Buying a home in France is still possible for British citizens, and in principle it is straightforward. The process is different from England, though, and some of the differences matter a great deal to someone buying from London.
Can a British citizen still buy in France?
Yes. France does not generally restrict foreign ownership of residential property, and British buyers can purchase a main home or a second home as before. What changed on 1 January 2021 is the right to stay. Owning a French home does not, by itself, give you the right to live there.
The UK government's travel advice, updated on 30 September 2026, sets out the position: British citizens can visit the Schengen area, which includes France, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Staying longer requires a long-stay visa under French rules. Second home owners may be asked to show evidence of ownership, such as a tax or utility bill, and the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System now records arrivals and departures. If you plan to spend more than three months a year at the property, the visa question should be settled before you buy, not after.
From offer to signed contract
Once a price is agreed, the parties normally sign a preliminary contract. The most common form is the compromis de vente, which binds both seller and buyer; the alternative is a promesse unilatérale de vente, in which only the seller is committed and the buyer holds an option. Either can be drafted by a notaire or an estate agent.
According to the French government's guidance, a deposit of up to 10% of the price is common with a compromis, and it is held by the notaire, not paid to the seller. The technical surveys required by law, the diagnostics, covering matters such as asbestos, lead, termites and energy performance, must be annexed to the contract.
Two protections matter to buyers. First, a non-professional buyer of a home has a ten-day cooling-off period, which starts the day after the contract is first presented by registered letter; you can withdraw in that time without giving a reason. Second, the contract normally includes suspensive conditions, most importantly obtaining a mortgage, with a minimum period of one month. If a condition fails, the deposit is returned.
The role of the notaire
The final deed of sale, the acte authentique, must be signed before a notaire, a public officer who checks title, collects the taxes due and registers the sale. The notaire is often chosen by the seller, but you are entitled to appoint your own. When two notaires act, they share the regulated fee, so the buyer does not pay twice. For a British buyer who does not read legal French with ease, having a notaire on your side is worth considering.
The UK government also recommends speaking to an English-speaking lawyer in France if you are considering buying property there. The deed, the diagnostics and the planning documents will all be in French, and the details of ownership structure and succession are worth understanding before you sign.
What it costs, and what it costs to keep
The French notaries' own guidance puts acquisition costs, often called notaire's fees, at roughly 7% to 8% of the price for an older property and 2% to 3% for a new one. Most of that is tax, not the notaire's fee; we explain the detail in a separate article today.
Running costs are also worth budgeting. Owners pay the annual property tax, the taxe foncière. The council tax on homes, the taxe d'habitation, was abolished for main residences in 2023 but is still charged on furnished second homes, and councils in areas of housing shortage may add a surcharge of up to 60%.
A sensible order of work
Settle how long you intend to spend in France and whether you need a visa. Decide how you will pay, in cash or with a French or UK loan, and arrange a currency transfer route before you need it. Choose your own notaire and an English-speaking adviser early. Then, when you find the right house, you can sign the compromis knowing what the coming months will involve.
None of this is legal or tax advice, and the rules on residence and inheritance in particular deserve specialist advice in both countries.
Dolce Vita sells and lets property across the UK from Berkeley Square House in Mayfair, and helps clients buy abroad through partner agencies in France and elsewhere. If you are looking in France, contact us and we will make the introduction. If a UK sale or letting will fund the purchase, Request a valuation; we acknowledge the same working day and return a written valuation within 24 to 48 hours.
Hanane Dawson, Founder
Sources: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, France entry requirements (gov.uk, updated 30 September 2026); FCDO, Living in France (gov.uk, updated 11 December 2025). Service-Public.fr, Promesse de vente d'un logement ancien (verified 10 April 2026); Taxe d'habitation sur les résidences secondaires. Notaires de France, Property purchase: acquisition costs (updated 11 February 2026). Office notarial, Deux notaires pour une vente : qui paie les frais ? Expatica, Can UK citizens buy property in France (updated 22 June 2026).