Janine Marsh bought a house in Pas-de-Calais some 20 years ago and split her time between the UK and France before deciding to take the plunge and relocate permanently.
She spoke exclusively to GB News about her move to France; a far cry from her life in London. She now has 52 pets and pays for beer at the local bar with her chicken’s eggs.
Recently, Janine offered some top tips for Britons considering the move. There is a lot to consider when choosing a specific location, from weather to facilities to property prices to proximity to the UK.
She also shared the mistakes to avoid when making the move, warning Britons of a serious moving error.
If you’re thinking of moving to Paris, look beyond social media for inspiration
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This time, the expat spoke to GB News about the specific mistakes to avoid when starting a new life in Paris, plus how to make the moving process seamless.
Many people fall in love with the idea of Paris on holiday, but a vacation in the French capital is very different to relocating there entirely.
If you’re thinking of buying or renting in Paris, the expat warned against taking the leap before doing proper research.
Janine said: “A lot of people visit Paris on holiday, then look at Instagram and TikTok to find out more, but often they’re seeing the Paris of tourists, with rose-coloured glasses on.
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“The first thing to do is spend more time than you would as a tourist, spend at least a month in an area and make sure it’s what you want.
“Don’t stay in a hotel, stay in an apartment, visit the local café, boulangerie, and supermarket and get a feel for what real life is like.
“Do things you wouldn’t do as a tourist; try to live it like you would if you lived there. And give yourself time to check out other neighbourhoods – you might be surprised that places you dismissed are actually more affordable or more appealing.
“A friend of mine just moved into a fabulous apartment in Montmartre which you’d think would be a bank-breaking achievement but it’s surprisingly affordable because, first, it doesn’t have a lift, and secondly it’s in a quieter residential part and you have to climb the stairs, and it’s on a bit of a hill to get to it so that put’s some people off.
“But it’s a lovely road, with cafés and restaurants and within a stone’s throw of the metro. So if you don’t mind these things, you may find something affordable and in a fabulous part of the city.”
Offering some specific advice to renters, Janine said: “Most people rent when they move to Paris. If you’re renting, then get your dossier of paperwork together in advance.
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‘Do things you wouldn’t do as a tourist; try to live it like you would if you lived there’
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“It’s not like in the UK where you just see somewhere you want to rent, pay a deposit and move in.
“In France, you’ll need to be organised and get the required paperwork together and have it ready to go – or you could miss out on getting the rental you want to someone more organised.
“Your dossier needs to include proof of residency, proof of work (payslips), tax documents etc. It’s all about proving that you can afford a place.”
For those considering a holiday in Paris rather than a permanent move, the expat shared the “astoundingly beautiful” Paris attraction “most people don’t even know is there”.
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