<p>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. </p><p>In this Rants &amp; Bants episode, Sue, Rosie and Micala chat about the <em>Win a Château</em> 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. </p><p>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. </p><p>As always, we’ve pulled together the key points on our website if you’d like to revisit anything - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.frenchrenodiaries.com">www.frenchrenodiaries.com</a></p><p></p><p>Resources mentioned</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/chateau-diy-win-the-dream">Château DIY: Win a Château</a> – Channel 4 spin-off competition show</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.connexionfrance.com/">The Connexion</a> – English-language publication covering expat legal issues in France</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.capeb.fr/">CAPEB</a> – French trade body representing building professionals</li></ul><p></p><p>Mini glossary</p><ul><li>Décennale – 10-year structural insurance required for artisans</li><li>Préfecture – Regional administrative authority handling residency matters</li><li>Titre de séjour – Residency card</li><li>DCEM – Travel document for minors residing in France</li><li>Pompe à chaleur – Heat pump</li><li>Raccordement – Connection/fitting (e.g. around a Velux window)</li><li>SMIC – French minimum wage threshold used for visa income assessments</li></ul><p>Connect:</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/frenchrenodiaries">Facebook</a> | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/frenchrenodiaries">Instagram</a></p><p>Subscribe to the newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.frenchrenodiaries.com">www.frenchrenodiaries.com</a></p><p>Email: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p><p>Find out more about us and our French reno businesses:</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.renovation-maison-bretagne.fr/">Maison Bretagne</a> (Rosie Ellis)</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://srcharpenterie.fr/">S.R. Charpenterie</a> (Sue Peake-Russell)</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.paulwilkinselectricien.com/">Paul Wilkins Electricien</a> (Micala Wilkins)</p><p></p><p>Credits:</p><p>• Produced &amp; mixed by: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/katy_wright_audio/">Katy Wright</a></p><p>• Music: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/users/grand_project-19033897/">Grand Project</a></p>