candide44

After 45 years in France, British with a French husband, I'm buying a second home in the UK to be near our children. For tax purposes we'll be resident in France. We are finding it impossible to open a bank account, and are in a Catch 22 situation as we need a utility bill but that will be hard without a bank account. I'm assuming that at worst that can wait until we complete our flat purchase. Anyone else out there just moved back to a second home (from an EU country) who can tell us more about the joys and pitfalls?

robin1234

Each bank has different procedures, but in general you will not be able to open a British bank account unless you are a British resident. So, even after completing the purchase of the British flat, you may not qualify for a British bank account.

I'd look into an offshore account, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man. Some banks (Lloyds for instance) offer current accounts there that operate exactly like British accounts.

Pulaski

I don't think you need a bank account to have utilities connected. So you have an address, and once you have a utility bill opening a bank account should be possible.

Shirtback

In addition to the comments above:

Are you actually "moving back"? Or acquiring a second home in the UK while remaining resident in France?

You can't just *choose* where to be "tax resident".

And as Pulaski said, you don't need a UK bank account to have utilities connected.

candide44

Thanks for all your comments. With regard to utilities, I was thinking that direct debit will be hard wuthout a bank account!
As for our status, Shirtback, we'll spend more time in France than in the UK, but are retired so will just go back and forth between the two. I'm assuming we won't change all our tax arrangements which will remain based in France, and for medical purposes we will have EU cover but we will have an address in England and pay Council tax there. Just hoping a bank will let us open an account for very practical purposes. Also, I don't want to be forced to keep 25K or more in an international account in Jersey or elsewhere, which is one of the eligibility criteria.

Pulaski

You connect utilities then take your bill to the bank to use it to support opening an account. ..... Then you can set up a DD for future bills. Otherwise, as you correctly summize, you have an unbreakable vicious circle.

ottotheboar

If the home will be unoccupied for any length of time check with the insurance company you may need to notify them.

HKG3

You may want to try HSBC in France. Please see link below -

https://www.hsbc.fr/1/2/en/entrepris...banking-center

candide44

Thanks for the info on HSBC, it looks promising!

candide44

Insurance is something I hadn't given much thought to yet, but I'll check up on that, Ottotheboar

Novocastrian

Buy a condo, then you don't need house insurance (contents insurance is up to you).

Editha

Novo, we don't have 'condo's' in the UK, and whether or not you need house insurance on a flat depends on the lease and whether insurance is included in the maintenance charges.

robin1234

This was an important consideration for us when we bought our leasehold flat in a new build block last year. The monthly maintenance fee includes house insurance. With plans to be away for months at a time, not having to try to insure the place was one potential frustration avoided. "Home contents" is a few bits and pieces from IKEA, obviously would be a significant loss, but not enough to keep me awake at nights.

Novocastrian

Excuse the lexicological laziness...38 years abroad leaves indelible traces.

The maintenance charge on the condo we're buying in Newcastle includes building insurance.

Editha

I think that nowadays most leases will include provision for insurance, but they certainly don't all do so. The first flat I purchased had a poorly drawn lease with no insurance provision, so I had to buy my own.