Running chambres d'hôtes in the wine country.

Contents

1. The legal limits
2. Declaring the activity
3. Tax
4. The house to look for
5. How I help
6. Frequently asked questions

Chambres d'hôtes are guest rooms in the owner's home, with breakfast included. French law defines them precisely; beyond those limits, it becomes a hotel, with other rules.

The legal limits

• At most five rooms and fifteen guests at the same time.
• The rooms are in the home of the owner, who welcomes the guests.
• Breakfast is included in the price.

Declaring the activity

Chambres d'hôtes must be declared at the town hall before opening. The tourist tax is collected from guests. Serving meals with alcohol, the table d'hôtes, requires a licence: ask the town hall.

Tax

Under the simplified regime, income from chambres d'hôtes benefits from a 50% allowance up to 77,700 euros a year, for income from 2025 (Actu-Juridique). Above certain amounts, social contributions apply: an accountant will set up the right status.

The house to look for

• Rooms that can each have their own bathroom.
• A separate entrance or wing for the guests, and space for your private life.
• Parking, and a garden or a courtyard for breakfast in summer.
• A location guests look for: a wine village, Beaune, or near the Route des Grands Crus.

A château or a large maison de maître often fits: buying a château in Burgundy.

How I help

I look for houses that can be adapted, I check the planning rules with the town hall, and I help you estimate the works before the offer. I work in English and French every day. I also speak Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi fluently, Persian (Farsi) very well, and good Greek and Arabic.

Frequently asked questions