Recap of holiday home news: 13 October 2009

New swimming pool alarm rules in France - connexionfrance.com

Holiday home and gite owners in France should take note that new regulations have been introduced for alarms in private swimming pools, because current laws are not being adequately obeyed or enforced.

Since 2003, owners of submerged pools in France have been required to provide a system of security to prevent the risk of children drowning. Four different forms of security are permitted – an alarm, fencing, pool cover, or a shelter.

It is estimated that around half of pools still lack a security system, and that drownings in private pools continue to be unacceptably high. In 2006, 55 people died from drowning in a… read the rest of “Recap of holiday home news: 13 October 2009” >>

Guide to Buying Overseas Property

The Association of International Property Professionals –AIPP (the industry body for the international property market) has released the 4th edition of its annual guide, “Buying Overseas Property Safely – The Consumer Guide from the Industry Body”.

With the amount of contradicting advice out there, combined with horror stories of developers going bust and leaving investors out of pocket, can make buying property abroad a complex process. The guide outlines common pitfalls to avoid and how to buy overseas property safely. It’s a useful guide which potential property buyers should read before they purchase property abroad.

It provides independent and expert advice and covers areas such as:

• 5 pitfalls to avoid
• The role of the agent &amp

Breaching Holiday Cottage Occupancy Limits

Breaching occupancy limits is a situation that many holiday cottage owners will be familiar with. But it’s a difficult scenario to deal with, especially when children are involved. Should you terminate the booking or turn a blind eye?

As reported by the times, a family booked a holiday cottage through an agency, and on the first night they had a guest and her baby to stay. As it was just for one night and there was a spare bedroom, they did not think that it would be an issue.

Unfortunately, this breached the occupancy limit as the property only had beds for five people, but there were now three adults, one child and two infants –… read the rest of “Breaching Holiday Cottage Occupancy Limits ” >>

Holiday Homes in Spain Flooded

Following the torrential rain that hit Spain earlier this week, which forced hundreds of people to evacuate their Spanish holiday homes, there are reports that several properties have been flooded.

Torrential rain and storms swept along the whole of Spain’s Mediterranean coast, trapping people, causing power cuts and a forcing a number of rivers to burst their banks.

If you haven’t done so yet, get your holiday home checked by your key holder for any flood damage and inform your Spanish insurance company of any damage.

Update: There are some photos of the flooded Polaris La Torre Golf Resort near Murcia, which show the damage that flood water can cause… read the rest of “Holiday Homes in Spain Flooded” >>

Recap of holiday home news: 30 September 2009

It’s time once again for our holiday home news round up. Here’s what’s been happening:

Why a yurt is better than a holiday cottage

With holiday home prices beyond the reach of many of us, one family came up with a radical solution: their second home is a yurt.

Their “credit-crunch cottage,” is a 20ft-high cotton canvas hemisphere, 18ft in diameter, with slender ash ribs, navy felted wool lining and sisal flooring. With its own heating system, a stove made from a recycled gas canister, the yurt cost about £6,000 and is totally mobile.

Yurts can sit in your garden year-round, but if you want to park it in a field (your own, or someone… read the rest of “Recap of holiday home news: 30 September 2009” >>

Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Accommodation establishments with a high rate of occupant turnover such as self catering holiday cottages and apartments, should be on the look out for bed bugs, as infestations are most frequently found in these types of dwellings.

According to the BBC there has been a massive increase in the number of bed bug infestations. Statistics from councils in London and the Midlands show the rate increased three-fold in the last decade.

Holiday rentals are particularly vulnerable due to the high turnover of guests, from both the UK and overseas. Bedbugs are effective hitchhikers and holidaymakers could infest your property by coming into contact with bugs on their travels. Once at your holiday home, the bed bugs disembark from luggage or clothes and set up home, breeding… read the rest of “Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite” >>

French Insurance Chimney Sweeping Clause

Reading through French house insurance policy details is a task that many property owners skip when taking out a policy, especially when it is written in a foreign language. Not only is there the issue of not understanding what is actually covered, there are also policy conditions and exclusions that could leave you uninsured

A “burning issue” that many French property owners are unaware of, is the requirement of some French insurance policies that properties have chimneys swept once a year. Homeowners face the risk of being uninsured following a chimney fire, if they can’t prove that chimneys are swept annually.

To avoid being uninsured, it is essential to check if your French insurer has this clause in your policy… read the rest of “French Insurance Chimney Sweeping Clause” >>