Renting your new property in France

Many overseas buyers choose to defray the costs of running their new purchase by renting. Most of the expenses in running a property including electricity bills, local taxes and service charges can often be covered by letting a property out for just a few months in the summer. An increasing amount of UK buyers are purchasing for investment only, hoping to rent their property for up to 30 weeks a year. There are numerous rental agencies on the Cote d’Azur but it always pays to be wise in the rental market.

Rental insurance can be taken out from most French home insurers. The potential costs if a rental client breaks a leg or sets fire to your kitchen could be insurmountable so it pays to have it. A premium for third party injury and damage costs around 50% more than your normal annual premium, but a small price to pay for peace of mind.

The short term letting market is far more profitable than the long-term market. Taking Nice as an example, the value of a weekly holiday rental is about the same income you would get from a long-term rent for a month ie. four times the value. Renting short term also means that the owners can use the apartment when they want to.

The Internet is a great place to advertise a rental property. Experience from our clients has shown that an advert on the www.holiday-rentals.com website is worth way more than a week’s advert in The Sunday Times classifieds and costs exactly the same. The aforementioned website is Europe’s most popular for short term holiday rentals. It’s simple to use, you can upload selected dates when your apartment is already booked and upload a least six to ten photos of your rental property. You can even choose to receive an SMS message when a potential client emails you. Those not wanting to manage their own property can just as easily put their rental agents email address and telephone number in the contact box instead of their own. The www.ownersdirect.co.uk Internet site is similarly good at attracting rental clients, particularly the British market.

Getting your own Internet site is another good idea. Web designers can easily be found, although there are several free website creation programs on the Internet. You can put the address of your site on business cards, on the bottom of your emails or tell the world about it verbally. Some investors advertise the website of their place in France in their local Post Office or place of work.

Certain areas of the Riviera have longer rental seasons that others, something to bear in mind for those wanting a year-round return on investment. Although the South of France isn’t the Costa Brava, the frequency of flights and sunlight hours still decreases into Christmas. The charm and high owner occupation of towns like Antibes, Menton and Villefranche sur Mer keeps rental periods high. The city buzz and huge amount of out-of-season conventions keeps Nice, Monaco and Cannes buzzing year round, with plenty of opportunity for rental.

Finally, make sure that your apartment is the best place your renter has ever stayed in. Repeat custom, according to totallyvillefranche's buyers, is the biggest and best source of advertising. Happy clients will come back year after year if they love the place and will tell everyone they know. Use the personal touch – supply leaflets to tourist destinations, maps of the region, a small selection of books and even make a list of taxi numbers and train times. You must present your apartment in its best possible light for the long-term success of the return on your in