The Dilemma Of A Typical British Family

En français

Une traduction en français est disponible : ici

In English

This scenario illustrates the effect of Schengen 90/180-day rule on a typical British couple who have a second home in France.

Jennifer and Nick bought their 250 year old house in rural Normandy ten years ago. The house had lain empty for many years and, like many rural properties, had fallen into disrepair. Over a period of ten years they renovated the house, using local artisans and buying supplies and materials from local merchants. They created a home and garden that can be enjoyed by family, neighbours, as well as the French friends they have made in their village and beyond.

Until Jennifer and Nick can consider moving permanently to Normandy, they are limited in the time they can spend in their French home. They visit at every opportunity, spending between 15 and 20 weeks a year in their house during which time they undertake essential maintenance to keep their house and its surrounds in a state of good repair. The money and hard work they have invested in their home is appreciated by everyone in their commune.

The current pattern of visits to Normandy usually begins with a two-week springtime visit between March and April. During this time, any damage is repaired, winter debris is cleared and the garden is prepared for the coming planting season. A return visit between May and June allows Jennifer and Nick to undertake further maintenance and improvements as well as essential gardening, particularly to their potager. A summer visit between late July and early September offers the opportunity to enjoy a family holiday, sharing their home with the next generations of their family. It allows the whole family to support community events such as traditional fetes and festivals. It also offers Jennifer and Nick the chance to undertake their civic responsibilities not least by ensuring the communal chemin that runs adjacent to their house is kept open and that grass and shrubs in the surrounding grounds are cut. The last visit of the year usually takes place in October with a visit to close the house for winter, leaving everything weather proof to prevent winter damage. The last visit of the year usually takes place in October with a visit to close the house for winter, leaving everything weather proof to prevent winter damage. Fruit is harvested from the garden and shared with neighbours and the remaining plants from the summer are pruned. Finally, Jennifer and Nick bid farewell to their neighbours and look forward to returning to their corner of paradise the following spring.

However, from January 1^st 2021, a schedule similar to this would cause Jennifer and Nick to breach the 90 /180 rule. Their cumulative time in France easily reaches 100 days between May and November. At no point would Jennifer and Nick have ever stayed for 90 continuous days.

If Jennifer and Nick were forced to comply with the Schengen 90/180 rule then it would be difficult to maintain their house and garden, enjoy their leisure time and support community events. To avoid a breach of between one and a ten days of the 90/180-day rule, Jennifer and Nick would need to obtain a visa for a minimum duration of 4 months. This will cost at least €600 for the two of them because of the cost of insurance that meets the requirements of a VLST visa.

For some people obtaining insurance that is both affordable and visa compliant will be a prohibitive barrier to enjoying the use of their house from January 2021. SSuch families may decide that maintaining a second home which they cannot enjoy during the summer months is no longer feasible. This in turn may result in such homes remaining empty with negative repercussions on the local community and economy.