Expat Services & English-Speaking Artisans
Navigating French property renovations, tax administration, or gîte management without language barriers. Connect with verified, English-speaking contractors and certified advisors across Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Gironde and Southwest France.
Common Situations for Expats
Start with the problem you’re facing to see what kind of professional you need and what steps to take:
I’ve bought a property in France
- Property survey & diagnostics (DDT)
- Notaire liaison & conveyance
- Bilingual estate agent assistance
- Architect or project manager
- Comprehensive building insurance
- Renovation specialists
I’m renovating a French property
- General builder & project coordination
- Décennale-insured electrician & plumber
- Roofer & traditional stone mason
- Lime mortar (chaux) specialist
- Detailed, legally compliant French devis
I run a gîte or holiday home
- Year-round keyholding & emergency checks
- Seasonal changeover cleaning & linen turnover
- AFNOR-compliant pool maintenance & water testing
- Garden, mowing & grounds maintenance
- Guest welcoming & bilingual communication
- French gîte tax & micro-BIC accounting
I’m moving to France
- Relocation logistics & settling-in advice
- Sworn, certified document translations
- Carte de séjour & visa renewal support
- CPAM registration & Carte Vitale applications
- French driving licence exchange (ANTS)
- Cross-border tax & wealth advice
I need help with French tax
- Annual French income tax returns (Déclaration 2042)
- Cross-border income, pensions & double-tax treaties
- Micro-entrepreneur & business registration
- LMNP (furnished rental) accounting & declarations
- Property wealth tax (IFI) & capital gains (plus-values)
I need help dealing with French administration
- CPAM / PUMa health coverage & Carte Vitale
- Prefecture dossiers & Titre de séjour renewals
- French driving licence swap via ANTS
- Court-certified sworn translations
- Official administrative letters & dispute resolution
The 5 Core Expat Service Clusters
Explore our dedicated clusters for deep-dive guidance, verified business listings, and quote requests:
English-Speaking Artisans & Trades
Builders, roofers, electricians, plumbers, heating engineers, and stone masons fluent in English with French Décennale insurance.
French Tax & Expat Accounting
Cross-border tax returns, business registration (micro-entrepreneur / SARL), LMNP, and French wealth advice.
Property Buying, Surveyors & Notaires
Bilingual estate agents, DDT diagnostic surveys, structural building advice, and notaire conveyance assistance.
Gîte Management & Keyholding
Keyholding, changeover turnovers, pool maintenance (AFNOR compliant), and bilingual guest hospitality.
Relocation, Visas & Administration
Titre de séjour, CPAM / Carte Vitale registration, French driving licence exchange, and certified translations.
Finding someone who speaks English is only half the problem
You also want to know that they’re a legitimate business, properly registered and appropriately insured for the work they’re undertaking. Business registration and relevant insurance documentation are checked as part of VeriLocal’s verification process.
- SIRET / Business RegistrationChecked against official French establishment records and INSEE data to confirm active legal status.
- Décennale Insurance DocumentationMandatory 10-year structural insurance documentation checked for relevant construction and trade works.
- Qualifications & Trade CertificationsRelevant trade credentials, professional body registrations, and certifications audited where applicable.
- Business Location & BasePhysical establishment verified in Southwest France to ensure genuine local presence.
- Languages SpokenFluent English and French communication to prevent costly misunderstandings.
- Services & SpecialisationsClear, transparent scope of works and specialized competencies.
- Service Area & CatchmentActual operational radius across Southwest France departments.
- Authentic Reviews & ExperienceFeedback from actual property owners and expats in Southwest France.
Verified English-Speaking Businesses
Connect with verified specialists operating across Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Gironde and surrounding areas.
Evergreen Property & Garden Maintenance
From custom landscaping and fencing to all-season garden care, we enhance and maintain your space with beauty and efficiency. Evergreen delivers passion and precision to every project 🌿
We fix businesses, not just websites.
Bespoke websites, local SEO and connected business platforms for service businesses. We design and develop professional websites for businesses that need more than an attractive online presence. Every website is built around your goals - whether that's generating more enquiries, improving your visibility in search, increasing conversions or creating a better experience for your customers. We bring your website, customer enquiries, quoting, jobs and payments together in one seamless system, giving you more control and less manual work. Already have a website? We can connect it. Need something better? We can build it.
Exterior cleaner based in Bergerac, Dordogne, dedicated to customer satisfaction and reliability.
We're a small team dedicated to making your property look its best. With nearly 6 years of experience in the cleaning trade, we proudly serve homes and businesses in the Dordogne & Gironde areas and beyond.
English TV supplied and installed
Suppliers of UK TV in France for over 20 years, problem solving and free advice.
Interior Decorating, Design & Decorative Artist
30 years working as an Interior Decorator and Decorative Artist across UK, France and USA. Whether you may require room decoration, a piece of furniture painting, a kitchen paint or a beautiful mural on your wall, I have many years experience and many happy client referrals. I am also pleased to be recognised as Neptune,s (kitchen company) kitchen painter in the S.W France. Please feel free to take a look at my website tracyhecht.com for portfolio photos and references.
Bookkeeping made easy for all business types
With more than 2 decades of expertise running company accounts in France, we provide bilingual support for English-speaking expats. Bookkeeping and French admin is our passion, providing solutions for all sizes of business. We also work closely with a chartered accountant for larger or more complex business structures. Covering all of France remotely, we currently support more then a dozen companies across a variety of bookkeeping packages, including Pennylane, Dougs, Xero, Quickbooks, Abby, Indy, ICS/Spirit etc. If you need help but don’t know where to start, get in touch to start unravelling to mysteries of French VAT returns, e-invoicing and what to do with all those receipts piling up.
Timber Framing, Roof Elevation & Carpentry in Bordeaux
SARL ÈRE BOIS is a specialist timber framing and carpentry company based in Bordeaux (Gironde). "ÈRE BOIS : Artisan charpentier à Bordeaux. Experts en construction ossature bois, surélévation, extension et rénovation de toiture en Gironde. Devis gratuit." Public directory profile with verified establishment records (SIREN/SIRET: 88478440600010). Web: https://ere-bois.fr/
plumbing-heating in Angoulême
NS Renouvelables is an established specialist trade provider located in Angoulême (Charente). Specialising in professional specialist trade services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Angoulême and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 81311773600021) • Tel: 06 72 61 31 79 • Web: https://www.itsokwespeakenglish.com/sherrard-plumbing-heating-electrical.
gardening-landscaping in Condom
Gers Landscaping is an established specialist trade provider located in Condom (Gers). Specialising in professional specialist trade services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Condom and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 81207577800017) • Tel: 05.36-.15.04-.15 • Web: https://allofrench.co.uk/business/gers-landscaping/.
gardening-landscaping in Angoulême
un jardin particulier is an established specialist trade provider located in Angoulême (Charente). Specialising in professional specialist trade services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Angoulême and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 58169934640523) • Tel: 05-8308-8043 • Web: https://unjardinparticulier.fr/.
building-renovation in Angoulême
MK Joinery is an established traditional stone masonry provider located in Angoulême (Charente). Specialising in professional traditional stone masonry services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Angoulême and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 57706093189964) • Tel: 0887383695 • Web: https://www.mk-joinery.works/.
plumbing-heating in Angoulême
Savelys Angoulême is an established specialist trade provider located in Angoulême (Charente). Specialising in professional specialist trade services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Angoulême and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 57987794471419) • Tel: 0545956162 • Web: https://agence.savelys.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/charente/angouleme/savelys-81.
building-renovation in Angoulême
D&G Building Services is an established traditional stone masonry provider located in Angoulême (Charente). Specialising in professional traditional stone masonry services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Angoulême and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 51115289400024) • Tel: 05 45 78 35 24 • Web: https://dandgbuildingservices.fr/.
gardening-landscaping in Angoulême
Interscène | Atelier d'architectes paysagistes à Angoulême is an established specialist trade provider located in Angoulême (Charente). Specialising in professional specialist trade services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Angoulême and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 87993411500020) • Tel: 01.45.41.45.24 • Web: https://interscene.fr/.
gardening-landscaping in Sarlat-la-Canéda
Paysagiste Sarlat – Aménagement & Jardin is an established specialist trade provider located in Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne). Specialising in professional specialist trade services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Sarlat-la-Canéda and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 80255199400014) • Tel: 0553046360 • Web: https://www.jaroussie.fr/paysagiste-dordogne/sarlat.
electrical-solar in Cahors
Elec 46 is an established rewiring to french norms (nf c 15-100) provider located in Cahors (Lot). Specialising in professional rewiring to french norms (nf c 15-100) services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Cahors and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 53078584900023) • Tel: +33617894659 • Web: https://elec46.fr/.
building-renovation in Duras
Socorebat France is an established traditional stone masonry provider located in Duras (Lot-et-Garonne). Specialising in professional traditional stone masonry services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Duras and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 62460706339555) • Tel: 07 80 58 89 29 • Web: https://www.socorebat-france.fr/aquitaine/lot-et-garonne/duras/entreprise-de-ravalement.
building-renovation in Bergerac
Adam Gibbons is an established traditional stone masonry provider located in Bergerac (Dordogne). Specialising in professional traditional stone masonry services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Bergerac and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 82446317800023) • Tel: 0317 15.9998 • Web: https://www.carpenterinfrance.com/about.
electrical-solar in Duras
The English Electrician is an established rewiring to french norms (nf c 15-100) provider located in Duras (Lot-et-Garonne). Specialising in professional rewiring to french norms (nf c 15-100) services for homeowners, expatriates, and local residents across Duras and the surrounding Southwest France service area. Factual public directory profile compiled from official French business registration records (SIREN/SIRET: 83153575200032) • Tel: 0637905528 • Web: https://englishelectrician.fr/index.php/about-us/.
Overgrown gardens and land cleared. Repairs to buildings, gutters cleared
If you are looking for a regular gardener - Im not for you. If you have grass to 1.5 m high interlaced with saplings and brambles hiding where you last saw a house..thats my kind of job. 52 inch Great Dane mower - clears 1Ha in 3 hours. 30 inch flail mower chops saplings. 22 inch Texas multicut - dont stand in front of it. 15hp flywheel chipper - fallen trees and brash turned into mulch. Brambles..gone
Not sure what type of professional you need?
You don’t need to know the French trade term or pick from confusing categories. Just describe your problem or project in plain English or French:
Expat Guides & Practical Advice
Actionable guidance on French property rules, contractor vetting, SIRET audits, and administrative steps.
Pre-Purchase Property Surveys & Notaires in France
Crucial guidance for expat buyers: understanding the difference between a notaire and a building surveyor, what the DDT covers, and checks before signing.
Gîte Management in France: Guide for Overseas Owners
Essential operational guidance: reliable keyholding, seasonal changeovers, AFNOR pool safety compliance, emergency protocols, and local taxation.
French Tax Guidance for Expats: The Complete Practical Guide
Navigating French tax residency, worldwide income reporting (Form 2047), pensions, micro-entrepreneur status, and holiday rental taxation (LMNP).
Administrative Checklists & Guidance for Expats in France
Step-by-step roadmaps: ANEF residence permits, CPAM healthcare & Carte Vitale, foreign driving licence exchange (ANTS), address updates, and official French vocabulary.
How to Check a French Artisan’s SIRET Number & Legal Status
Learn how to verify an artisan’s 14-digit SIRET on official French government registers, check their registered trade codes (NAF/APE), and confirm active legal status.
Garantie Décennale in France: What Property Owners Must Check
Why 10-year structural insurance is mandatory by French law for building works, what happens if an artisan is uninsured, and how to verify their attestation.
Understanding a French Devis: What Must Be Included by Law
A breakdown of mandatory legal requirements on an artisan’s quote: SIRET, TVA numbers, Décennale details, payment terms, and deposit rules.
Renovating a Traditional Stone Farmhouse in Dordogne
A complete practical guide covering local limestone, traditional lime mortar (chaux), roof restorations, drainage, and cost benchmarks.
French Property & Construction Glossary: 50 Key Terms
Essential bilingual vocabulary for property owners: from devis, acompte, and gros œuvre to fosse septique, charpente, and permis de construire.
Finding Trusted English-Speaking Artisans in Southwest France
How to combine language convenience with rigorous French legal and insurance checks when hiring contractors in Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne and Gironde.
4 Golden Rules Before Hiring Any French Contractor
Verify on Annuaire des Entreprises that the business is active with matching activity codes.
Get the contractor’s current insurance certificate before work starts or deposits are paid.
A signed quote with "Bon pour accord" creates a legally binding contract under French law.
Pay a reasonable deposit (typically 10–30%) and link remaining payments to completed milestones.
Popular Expat Hubs & Departments in Southwest France
Direct links to verified services and local contractors in your department:
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