Renovating a house in France (UK guide): costs, permits and more

Is renovating a French château on your bucket list? Or maybe you’re considering refurbishing houses in France and flipping them? We’re here to tell you everything about it and take you through the process.

In this guide, we’ll cover the pros and cons of renovating property in France, break down all the costs and go through all the permits you need to obtain. We’ll also tell you what you should be aware of before committing to anything.

Finally, since renovation can be chaotic and quite expensive, you should find a way to make this process less stressful. The Wise account will allow you to send large amounts of money between the UK and France for low fees*, so you could cover any upfront payments.

Wise can even auto-convert your pounds to euros at the mid-market rate and help you save even more.

With low, transparent fees*, great mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, Wise makes international money transfers simple and stress-free. Plus, you’ll get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts.

On a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

Get expert support for large transfers 📞

Please see the terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Is it worth buying a house to renovate in France?

People renovate houses in France for a variety of reasons. Some are looking for a holiday home, while others renovate with the intention of renting out or selling property in France.

Before you commit, you should first consider whether renovating property is the right option for you. Much like a new build, it involves careful planning and a number of expenses that need to be budgeted for.

To sum it up, here are the pros and cons to renovating a house in France:

Pros:

• Often cheaper than new construction
• Faster than building from scratch
• Allows more creativity than simply buying a house in France
• Potential access to favourable loans through certain schemes¹

Cons:

• Complex paperwork to manage
• Existing structures may restrict layout changes
• Longer waiting time
• Renovating historical buildings can be complex

Where to purchase a property to renovate in France

If you want to make the buying process easier, consider hiring an agent to help you find the perfect property in France. If you’d rather browse independently, here are some well-known French estate agents and property websites:

• Rightmove
• Zoopla
• Leboncoin.fr
• Pap.fr
• Bienici.com
• Green-acres.fr

France offers a zero-rate eco-loan, known as the éco-prêt à taux zéro or eco-PTZ. This can help cover the cost of energy renovation work, with borrowing available up to €50,000.¹

What to consider when renovating a house in France

Home renovations can be demanding even in the UK, so taking on the same project abroad adds another layer of complexity. You may encounter different challenges along the way, such as permit issues or trouble keeping to your original schedule.

It’s important to ask yourself whether you’re ready to commit to the process, including any potential setbacks. If you decide to go ahead, the following points can help make your renovation in France more straightforward:

• Is it a protected or listed building?
• How does French planning permission work?
• How do property evaluations in France work?
• Do you have a renovation schedule in place?
• How to hire contractors for home renovations in France
• Do you have the right insurance?
• Do you have a contingency plan in place?
• Are there fees and tax considerations for renovating a house in France?
• Should you carry out a French house renovation yourself?
• What do you do if something goes wrong?

1. Is it a protected or listed building?

To find out if a property is listed or protected, you can check the French Ministry of Culture’s database called Base Mérimée. It lists buildings and sites that are protected as historic monuments or monuments historiques.²

Alternatively, you can ask the local town hall to check the planning documents to see whether a property has protected status.

2. How does French planning permission work?

Planning permission for renovations in France depends on the size and nature of the work.

A prior declaration of works or déclaration préalable de travaux is usually for smaller projects, like extensions under 20 sq.m. or redoing a roof. A building permit or permis de construire is needed for major work, such as larger extensions or altering the use of a building. Finally, a demolition permit (permis de démolir) is often filed alongside a building permit.³

3. How do property evaluations in France work?

Property appraisal in France is done by a notary or a real estate agent. There are also some online websites and tools that can help you estimate the value.⁴

A technical property inspection is also mandatory when buying property in France. It checks for issues such as asbestos, includes an energy performance assessment and helps by revealing any problems or risks.⁵

4. Do you have a renovation schedule in place?

Having a strict renovation schedule can help you avoid many issues. Here’s what it roughly looks like:

• Stripping out the existing interiors
• Structural work
• Roofing and external work
• Plumbing, heating and electrical systems
• Insulation (if necessary)
• Flooring and plastering
• Bathroom and kitchen fit outs
• Painting
• Decoration, interior design and final touches

5. How to hire contractors for home renovations in France?

To help your renovation run smoothly, it’s essential to hire trustworthy builders.

Check that they are legally registered and belong to a professional body such as the Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat and make sure they have a SIRET number to prove they are operating legitimately.⁶

Consider hiring a translator, especially in the initial stages or when talking about international invoices.

6. Do you have the right insurance?

Construction damage insurance (assurance dommages-ouvrage) is mandatory for major renovations in France. It’s designed to cover defects that fall under the builders’ 10-year guarantee (garantie décennale) without needing to establish who is at fault first.⁷

7. Do you have a contingency plan in place?

Even if you create a perfect renovation schedule, some unforeseeable things can delay it, from the weather to sourcing materials.

That’s why you should always have a backup plan. For example, consider change orders or amendments to the original contract.

8. Are there fees and tax considerations for renovating a house in France?

In France, the standard 20% VAT is reduced to 10% and 5.5% for some renovation work including energy conservation improvements.⁹

There’s also a tax on residential developments (taxe d’aménagement) which you must pay after your planning permission has been approved. The amount is calculated based on the type of project, size of your house and the local tax rate.⁹

Besides this, the main fees you’ll have are the necessary building permits. Consider paying them with Wise, since your pounds will be automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate.

9. Should you carry out a French house renovation yourself?

In order to avoid as many issues as possible, it’s better to hire professionals to help you with renovating a house in France. This is especially important when it comes to making sure all the work meets legal requirements.

10. What do you do if something goes wrong?

In case a bigger problem happens, make sure you seek independent legal advice immediately.

Know that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can’t directly get involved in private legal issues abroad. However, they could give you a list of translators and English-speaking lawyers.¹⁰

French house renovation costs

Now that we’ve covered the key considerations, let’s look at the actual costs of renovating property in France. We’ll go through the average cost of individual refurbishment expenses.

How much does a new roof cost in France?

Replacing the roof of your French house will cost you approximately €180–€250/sq.m (£156–£217). The full cost depends on the material and the roof angle.

How much does flooring cost?

Changing the flooring will likely cost between €30 and €250/sq.m. (£26–£217). You can also expect to pay another €10–€25/sq.m. (£9–£22) for floor preparation.¹¹

Cost of fitting a kitchen in France?

The removal of an old kitchen and installation of a new one costs from €350 to €1,000/sq.m. in France (£303–£866). Depending on the cost of the furniture or appliances, this can be much higher.¹¹

Cost of fitting a new bathroom in France?

On average, the cost of a new bathroom in France ranges from €500 to €1,500/sq.m. (£433–£1,300). A partial bathroom renovation is generally cheaper and should not cost more than around €750 (£650) per square metre.¹¹

How much does it cost to paint an entire house in France?

Interior painting in France will probably cost from €20 to €150/sq.m. (£17–£130), depending on whether specialty finishes are used or extensive wall preparation is required.¹²

Exterior painting typically costs €10–€100/sq.m, or £9–£87.¹²

How much does it cost to rewire a house in France?

If you don’t need to completely change the electric wiring in your house, you’ll be able to get away with paying €100–€210/sq.m. (£87–£182).¹¹

However, a more thorough electric renovation costs much more, since only replacing an electrical panel costs between €900 and €2,500 (£780–£2,168).¹¹

Cost of converting a loft in France

The cost of a loft conversion can vary significantly depending on the type of space. On average, prices range from €500 to €700 per sq.m. (£434–£607).¹³

Cost of renovating a château in France

Refurbishing a château is much more expensive than renovating a regular house. Depending on the condition of the property and the materials you choose, estimates suggest costs of around €500–€5,000 per sq.m. on this (£434–£4,335).¹⁴

How much does it cost to renovate a gîte or cottage?

The cost of renovating an older house depends on its condition. If only light work is needed, expect to pay around €250–€500 per sq.m. (£217–£434). For extensive renovations, costs can rise to as much as €2,000 per sq.m. (£1,734).¹⁵

How much does it cost to renovate a house in France

Let’s list the main expenses in your French renovation:

Renovation type 🔨	Average cost 💶
New roof	€180–€250/sq.m (£156–£217)
Flooring	€40–€275/sq.m. (£35–£238)
New kitchen	€350–€1,000/sq.m. (£303–£866)
Bathroom renovation	€500–€1,500/sq.m. (£433–£1,300)
Painting	€10–€100/sq.m. (£9–£87) for exterior €20–€150/sq.m. (£17–£130) for interior
Rewiring	€100–€210/sq.m. (£87–£182) for partial rewiring

How to pay for renovating a house or property in France

That covers the main points to consider before renovating property in France. You should now have a better understanding of the expected costs and the steps involved in the process.

Renovating comes with various expenses, from paying contractors to permits and materials. A Wise account can aid you in avoiding any hidden fees and help you cut costs on currency exchange.

The Wise account is an alternative to traditional bank accounts. It will allow you to send money between the UK and France easily and securely.

With low, transparent fees*, great mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, Wise makes international money transfers simple and stress-free. Plus, you’ll get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts.

Get expert support for large transfers 📞

FAQs: Renovating and refurbishing a house in France

Let’s answer some common questions about renovating property in France:

Is renovation and building work expensive in France?

It can be, especially if your house is in a big city or in the south of France.

Is it worth investing in French property?

Yes, with more negotiation power available to buyers right now, investing in French property can be a smart move.¹⁶

What is the garden shed tax in France?

The garden shed tax likely refers to taxe d’aménagement. This is a tax paid when building certain structures, such as garden sheds and swimming pools.¹⁷

Do you need planning permission for a greenhouse in France?

If the greenhouse is larger than 20 sq.m, you’ll need a building permit or permis de construire.³

Can you negotiate house prices in France?

Yes, negotiations are common and there’s often room to reduce the price.

Can you do your own renovations in France?

You can carry out the renovation yourself, but hiring professionals will help you avoid various issues.

Sources used:

1. France-renov.gouv.fr - Eco-PTZ
2. Service-public.gouv.fr - Base Mérimée
3. Your Overseas Home - renovating property in France
4. Service-public.gouv.fr - property evaluation
5. Economie.gouv.fr - real estate diagnostics
6. Your Overseas Home - hiring a tradesperson
7. Service-public.gouv.fr - insurance
8. Economie.gouv.fr - reduced VAT
9. Service-public.gouv.fr - development tax
10. Gov.uk - guidance for buying property abroad
11. Hello Artisan - renovation price
12. French Painting Company - painting costs
13. Algar - loft conversion
14. Capifrance - château renovation
15. Hemea - renovating an old house
16. Investropa - 2026 French housing market
17. Service-public.gouv.fr - garden shed tax

Sources last checked on date: 30-Jan-2026