A Gloucestershire couple who bought a small French hamlet for about €60,000 say their renovation project has been hampered by a stalled sale of their UK home and the rising cost of living.
Tony and Terry, both furniture restorers, purchased Chicheville in the Deux-Sèvres region — a group of three cottages dating to the 1800s and several outbuildings — after finding the property advertised online for around €60,000 (about £51,000). They told Channel 4’s Help! We Bought a Village that they have been able to carry out only basic repairs while waiting for their house in the United Kingdom to sell to fund more extensive restoration work.
The couple said they have faced practical constraints that have slowed progress, including work commitments in Britain and visa restrictions that limit the length of their stays in France. While they have undertaken maintenance to prevent damage from ivy, bushes and weeds encroaching on the stonework, more substantial renovation and landscaping remain on hold because of limited funds.
“We’re protecting a part of France,” Tony said on the programme, adding that the project felt important because the buildings might otherwise deteriorate. The couple described the venture as ambitious and said it has left their finances stretched amid the wider cost of living pressures affecting many households.
Chicheville’s purchase price drew attention because it was substantially below typical market values for multi-building rural properties in France. The couple said they found the grouping of cottages and outbuildings on a property website and completed the sale with the aim of restoring the structures and preserving the local landscape. They plan to carry out more significant renovation work once proceeds from the sale of their UK home are available.
Experts and local preservation advocates have in recent years expressed concern about the fate of historic rural buildings across parts of France when owners lack funds for upkeep. Smaller hamlets with ageing stone cottages can be vulnerable to neglect if new owners do not have the resources to manage repairs, particularly to roofs and masonry that, if left untreated, can lead to rapid deterioration.
Tony and Terry said they remain committed to the project despite the delays. They have focused on stabilising the properties and removing invasive vegetation to limit immediate damage. The couple have previously restored furniture professionally and say they hope to apply those skills to the cottages when full renovation can proceed.
The story of Chicheville joins a string of recent cases highlighted in media and television programming that showcase foreign property purchases by British buyers and the practical, legal and financial challenges that can follow. The couple’s case illustrates how cross-border property projects can be complicated by local regulations, visa rules, and the need for substantial upfront capital to secure and restore historic rural buildings.