Micala's back - and there's lots to chew over!

In this episode: a Facebook post about deposits that had Micala seething before 4am, the growing crackdown on cash-in-hand work in France, and a very public social media post from some new arrivals that raised more than a few eyebrows. Plus, working from home in your pyjamas, the French social system defended, and a lovely shout-out from a well-respected voice in the renovating-in-France community.

Resources mentioned:

• Renovations in France — Professional tradesman, Peter Gerrit's well-regarded Facebook group.
• Fix Radio — UK radio station and podcast for the trades, referenced during the episode.
• CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) — the French family allowance fund that provides housing and other support.

Mini glossary:

• Devis — a formal written quote that, once signed, forms a binding contract. Should always include payment terms.
• Travail au noir — cash-in-hand work that is undeclared to French tax and social charge authorities. Both the worker and the person employing them can face serious penalties.
• BTP (Bâtiment et Travaux Publics) — the construction and public works sector; one of the top three sectors targeted by French anti-fraud authorities.
• Cotisations sociales — social charges paid by businesses and workers in France, funding healthcare, pensions, unemployment benefit and more.
• CAF — the French family allowance fund, providing housing aid, apprenticeship support and other benefits.
• Mairie — the town hall; local planning and governance authority.

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Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

What do a Bulgarian holiday from hell, a suspicious YouTube arrangement, the rise of eco villages, and an 18% energy bill discount have in common? They're all on the menu in this 'Rants and Bants' episode of French Reno Diaries, brought to you by Rosie and Sue (Micala is off doing charity work - more on that soon).

Resources mentioned:

• A New Life in the Sun - C4 series following people starting new lives across Europe.
• Le Manoir Cachet, Merdrignac - a beautifully renovated manoir in Brittany.
• Label Energy - the green energy supplier Sue mentions as a good alternative to EDF.

Mini glossary:

• Lotissement - a planned housing development where a plot of land is divided up and individual plots sold for self-build. Often referred to as a pavillon lotissement when the houses built are pavillons (standard new-build houses).
• Pavillon - a modern, detached new-build house, typically fairly modest in size and style.
• Pompe à chaleur - an air source or ground source heat pump; a popular and government-subsidised heating system in France. Has been the subject of some mis-selling scandals.
• Mairie - the town hall; the local administrative body responsible for planning permissions and local governance.
• Maison de maître - a large, elegant townhouse or manor house, typically 19th century, associated with the professional or merchant classes.
• Maison de caractère - an estate agent term for a property with distinctive, original period features.

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Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Think you can save money by managing your own renovation project in France? You might want to listen to this first.

In this episode, Rosie and Sue (Micala is off running a fundraising event - more on that next time) get into the detail on project management: what a professional project manager actually does, what it costs, the legal framework you need to understand as a homeowner in France, and the red flags to watch out for when hiring one. Frank, practical and - as ever - unfiltered.

For a detailed summary of everything discussed in this episode, go to www.frenchrenodiaries.com.

Resources mentioned:

• Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat - the body responsible for artisan accreditation in France.
• URSSAF - the organisation that collects social charges from artisans and businesses in France; issues the attestation de vigilance.
• French Reno Diaries - How to be a good client - referenced during the episode and well worth a listen if you're thinking about managing your own renovation project

Mini glossary:

• Maître d'ouvrage - the project owner; legally remains the homeowner even when a project manager is hired.
• Maître d'œuvre - the project manager; contracted to coordinate and oversee works on the owner's behalf.
• Devis - a formal written quote from an artisan, which becomes the contract once signed.
• Décennale - compulsory ten-year structural liability insurance required of all artisans in France.
• Attestation de vigilance - a certificate from URSSAF confirming an artisan is up to date with their social charge declarations.
• ERP (Établissement Recevant du Public) - classification for any building open to the public, triggering specific fire, safety and accessibility regulations.
• Gîte - a self-catering holiday rental. Chambre d'hôtes - a bed and breakfast.

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Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Ever watched a YouTube home renovator call themselves an "expert" and felt your eye twitch? You're not alone.

In this week's Rants & Bants (the shorter, free-flowing episodes where Rosie, Sue and Micala get everything off their chests) the hosts take aim at the growing army of self-styled renovation gurus online, question whether Facebook is ever the right place to ask about electrics or insulation, and commiserate over the unique hell of waiting for deliveries in rural France. Will you learn something? Probably. Will you laugh? Without a doubt.

Resources mentioned:

• Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat — the body that accredits artisans in France.
• Leroy Merlin — French DIY and home improvement retailer (mentioned in the context of delivery logistics).
• Colissimo and DPD France — parcel delivery services operating in France.

Mini glossary:

• Artisan — a qualified, registered tradesperson in France. To gain artisan status, three years' experience is required; master craftsman status requires ten years.
• Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat — the French Chamber of Trades and Crafts, which oversees artisan accreditation and apprenticeships.
• Notaire — a French notary; a state-appointed legal professional who oversees property transactions in France.
• DPE (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique) — an energy performance certificate required for properties in France, which affects resale value and rental eligibility.
• Voliage — the timber sarking boards laid across roof rafters, beneath the roofing felt and tiles.
• Charpente — the roof timber frame/structure.
• Colombage — a traditional half-timbered construction style, common in parts of France, featuring a timber frame with infill panels.
• Torchis — wattle and daub; a traditional building material made from a mix of mud, straw and other natural materials, often used as infill in colombage structures.
• Lodie — a lieu-dit; an informal place name used to identify a hamlet or locality in rural France, often used as an address where no street number exists.

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Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

What unique challenges - and opportunities - do women face in the traditionally male-dominated renovation industry?

In this empowering episode of French Reno Diaries UNCENSORED, timed to coincide (almost!) with International Women's Day 2026, Rosie, Sue, and Micala share personal stories and insights in a typically unfiltered and lively discussion.

What we talk about:

• Celebrating women artisans in the renovation sector.
• Misogyny in the construction industry and social media dynamics.
• The importance of creating safe spaces for women to ask questions.
• The impact of visibility in traditionally male-dominated fields.
• Personal stories of navigating challenges as women in trades.
• Initiatives and statistics about women in French construction.
• Strategies for supporting and uplifting fellow women in the industry.

Resources Mentioned:

• International Women's Day
• Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat - French Chamber of Trades and Crafts.
• Le Compagnon du Devoir - An organisation promoting craftsmanship and training.

Mini Glossary:

• Conjugal collaboratrice: A spouse who works with their partner in a business but may not receive formal recognition or compensation.
• CAPEB: Confédération de l'Artisanat et des Petites Entreprises du Bâtiment - a French confederation for artisans in the construction sector.
• Apprenticeship: A system of training where individuals learn a trade under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Connect:

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Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:

• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright

• Music: Grand Project

Win a château? Sounds dreamy. Until you realise you might also need a business plan, a visa renewal strategy and enough income to satisfy the prefecture.

In this Rants & Bants episode, Sue, Rosie and Micala chat about the Win a Château TV show, the realities of post-Brexit life in France, language requirements, titre de séjour delays and yet another heated Facebook debate about décennale insurance.

It’s lighter than our chunky episodes, but if you’re renovating or planning to move to France, there are some important realities woven in.

As always, we’ve pulled together the key points on our website if you’d like to revisit anything - www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Resources mentioned

• Château DIY: Win a Château – Channel 4 spin-off competition show
• The Connexion – English-language publication covering expat legal issues in France
• CAPEB – French trade body representing building professionals

Mini glossary

• Décennale – 10-year structural insurance required for artisans
• Préfecture – Regional administrative authority handling residency matters
• Titre de séjour – Residency card
• DCEM – Travel document for minors residing in France
• Pompe à chaleur – Heat pump
• Raccordement – Connection/fitting (e.g. around a Velux window)
• SMIC – French minimum wage threshold used for visa income assessments

Connect:

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Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:

• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright

• Music: Grand Project

What makes a French renovation project run smoothly? And what quietly destroys trust between a homeowner and their artisan? In this episode, we reveal the secret to being a good client in France - and what it's fair to expect from your artisan.

From communication and paperwork to boundaries, payment terms and unrealistic deadlines, we share what actually helps a project succeed (and what makes trades walk away).

If you’re renovating in France and want better results, fewer delays and a more positive working relationship, this episode is essential listening. We’ve also pulled together the key takeaways on our website if you’d like to revisit them.

Resources mentioned:

• Artisan Central – Trade mentoring and marketing platform
• OBAT – French quoting and invoicing software for building trades
• Penny Lane – Accounting software used by French businesses
• Qualibat / RGE – French certification bodies for building professionals

Mini glossary:

• Devis – Formal written quote (legally binding once signed)
• Facture – Invoice
• Décennale – Mandatory 10-year building insurance
• SIRET number – Official French business registration number
• RGE – Government-recognised environmental certification for trades
• Avenant – Written amendment to an existing quote

Connect with us!

Facebook | Instagram

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:

• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright

• Music: Grand Project

In this Rants & Bants episode (our shorter, more spontaneous, but always - okay, mostly - reno focused chats), we get all het up about everything from being ghosted after sending detailed quotes, to Facebook “expert” opinions on pricing, to the realities of buying and flipping property in today’s French property market. Most importantly though, we discuss Mr Kipling cakes and Burger King. Plus, the chic brackets we're importing from Poland...

Resources mentioned:

• The Connexion – English-language newspaper covering French news and current affairs
• Leroy Merlin – Major French DIY and renovation retailer
• Brico Dépôt – Budget building supplies chain in France
• Castorama – DIY and home improvement retailer
• Causton – Decorative hardware and electrical fittings supplier

Mini glossary:

• Devis – A formal, legally binding quote
• Artisan – Registered tradesperson
• Attestation d’assurance – Proof of insurance certificate
• Marchand de Bien – Property trader who buys, renovates and resells
• Taxe foncière – Annual French property ownership tax

Connect:

Facebook | Instagram

Subscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.com

Email: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com

Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:

Maison Bretagne (Rosie Ellis)

S.R. Charpenterie (Sue Peake-Russell)

Paul Wilkins Electricien (Micala Wilkins)

Credits:

• Produced & mixed by: Katy Wright

• Music: Grand Project