Brits who have moved across the channel: they are an economic boon for France’s rural areas. Whether or not the will continue even after the Brexit as well, is questionable. Lisa Louis from Vertellac.
Verteillac in the Dordogne is a typical village in the southwest of France. It has a Church, two hairdressers, a butcher and a Baker. White limestone houses surround the market square, on the a Fontaine hinplätschert.
But so very French, the village is not, because around 40 percent of its 650 inhabitants are British. They contribute a significant part of the village life and the local economy. Whether all of them will remain after Brexit, the UK’s exit from the EU by the end of March 2019, however, is uncertain.
The EU and the UK to negotiate in Brussels to make the exit as smooth as possible. In Verteillac, and also in other villages in France, he could move the local economy nevertheless, a significant a blow.
“Come on in – I’ll show you to the Bar,” says Rebecca Walters, the call here are all the Bex. Leads you through the Restaurant, which offers French wine, as well as British Chips. The 41-year-old, bought last November, Le Calice, the renovated Local lightning-fast for 10.000 euros in two days and keeps it since then, every day from morning eight to evening, ten open.
“The previous owners had only a few hours a day – at meal times. But I think it is important to be present – this gives the village a focal point,” she says. The Englishwoman has hired ten part-time workers.
Rebecca “Bex” Walters in their Bar in Vilmorin. Would break her heart if she should continue, she says.
“Seize the day!” – Brexit or not
Had the jump over the English channel, she decided, although she knew that the Brexit comes, and she has no French citizenship. “It was always the dream of my father and his retirement in France to spend. My parents had already bought a house, and my father wanted to just wait two more years until he would get his full pension. However, in the two years he got Alzheimer’s and died,” she says. “It could take years until we know the exact rules for us Brits abroad after the Brexit. This time I didn’t – I want to live my life now, the day, and try things out. No matter what comes after.”
Bex doesn’t seem to be the only Brit that thinks so. Trevor Leggett is beaucourt real estate agents in the neighboring Roche. Half of its customers come from the UK. The will buy this year, 20 percent more homes than last year – even if the are now a number of smaller houses, because the British pound has lost since the Brexit Referendum.
Panic purchases before the Brexit
“The people are in a panic and think that you could buy after the Brexit don’t have a home in France – although that is nonsense,” he says. For France’s rural areas the good news. “The British buy homes in remote locations that would otherwise have to buy any, and you can renovate for a lot of money. The local artisans work,” he says.
Trevor Leggett, real estate agents in Roche beaucourt says that half of its customers come from the UK..
And not only that, says Christopher Dembik, chief macro-economist at the Paris Saxo Bank. “Around 200,000 Britons in France are often well educated and open here, Bars or other shops,” he says. “Besides, you have to pay taxes and to fill the coffers of the local, small communities.”
Small villages in France have as many as hardly any other country in Europe. From which the young people would move away in search of work. Foreigners, particularly the British filled this gap. “You seems exactly like what our youth flees – the slowness and tranquility in the French countryside.”
Higher House Prices
Verteillacs mayor Hervé de Vilmorin is happy about the British presence. “Our British bring the local shops sales – without it you would surely need to close some stores,” he says in fluent English. In the municipal Council, two Englishmen, who care, among other things, to folk festivals to sit.
A few disadvantages of the population, would flow to the mayor. “The prices of houses went in the height, and don’t like it, of course.” Also, all Brits do not speak French, and with the Integration it would not have worked so so good.
“For a long time, many British remained only among themselves, and English spoken – also because there are so many of them,” he says. “But since our people firmly Félibrée 2014 has improved the really. At that time, of 12,000 French and the British have celebrated with each other, and I have the feeling, ever since, the people understand better. And the British at least try to speak French.”
Mayor de Vilmorin is fluent in English and concludes that the British are now learning French.
More paperwork after the Brexit
In General, the language of curiosity is still often a barrier, says Economist Dembik. You can also see the number of applications for French citizenship since the Brexit Referendum in 2016. For this you have to can, in fact, French. Only 3000 British people have applied, according to official Figures.
Who has the Brexit, no French citizenship, for it is at least significantly more and more difficult to remain in France, so Dembik. “I don’t believe that France throws you out, but you will probably need a residence permit to apply for as all other EU nationals. That’s a lot of paperwork, and you also have to leave every few years to renew,” he says.
At least Bex is not going to be deterred. You will soon apply for a French passport. “Of course, I hope that my Restaurant gives me a few plus points – after all, I already have a foot in the door, pay my taxes and am in the French health insurance,” she says. Becks should still have to eventually leave France, she wants to draw, maybe more, in a different country. “I would find anything for me – I’m sure of it,” she says. “But it would break my still heart to have to leave here.”