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17/10/2008, 22:28 13 amp plug Joined on 17/10/2008 Posts 4 Exchanging your house in France for a UK home Anyone out there know anything about the possibility (and whether it's legal or not) of a house exchange between France and the UK? It would seem a sensible plan if one were thinking of relocating back to the UK in light of the current problems with the housing markets here and in England. Assuming of course both parties had what the other required, it could save a fortune in agents fees in both countries and possibly take the trauma out of trying to find a buyer. There seem to be many Brits who would still love to move here but would be unable to sell in the current climate in the UK. I wonder if any CGT would still be payable and if money has to actually change hands. Any information?    Report

17/10/2008, 22:37 Scooby Joined on 25/09/2007 Peak District Posts 374 Re: Exchanging your house in France for a UK home Just a note of warning - there are specific rules for calculating the UK chargeable gain arising when assets are exchanged.  Each party is deemed to dispose of the property at its market value plus any cash consideration received.  Might not be an issue if each property is the principal residence of the transferor - but worth looking into if not.    Report

17/10/2008, 22:50 13 amp plug Joined on 17/10/2008 Posts 4 Re: Exchanging your house in France for a UK home Thanks Scooby, that's a very good point although I was imagining a scenario where both properties were principle residencies and of roughly equivalent value. I guess I was trying find out if it's actually possible or if it were "interdit"    Report

18/10/2008, 7:08 Anton Redman Joined on 23/08/2004 Gironde Posts 2,266 Re: Exchanging your house in France for a UK home Not forbidden but near the edge as you would need to find pretty flexiable Notaire as all the consideration/money for a house sale is meant to flow through theit books. Also assuming you need to look at 18 houses before you find one that suits you and the person looking to move to France is similarly choosy you are looking at at awful lot of visits before you find a suitable pair.     Report

18/10/2008, 8:05 13 amp plug Joined on 17/10/2008 Posts 4 Re: Exchanging your house in France for a UK home Thanks Anton. I suppose it all depends on how keen you / they, are to get to where they want to be. I don't know anyone here in France that didn't make some sort of compromise with the the house they bought.  The "dream" seems to outway some of the level headed thinking sometimes. Still, worth investigating. Someone could be lucky.    Report

20/11/2008, 18:58 rogerthedodger Joined on 21/11/2007 South Lincolnshire, 16 soon hopefully. Posts 16 Re: Exchanging your house in France for a UK home Quite coincidental really-the following details made me wonder...? http://www.houseladder.co.uk/Property_News/2008/11/Cant_sell_your_house_1292.aspx Our former neighbour arranged a 'part-exchange' with our current neighbour in UK to reduce stamp-duty. I guess it would be a lot more complicated to do this between UK & France. It could be quite fun to do a sort of 'holiday exchange' with potential swop or part-exchange if agreement could be reached! The 'fun' would be free holiday and the chance to check out the house and the area & maybe even include car(s), tv & the hifi in the deal! Sounds a like a great idea to me Or maybe a daft idea? Perhaps there is or should be a website to facilitate this?    Report

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