to France were the following:
• A better climate
• A more traditional way of life than the UK currently offers
• Respect; France is a country that respects its ‘elders’ and this can be a very welcome change for people moving from the UK
• Sense of community
• Cheaper property
• Lower cost of living in a less materialistic society
• Better healthcare.

find this list fascinating. As someone who is of retirement age (although unlikely ever to give up working!), with elderly parents living in France, I guess I know each of the reasons are important and that their importance alters during one’s retirement.

For me, a better climate is top of my list, closely followed by the traditional way of life and sense of community. I love the festivals and special events that mark the seasons, I love the use of national costume, I love to see the French flag flying and when the sun shines on all of this, it is even better.

Cheaper housing has also meant I could afford to provide a home for myself,my parents and other members of my family for the same price I would have to pay for a threebedroom home just for myself in the UK. Multi-generational living is a real possibility with the cheaper housing in France and the huge complexes of farm buildings, which are so suitable for several members of the family to live independently, yet close together.

For my parents, who are in their eighties, the feeling of respect is paramount. They are invited to special events for the elders of the village and that makes them feel special. There is no sense of being old-age pensioners who have to be endured, but rather venerated elders who have knowledge and wisdom to offer to the community and who are valued because of this.

There is no doubt also, that the lower cost of living and better healthcare are also increasingly important the older one gets. For most people, this move is likely to be the last of their life, so it should be planned carefully. It is all too easy for the dream that has been planned for years to turn into a nightmare, without thought and planning.

Where to relocate

It is really important that people think carefully about the lifestyle they plan to live when they first move to France and in the future, as they get older.We all have to admit that as we approach retirement, we are unlikely to make any great character changes. Therefore, the kind of things we like at the moment, wherever we are living, are likely to be what we want when we move.

If you like shopping, eating out, art galleries,music and theatre, then you are best off looking for somewhere where you can continue to indulge these hobbies. If you like walking, cycling or horse-riding then think of the terrain,much as you might like hill-walking now, will you still be fit enough to do it when you are 80?

Sometimes it can be better to accept that age will change you and to make sure you have those things around you that will stand the test of time. If you are a mountain walker, you should still consider settling somewhere with an undulating landscape as you are still fit enough to get on the train and head for the mountains. However, when even walking up the stairs becomes a problem (and it probably will), then a gentle stroll up the lane might be the best exercise you will be able to take.

Where to retire to

More than 36% of the respondents to our survey had already decided on southwest France. What is it that appeals to Brits about this part of France?

Many potential retirees already know the area, and that can be a good reason to choose it. However, given that most people have only experienced it for a holiday break, it can also be totally the wrong reason for choosing it. This is why taking the advice of people who know all of France and who have time to listen to you, is essential. For an all-year-round lifestyle, you need to head to the south of France. If your budget needs watching, choose Languedoc not Provence.

For a calm, rural way of life then central France has a lot to offer. Again, if budget is important try looking at southern Limousin which has most of the advantages of the Dordogne but with lower prices. If ready access by car is important, head for northern France. If budget is a consideration then try Normandy; parts of this region are still very affordable.

Access from the UK

This is certainly prone to change as new airline routes open and established ones close or reduce in frequency. Knowing there is train access is useful as train lines rarely close! Only you will know how accessible you want to be to friends and family back home. But access is clearly something to consider.

Summer in France is always great; the winter in some areas is less attractive. If you want friends and family around you, don’t relocate somewhere where winter access is difficult or you could face long, lonely winters. On the other hand you may like that idea! As with all these questions, you need to ask yourself what you want and then make sure the area and house you are planning to move into can offer it.

Location of the property

Be careful not to choose a property where you are reliant on a car. As you get older it may be impossible to drive and you won’t want to be isolated, far from shops, people and activities. Buses, trains and a good community that has taxis for its elders are worth investigating.

Size of the property We advise people not to tie up capital in providing loads of spare rooms for occasional visits from family and friends. There are always inexpensive chambres d’hôtes, gîtes or hotels in the vicinity. As long as you have a large enough kitchen to seat the family, let them sleep elsewhere and use the money saved to do more interesting things than provide empty rooms that need heating and cleaning.

Don’t go for more land than you can cope with either. It’s fine to have a huge estate as long as your pension will pay for a gardener.

Type of property Be careful about buying something with loads of character but which needs a lot of tender loving care. It may be fine when you are 60 to know that you will have to keep ‘tweeking’ the ancient structure, however, by the time you reach 80, you may be much happier sitting in a more recently constructed building, watching your neighbours caring for their older character houses!

Running costs

As someone who once owned a watermill, I know that properties near water require a lot more heating than other properties. So consider such things as heating costs. If you see the house in the summer, make sure you investigate annual heating costs and never be tempted to buy a property that needs heating by wood unless you are planning to install central heating. Romantic it may be at 60 to cut all your own logs and carry them into the house, then sweep out the hearth the next morning and start again. At 70 or 80, the fun starts to wear off!

The contract

Make sure you take professional legal advice before buying your property. What happens to it on your death is determined by the form of contract under which you buy it. If you are buying for retirement, you are relatively likely to die as the owner of a French property, so don’t leave problems after your death.

Exchange rates

Moving on to money: get it into euros now! The exchange rate is not likely to improve so if you plan to spend the rest of your days in France, get your money into the currency of the country.

The language If you are not a French speaker, you really must do something about it urgently. You will one day be faced with doctors and hospitals and if you can’t explain your symptoms, you may die unnecessarily! How’s that for impressing on you the importance of working on your French? And don’t believe that you will ‘pick it up’. If you are six you will, if you are 16 you may, if you are 60 you won’t! You will need to take some really good French lessons, preferably one to one, and you will need to allow for this cost for several years.

The funeral Do discuss with your family where they would like your body to end up! It isn’t a fun thing to talk about, but it is important that you make plans for this now.You can choose to be buried or cremated in France or to have your body shipped back to the UK. As it concerns your family more than you, it is imperative that you have this discussion and then visit your local funeral parlour where you can pay now (at today’s prices) and get all the arrangements in place. This will save an additional headache for your family at the time of your death.

Potential problems

If you are not yet of retirement age (and do not have a partner who is), and have an expensive medical condition, you may find it difficult to get private health cover, which you will need until you are covered by the French system at retirement age. If you have a pension which is payable in sterling then you may need to plan for it not to convert into as many euros as you may have hoped for.

You will need to learn to speak French if you don’t already do so. Please remember, if one of a partnership speaks French then that is not good enough. The French-speaking partner may die before the other one. Everyone moving to France needs to learn the language.

You will be expected to take your place in the community, which may be a problem or a joy. The mayor will expect your attendance at special events put on for the elders; it will be expected that as a retired person you can bring something to the community. An isolated retirement is a sure way to an early grave; nothing kills as fast as loneliness!

France welcomes those of all ages who want to integrate and are prepared to take the time and effort it requires. Once you have retired to France, it is like being in heaven already as long as you do all that careful planning beforehand. At no time in your life is planning so important – you may, after all, be planning your last move.

Trisha Mason is managing director of VEF Tel: 020 7515 8660 www.vefuk.com

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