chriswhitts

Hi
looking for recommendations of english speaking estate agents around pau, oloron sainte Marie area. Also can anyone recommend an individual or company in the area that can help with initial set up of administration ie utilities, WiFi, Taxation, carte de sejour , vitale etc
thanks in advance
kind regards Chris

EuroTrash

If you find a good English speaking estate agent they will probably help with setting up utilities.
For help with tax, healthcare and residency there are various handholding services aimed at the English. How good they are I don't know. I would never entrust my personal affairs and my dealings with the authorities to a third party. France kind of expects people to communicate with them personally and the various offices are generally very helpful, but I don't know how prefectures, tax offices, CPAM etc would feel about discussing a person's application or declaration with a third party. The idea is making me uneasy - if you do use a handholding service, I really would urge you to try to understand the processes yourself (France's public service websites are very good and sometimes they even give the information in English) and keep an eye on what they are doing on your behalf.

Listen Very Carefully

I take it then that you do not have a house to move to at present Do you anticipate being able to move prior to January 2021 as the circumstances to allow you to move to France will be very different then and you will need to show that you have sufficient resources to live on
I really agree with ET You need to do all these things yourself otherwise you will find that you could well get your self into a pickle You will find the French bureaucracy very helpful if approached but in the south you will need good French to survive You also need to do research on how the French taxation system works and also how the french health system works and what documentation you need If you cannot get an S1 for example you will need to get private health insurance initially Although France can seem somewhat bureaucratic at first there is actually a method and once you understand it everything will become plain sailing If you get someone else to do it all you will never get to grips and you will be floundering
However if you have specific queries come back on here but bear in mind the dreaded B word is complicating matters

dmu

+1
Have to agree with you and ET. The idea of depending on an unknown third party who'll know about all my finances, health, private life, etc..., and without really knowing whether they're doing things properly, makes me uneasy, too.
@chriswhitts - At least you're retired, so are presumably sorting out the S1 as we speak, and it'll be straightforward to get into the French Healthcare System, bearing in mind that it would be advisable to take out a Mutuelle (top up insurance) once you're in the System, to reimburse the 30% that the State doesn't reimburse. ("Older" folk tend to consult Doctors more often and the 30%s add up quickly).
But surely you wouldn't want this stranger to interpret for you at the Doctor's or during medical examinations, or at the Bank? Such dependence on other people will be expensive and intrude into your private life.
It's not my business, of course, but if you don't speak sufficient French, why choose France? Take a look at the "Growing Old in France" thread in the Read-Me: Moving to France FAQs above, especially if you're alone, and other pertinent threads, such as "Inheritance Laws" if you're buying property. You don't mention a family but you must be aware of the French Taxes de Succession that your heirs will pay when the time comes....
As said, we're here to help and advise for any queries!

chriswhitts

Hi
Thanks for all the response, we are looking at renting for 12 months before buying I know france well , speak enough to get by but certainly not fluent. It was an idea to help get us up and running ASAP, however I accept that it would be better to have full control of finances and destiny. I’m not yet eligible for an s1. I’ll take your advice and search for advice when needed through the various french authorities.
Thanks again Chris

dmu

Sorry for making wrong assumptions from your first post on all counts!
Excellent idea to rent while you look around, but be aware that landlords/estate agents require a joint minimum regular monthly income 3-4 times the rent. An unfurnished rental lease lasts 3 years, but the tenant can cancel the agreement beforehand, following the legal procedure. Furnished property is a different category with fewer requirements, and, if this is your intention, some one more in the know will come along with advice.
I had the impression that you didn't speak French at all...
Your Profile says you're retired, but until you receive UK State Pension, you would be considered as "inactif" which involves a different procedure for getting into the French S.S. System. You'll need the same justifying documents as when applying for the CdS (justification of regular income, proof of (private) healthcare insurance from Day 1, plus rental receipts for the preceding three months for the CdS). Take a look at the official sites in thread #19 in the above FAQs... Due to imminent Brexit, it's unlikely that the EHIC will be acceptable as healthcare insurance...
Who are "we"? If you are bringing family, in addition to your spouse, be aware that adults will likely be considered by some Administrations as separate individuals (but there, I'm making assumptions again....).
We can help more if you give more details on yourselves and your requirements!
Because of Brexit, you'd do best to move over this Autumn (Covid permitting, of course), to officially start off the various procedures by having rental/utility receipts ASAP.
Meanwhile check all the regional Estate Agents' websites - enter "agents immobiliers" and the towns of your choice in the Pages Jaunes). I imagine that most national chains will have English-speaking staff...
HTH

EuroTrash

Bravo, and I think you'll find doing it that way will help you to feel you "live" there as opposed to just spending time there, kind of skating along the surface trusting the ice to hold you up. The more you understand about France's "social contract" with its citizens - what the rights and obligations are on each side, how tax works, how the health system works, basically what the bargain is between government and taxpayer - the more meaningful it will be to you when these things crop up in the French news, and next time the Gilets Jaunes take to the roundabouts you'll be better placed to form your own views on how justified they are .
Things you'll need to do very soon after arriving include registering your car, and actually in this case it is probably easier to use a carte grise service provider because it has to be done online, and you may not be able to open your espace client immediately if the authorities have no record of you yet. You'll find a carte grise specialist in most towns or you may find your insurers offer this service for free. You also need to prepare the way for your carte de sejour application; you'll submit this online in due course using the link on this page https://brexit.gouv.fr/sites/brexit/...au-sejour.html (the portal isn't open yet) and you should make sure you get a proper nrental contract for residental let (not a holiday let) starting before 31 December.

Exciting times, enjoy the journey

chriswhitts

Thank you for the the help and information