Geoff Stemp, a retired engineer and his partner Betsy, formerly a clinic manager say they are not risk takers, nor particularly adventurous and yet they did what many people just dream about. They moved from the North West of England to Montourtier, Mayenne in rural France in April 2007 where they now run a successful Bed and Breakfast business.
Suite 101 Talks to Geoff About the Bed and Breakfast Business
101: Geoff, did you have experience of B&B beforehand?
Geoff : We ran a small B&B in the UK so we knew what we were doing.
101: Were you both fluent French-speakers before you decided to move to France?
Geoff: Betsy could speak a little, but I could not.
101: How did you decide on the area?
Geoff : We had thought of buying a house in Spain, but we wanted to be closer to the UK. Before moving we viewed Brittany, Normandy and the Mayenne region, spending time in each over a period of about 2 years. We had many holidays in France before then.
Moving to France and Living the Dream
101: And then you bought the house in France?
Geoff: We rented houses in two different areas whilst we house hunted. We looked at more than 40 properties before we bought the one we have now.
101: Did you have a clear idea of the property you were looking for?
Geoff: Yes, we wanted at least 4 bedrooms and a large kitchen and living room. We were also looking for a home for ourselves as well as a business. We wanted a reasonable amount of land, preferably off the beaten track.
101: And is that what you found?
Geoff: The property has 3 double bedrooms, 1 family sized bathroom, 1 bedroom en suite, large kitchen and large living room. The house is a converted barn, next to the original house, cow shed and another barn. It has all been extended over time from late 1600s.
Our B&B is in a small hamlet of 4 properties in open farmland, outside a village. Nearby is a large pond surrounded by fields of corn and wheat. The garden has fruit trees and lawns, and the bottom of our garden you can usually find cows! Not far from us there is a river for fishing, swimming and kayaking, a beautiful French castle which is open to the public in the summer, and an historical Roman site. It's a great place for a summer holiday in France.
The B&B is also only 5 minutes' drive from a sandy beach on a large lake where we enjoy spending our free time. As you can tell, we really are living the dream.
101: Do you miss anything from England?
Geoff: I miss fish and chips and Sunday newspapers but other things make up for it, like better weather, friendly French people and new English friends.
101: What advice do you have for people thinking of moving to France to run a B&B?
Geoff:
- Do the research first. Take time to explore different areas until you are sure of where you want to be before buying a property.
- Make sure you have other means of income so you do not have to depend on the B&B income. It can take time to get up and running
- Get a website running before the B&B business, with as many links as possible.
- A property with 4 or less bedrooms will keep you within the French Tax Regulations.
- Keep it simple. Offer continental breakfast, (nothing cooked) and no other meals.
Important Information About Moving to France
- EU citizens may live in any part of the European Union, but to become a permanent resident in France one needs to apply for a carte de séjour. EU citizens do not need a work permit.
- Taking a car to France permanently that is less than 6 months old could incur a tax bill. After 6 months, the registration must be changed. Cars of 5 years or older must have an MOT. Brits do not need to change their licence.
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