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Crime For Members

How to register your French property for police security checks

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
How to register your French property for police security checks
(Photo: Fred Tanneau / AFP)

Leaving your property empty puts it at risk of burglars or squatters and this is a particular worry for second-home owners, whose homes are often vacant for prolonged periods.

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French police run a scheme called Opération Tranquillité Vacances which involves householders telling their local police that they will be away, so they can keep an eye on the property.

The scheme has run in various forms since 1974, but last year an online platform was set up allowing property owners to make their declaration in just a few clicks.

It's largely targeted at French people who are going away over the summer and leaving their homes empty, but it's not limited to French nationals and can be used all year around, including by second-home owners.

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Under the scheme, householders and businesses can ask their local gendarmes to keep a watch over their properties while they are away.

READ ALSO How to get rid of squatters from your French property

Police and gendarme patrols visit houses on their list at various times during the day or night, checking shutters, gates, and back gardens to make sure all is as it should be - and to act as a deterrent to any criminal groups checking the area.

The online service is not limited to French nationals or French residents, but it does require a FranceConnect account to operate, meaning that you need to be registered in at least one French database (eg the tax office, benefits office or in the health system).

The form can be used to cover both main residences and second homes (résidence secondaire).

You can find the form HERE. Before starting the registration process, you will need to determine whether you live in a 'police zone' or a 'gendarmerie zone', which will determine how long you can be absent and when you can register. You can find this information by establishing where your local law enforcement office (point d'accueil) is on this government website.

If you live in a 'police zone', the property in question should be your primary residence. You can be absent for between three days and three months. You will need to register at least three days before departure, or up to 45 days in advance.

For those in a 'gendarmerie zone' the property in question can be either a primary or secondary residence. In this situation, you can be absent for up to 12 months, and you can register anytime from the day before departure to 45 days in advance.

You can also register in person at your nearest police station or gendarmerie unit. Take ID and proof of address, such as a recent utility bill, if you do it this way.

If you need to alter your registration - perhaps you want to change the duration of your trip - even if you registered online, you will still need to go to your local police station or gendarmerie brigade to tell them that the information has changed.

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Be sure to inform police or gendarmes whether or not your home is fitted with an alarm system, as well as whether anyone you know plans to stop by the property while you are away. If you return from your trip early, you should also let them know.

Summertime is high-season for criminals in France, who target homes that have been left vacant while their owners are away on holiday.

Opération Tranquillité Vacances was introduced in 1974 as a means to keep crime rates down during the summer holiday period. It was extended to include other school holidays in 2009, and is now available all year round.

Tips from law enforcement to limit risk of burglary

  • Do not post your vacation dates online or on your telephone answering machine
  • Ask someone you trust to collect your mail - a full mailbox can be a sign of prolonged absence
  • Do not leave a key under the doormat or flower pot
  • Carefully lock doors, windows and shutters
  • Don't leave large sums of money in your home, and put jewelry, art objects and valuables in a safe place after photographing them. 

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