Want to win a French chateau? Apply to be on Channel 4’s new present!
Britons will have the chance to win their very own dream renovation project chateau in France thanks to a new television show.
Chateau DIY: Win the Dream will see aspiring chateau owners compete in challenges to prove they have what it takes to win a French chateau.
Contestants in the series will be challenged to showcase their design, renovation skills and business acumen in a series of heats throughout the show.
The chateau up for grabs has yet to be selected, but will be worth up to £250,000 and have multiple bedrooms, living quarters and outbuildings.
After three weeks of heats, a select few will be put through to the final weeks of the competition. Only one pair will win their dream chateau.
The new show will be on Channel 4 and is being created by Spark Media North, the team behind Channel 4’s hit show, Chateau DIY.
A lot of work: The character properties have sometimes been neglected for decades
Anyone keen to take part as a contestant in the series can visit an online page to find more about how to apply.
Joff Hatfield-Powell, of Spark Media North, is the executive producer of Chateau DIY: Win the Dream.
Speaking to This is Money, Joff said: ‘Finding the perfect property has been challenging but I have managed to narrow it down.
‘Not only do I need something that delivers the ‘wow’ factor for filming purposes, but we need a tangible asset that can be renovated with enough still to be done in the future that we can continue to follow their progress.
‘For health and safety we need a property connected to water and electricity that is also sound structurally because this is going to be a prize we are handing over to the winners.
‘Geographically, your money goes further in the north, so this was also a consideration, though there are some absolute steals in the south of France, if you know where to look.’
Joff Hatfield-Powell: The exec producer of Chateau DIY reveals his five tips to consider if you’re tempted to buy a French chateau
He added: ‘This new series is our most ambitious yet – a high stakes competitive reality show that will captivate audiences and offer one of the biggest prizes in daytime TV history.’
Channel 4’s senior commissioning editor, Jayne Stanger, said: ‘Chateau DIY has been one of Channel 4’s most popular daytime series and we’re very excited to bring this grand competition to life.
‘It will offer the perfect blend of glorious escapism and real-life twists and turns that our viewers love to follow.’
Chateau DIY launched on Channel 4 in 2021 following the huge success of Escape to the Chateau and Escape to the Chateau DIY.
Both titles were created by Spark Media Partners, the production entity founded by Mark Baker and Steve Havers.
Winning a chateau in France sounds like a dream, but buying and renovating property overseas is not for the feint hearted.
Although the prosect of buying a bargain chateau is appealing, some may have been uninhabited for decades resulting in poor insulation, damaged roofs and general neglect.
It can take a lot of money and effort to restore chateaus into something that will make you a profit or a decent home.
Joff’s five tips for Britons tempted by a French chateau
Joff has five tips for Britons looking to purchase a chateau in France.
1. Know your intention and legal requirements
Post-Brexit, you can only spend 90 days out of each 180 in a European country if you are not relocating permanently.
If you’re retiring to live in a chateau in France, you’ll have to prove you have money in your bank to support your lifestyle.
If you’re moving out to run the chateau as a business, you’ll have to supply a business plan to prove income and then secure a Carte de Sejour which is a 10-year visa to live and work in the country.
2. Be aware if business registration is required
If you are buying the chateau to set up a business, you will need to register this business and get all relevant licenses and visas approved, whether running the chateau as a chamber d’hôte or an events venue.
On top of this you will also need to check which liquor and food licenses may be applicable.
3. Use a local agent
If you’re in the UK, a French agent knows the local areas and can view multiple properties for you without incurring travel costs for you from the offset.
You will pay them a fee, but it will save you time and money in the long run and ultimately, they take a commission on any property you offer on regardless.
4. Get a survey
When you have found your dream chateau or castle, make sure you get a detailed, structural survey completed on the property.
These historic buildings can often have a multitude of hidden issues that can quickly become very expensive to rectify post completion.
Check sewage, electric supply, the roof, flooring and any water damage to the building.
Also be sure of what your land perimeters are and any right of access across this land.
5.Think ahead
Unlike in the UK, once you have exchanged on a property in France the vendor is contractually obliged to sell the property to you.
Before you exchange, make sure you are aware of all the taxes, fees, visa requirements and licenses you will need for whatever purpose you are buying the chateau for.
As a footnote, I also advise learning the language for a more comfortable life in France.
