Nationwide International Transfer (Fees & Process Explained)

Filed Under: Banks

Nationwide International Transfer (Fees & Process Explained)

Last Updated on August 7th, 2024

It’s not that easy to get clear information from big financial institutions like Nationwide.

I’ve put together this page to give you a clear understanding of how to make an international payment with Nationwide, how long it takes, and the charges to look out for.

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Nationwide international transfer fee

Nationwide charges no fees for a Euro payment to a European country. All other international money transfers incur a flat fee of £20. The fee is the same, whether you go online or use a branch.

The £20 transfer fee is at the higher end of what the UK’s big banks charge.

It may not seem like a lot, but nobody likes paying fees.

Some money transfer companies will also charge you fees on international transfers.

But others, such as ourselves, charge no fees whatsoever.

Nationwide International Payments	Euro payment (SEPA)	All other international payments (SWIFT)
Transfer Fee	£0	£20

As a quick heads-up, you may also be charged for intermediary bank fees.

These are fees collected by other banks that Nationwide use in facilitating international payments.

Unfortunately, Nationwide doesn’t state how much these extra fees may be.

Nationwide exchange rates (the more important charge!)

Many customers focus on the fees and forget the exchange rate.

This can be a costly mistake.

For most international transfers, the exchange rate is much more important than the transfer fee.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realise that.

They think Nationwide charges £20 to send money abroad!

But the exchange rate charged by Nationwide has a profit margin added to it.

Like the big banks, Nationwide sets its exchange rates.

Nationwide even provide a page with their current exchange rates.

Looking at their exchange rates on offer, we’ve calculated that Nationwide adds a 2.3% margin.

Let’s put that into perspective using some examples below:

£5,000 transfer = £115 in exchange rate costs
£20,000 transfer = £460 in exchange rate costs
£50,000 amount = £1,150 in exchange rate costs
£100,000 amount = £2,300 in exchange rate costs

As you can see, the more you send, the greater the exchange rate costs.

What’s more, the £20 transfer fee is just a tiny part of the overall cost.

In fact, on a £100,000 transfer, the transfer fee charged by Nationwide is less than 1% of the total charges.

I’m not sure if many people appreciate that.

The broader point is if you just automatically use Nationwide to make an international money transfer, you may end up paying a lot more than using other options.

Small differences in the exchange rate can make a big financial difference.

My advice is to always get a quote from an alternative provider.

There’s no harm in shopping around.

As a tip, when you carry out a comparison, do it at roughly the same time because exchange rates move throughout the day.

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How long does Nationwide international payment take?

The time taken depends on whether it is a payment to a European country or somewhere else.

For transfers in euros to a European country (known as a SEPA payment), your money should be delivered within 1 working day. If you do it before 11.30 am, it will be the same day.

For all other international transfers (known as SWIFT payments), it may take up to 4 working days.

The information you will need

To send money overseas with Nationwide, you need the following information:

The recipient’s name and address.
The recipient’s IBAN (International Bank Account Number).
The name, address, and BIC (Bank Identifier Code) of the bank receiving your money.

You may not be familiar with the terms IBAN and BIC.

An IBAN identifies an individual account, and a BIC identifies a specific bank.

International money transfers work using these two bits of code.

To make matters confusing, they consist of both letters and numbers, and there is no standard length for either – it varies from country to country.

If you are sending money to an overseas bank account in your name, the easiest way to get these bits of code is to log in to your account. It is normally shown on the screen somewhere once logged in.

You can also search for an IBAN and BIC online, but I’m not sure how safe or secure that is.

If you go into a Nationwide branch, they should (hopefully) be able to assist you.

Alternatively, a money transfer company is used to dealing with international payments and will be able to help you put all the details together.

How to make an international payment with Nationwide

You can send money abroad either using Internet Bank or within a branch.

At present, Nationwide does not allow international payments through its Banking App.

You also need to have the funds in your current account, as Nationwide does not allow international payments from a savings account.

Below is a quick overview of how the process works.

Making an international payment using Internet Bank:

Log in as normal
Select the Move Money tab
Select Other Payments (at the bottom)
Follow the on-screen prompts

Essentially you need to enter the recipient details, choose the number of pounds (GBP) you need to send, and the currency needed.

Before any transaction goes ahead, you will be asked to check and confirm all the details.

The process is longer than a typical domestic bank transfer as there’s a lot more information needed.

Nationwide will provide their latest exchange rate at the time of confirmation.

This rate cannot be held indefinitely, so you can’t go make a cup of tea and come back in 5 minutes as the rate will then be invalid and need to be requoted.

Making an international payment within a Branch:

Remember to bring your ID!

Nationwide states you need to bring the following:

Your Nationwide current account card
A valid passport OR driver’s licence
Some form of proof of address less than 3 months old (bank statement, utility bill, council tax, etc).

Within a branch, they will guide you through the process. It may take a while, so leave sufficient time.

Also, don’t forget to bring all the details of the recipient (as listed above).

A trusted and helpful alternative: Key Currency

You bank with Nationwide, so you might feel obliged to use them for your international transfers.

But the reality is, you have a choice.

Why should you consider an alternative?

There are two main differences: cost and service.

It’s not just about saving money.

It can also be easier to use a money transfer specialist.

Some money transfer specialists can assist you throughout the whole process.

No one wants to make a mistake with the payment details or choose a terrible time to exchange their money.

At Key Currency, we don’t make you download an app or send you into battle with your computer.

All our customers have an account manager who’s on the other end of the phone.

Our account managers will help you with the entire process and keep you informed at all stages of your transfer.

It takes away any stress or worry.

What’s more, we can also monitor the currency markets on your behalf and work with you to get the best rates and reduce costs.

As a company, we are open and transparent.

The names, faces, and backgrounds of all our team of people are shown on our website.

We have a 5-star “excellent” customer rating on the review website Trustpilot; it’s the highest rating available.

You also have the peace of mind of knowing that all money transfers are conducted through safeguarded client accounts, and Key Currency is an FCA-regulated Authorised Payment Institution (No. 753989).

To make a no-obligation enquiry, please request a quote below.

Compare our rates now

Filed Under: Property Sales Abroad

7 Tips for Selling Your Property in Spain (Helpful Advice)

Author, Andrew Gibson

Last Updated on August 13th, 2025

Photo of a Spanish coastal destination with the beach, sea, buildings along the coastline on a sunny day.

Here are 7 things you can do to help boost the price, cut your costs, and speed up the sale of your property in Spain.

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1. Tidy up and declutter (so obvious but so true)

Sure, a good cleanup might sound like an obvious tip, but you would be amazed how many properties are left in a complete mess.

Most buyers make up their mind within seconds of stepping into a property. It’s a feeling.

So pack away or get rid of everything but the basics. If in doubt, get rid of it.

A cluttered property full of your possessions makes it very hard for anyone to ‘connect’ with the property (other than you). It sends a clear message that the property belongs to someone else and causes buyers to be distracted by all the personal items.

Your estate agent in Spain would love to tell you the truth, but they don’t want to offend you and risk losing your business, so most bite their tongue and say nothing.

A tidy, decluttered home looks larger, more spacious and makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Don’t assume people like what you like. Everyone has different tastes.

I got told by an estate agent to even put away my toaster. It was a fancy Dualit one that I thought added to the luxury vibe, but all he saw was the crumbs and that it was red. Not everyone likes red toasters apparently. I refused initially and then realised he was right.

The bottom line is it’s best to give potential buyers a blank canvas to look at – the way they sell new homes.

2. Offer your furniture as a deal sweetener

The property market in Spain attracts an international audience, particularly along coastal areas.

That means there’s a good chance you could be selling to an overseas buyer who might find a property that comes with furniture a real bonus.

A UK buyer might want to rent the property out some of the time on Airbnb. Or simply doesn’t want the hassle of buying a whole bunch of furniture.

If you’re downsizing or returning to the UK, there’s a good chance you may not need all of your furniture anyway and it’s often the case that you find out later that your old furniture doesn’t suit your new property.

For British expats, the cost of shipping furniture back to the UK also brings extra cost and hassle. And if you’ve ever sold furniture before on eBay or Gumtree, you’ll know that second-hand furniture doesn’t normally fetch much money. You might find the cost of international shipping is more than it’s even worth!

So consider dangling some free furniture as a deal sweetener. I wouldn’t say that the buyer has to take the furniture. Just make it an option.

It might be a useful negotiating lever rather than resorting to a price drop.

3. Do the obvious repair jobs (this matters a lot)

OK, this might sound like a hassle, but any obvious repairs that need doing should be done by the seller, not the buyer.

Think about it from the buyer’s point of view.

Firstly, they don’t want a bunch of work to do after they move in. They are often new to Spain, whereas you’re not.

They certainly don’t want to be thinking about needing to find a local plumber, electrician, or builder when they are already feeling a lot poorer having forked out a lot of money to buy your property.

Secondly, if they spot that you haven’t bothered to fix the obvious things, it will also give the impression there are a lot of other things that need doing too. They’re normally right about that too!

In most situations, the seller will have better local knowledge of Spain than the buyer as they have lived in or visited the area for many years. So it makes sense for the seller to get things fixed rather than a buyer who will overestimate the cost of repairs or even pull out of the deal altogether.

By keeping your property in good working order, you won’t give a buyer an easy excuse to change their mind or renegotiate a large discount to the listed price.

Buyers are dreaming of a great life in Spain. Don’t wreck their dream.

4. Get the paperwork ready now (there’s a hidden benefit)

Property can take a while to shift in Spain.

It’s Spain; everything seems to take a long time.

One way you can speed up the sales process is to have the paperwork ready.

Yes, paperwork is dull, but it’s necessary if you want to sell your property in Spain.

The buyer or more likely their legal representatives are going to ask for all the relevant documents.

Many of the questions and documents needed will be the same ones you asked for when you bought the property and so can be easily anticipated.

If you bought your Spanish property a long time ago or like me, you have no idea where you’ve put the paperwork, then ask your agent for a checklist.

Your estate agent in Spain can help guide you on what information you’ll need to gather.

Having the docs ready to go has a hidden benefit.

Quick replies keep the momentum up in the sales process. Time is often a silent killer when it comes to property sales.

Don’t forget, buyers will always have lingering seeds of doubt about whether your property is ‘the one’.

They will still be looking at the new listings as they come onto the market. And other agents in Spain will still be calling them with alternative properties to view.

A long, drawn-out sales process gives your buyer greater opportunity to look elsewhere and potentially lose interest.

In real estate, a quick sale is a good sale. Don’t let the spark go out through disorganisation.

5. Negotiate the agent’s fee (down)

In Spain, estate agent fees vary considerably. The fee tends to be anywhere between 3%-6% of the property value – so it’s worth shopping around.

These percentages are a lot higher than the UK, but the Spanish market is not as fast-moving as the UK market, so agents tend to charge a higher percentage to offset the lower transaction volumes.

Higher rates are more likely for lower-priced properties because there is often just as much work involved with a low or high-value property, so the agent will need to get paid an adequate fee for their time and marketing.

We’ve heard of situations where the agent says they will not charge you (the seller) anything at all because they charge the buyer instead. This might sound like a great deal for you, but it is likely to put a lot of buyers off – so might come back to bite you later.

Note you will also be able to get a lower rate if you agree to sign exclusively with one agent. Multi-agent rates in Spain tend to be higher as the agents normally agree to split the fee.

And just so there are no surprises at the end, there is also an IVA of 21% (like VAT in the UK) added to the agents’ bill.

6. Speak to a currency broker (the exchange rate is important)

Most people that are selling property in Spain completely forget to think about the exchange rate.

But the exchange rate is a key factor in your sales process.

The difference between a good and bad exchange rate can have a significant impact on the amount you receive in your UK bank account.

Even small moves in the rate can make a big difference to large amounts of money.

And bear in mind, the euro to pound exchange rate changes every few seconds.

It might sound like a plug for our services, but I would suggest getting a helping hand on the timing of your money transfer. Currency brokers watch rates continuously throughout the day and are keeping an eye on market trends and news.

If you use your bank to transfer your money from Spain to the UK, you could be up to 5% worse off using a bank compared to using a currency broker.

A (good) currency broker offers much more competitive exchange rates than a bank and can keep an eye on the daily fluctuations in exchange rates, letting you know when the rate moves in your favour.

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7. Avoid banker’s draft fees

After selling your property in Spain, the last thing you want is a nasty bank fee.

But it’s what a lot of people end up paying.

When you sell your property in Spain, the normal process is that your Notary will hand you a banker’s draft with the proceeds from the sale.

At that point, you then need to get the proceeds into your bank account.

But Spanish banks exploit this situation and charge you a fee to deposit a banker’s draft into your account!

Our review of the major Spanish banks found that the typical fee charged for depositing a bankers draft ranged from 0.5% to 1.5%.

Using our example of a €100,000 Spanish property sale, the banker’s draft fee would come to €500 to €1,500. That’s a nasty hit in anyone’s books.

We have a simple solution to this.

At Key Currency, we have a direct banking relationship in Spain that allows us to pay no fees on depositing a bankers draft.

In short, when you receive the proceeds from your Spanish property sale, you can avoid paying any bank fees. What’s more, we offer you a person-to-person service – like the banks used to do!

You can read more about it in our article on How to Transfer Money from Spain to the UK.

Quick Summary

Here’s a quick recap of the 7 tips for selling a property in Spain:

Tidy up & de-clutter
Offer free furniture
Do any obvious repairs
Prepare the paperwork early
Negotiate the agent’s fee
Speak to a currency broker
Avoid banker’s draft fees

Who are we?

Key Currency is an independent money transfer specialist.

Unlike banks and online apps, we give you a one-to-one service, allowing us to exchange your money to your best advantage.

With offices in both Spain and the UK, we can help make the money transfer process as hassle-free and cost-effective as possible.

As a company, we are open and transparent.

The names, faces, and backgrounds of all our team of people are shown on our website.

Key Currency is Authorised by the FCA (No.753989) and Registered with HMRC (No.12888761).

We also have a 5-star customer rating on Trustpilot based on over 2,900 customer reviews.

If you feel our service could be of use to you, simply request a free quote.

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You May Also Enjoy Reading…

How To Transfer Money From Spain To The UK

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Filed Under: Property Sales Abroad

Selling Your Property in France (Helpful Tips & Advice)

Author, Andrew Gibson

Last Updated on August 7th, 2024

Selling your property in France is a big step. But there are simple things you can do to boost the sales price, make the process quicker, and cut your costs.

You don’t need to be a property expert, handyman, or tax guru to follow my advice.

If you’re wanting to find out more about the process of selling property overseas and transferring the money back to the UK, click through to our guide that has everything you need to know!

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A photo of a house in France with flowers in the window ledges. The doors and windows of the property are painted in a teal blue.

Heard of the ‘8-second’ rule?

Most property buyers lack imagination – myself included.

They only see what’s directly in front of them and are very quick to make up their mind.

You might have heard estate agents refer to the “8-second rule”.

The rule simply states it takes only 8 seconds for someone to decide they want to buy a property.

Whether it’s really that precise or not, I know I am guilty of forming quick judgments.

I imagine many other people are too.

You get an immediate feeling – sometimes it’s ‘wow, this is nice’, and sometimes it’s ‘argggghhh, get me out of here’.

Buying a property in France is primarily an emotional decision.

Most of the time, buyers are relying on ‘gut’ feelings, not logic.

With that in mind, it’s critical to give potential buyers of your French property a great first impression.

Below are 3 ways to improve the presentation of your property…

1. Create a kerb appeal

You hear property people mention ‘kerb appeal’ and it’s because many buyers are already noticing small details even before they have set foot on a property.

Here are some cheap and easy ways to maximise kerb appeal:

Have a nice sign or number for your property.
Plant some fresh shrubs or flowers.
Repair any steps or pathways.
Mow the lawn.
Clean the shutters and windows.
Brush away dirt and cobwebs.
Put a little two-seater bench in a nice spot.

All of the above can be done for a few hundred Euros at the most and will create a positive feeling when buyers arrive.

Photo of a French property showing the whole house. Various colourful flowers are in front of the property that are both pink, red and lavender. A little love can add a lot of value

2. Clear away the clutter

When I was selling my last house, I remember asking the agent “What would you like me to clear away?”.

He said “Everything…if that’s ok?”

I couldn’t believe it. I thought I had impeccable taste. In my kitchen, I even had one of those flash-looking Dualit toasters.

I said, “What, even the toaster?”. He said “Yep”.

The point is that buyers don’t want to see your things.

You are selling your property, not your stuff. Clearing away the clutter keeps the buyers’ focus on the property.

Buyers are trying to imagine themselves living the French dream – not imagining who is currently living there now.

Postcards on the fridge, dirty dishes, bills on the kitchen table, your amazing teaspoon collection – they’re all eyesores for buyers.

3. The quickest (and cheapest) way to add thousands

It’s no surprise that an orange ‘feature wall’ or tired, peeling wallpaper will put many people off.

However, walls recently painted in neutral colours appeal to just about everyone.

You see it time and time again: A quick paint job can transform a place.

It can turn a dark and creepy cave into a light and airy cottage.

Painting is one of the most effective ways to add thousands to your property.

While you can do the painting yourself, I’ve found painters are one of the more affordable tradespeople to hire.

Every time I’ve sold a property, I’ve had a painter give the high-traffic areas a refresh. I’ve not regretted it once.

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Why small repairs make a big difference to the sales price

If you’re a British expat selling property in France, there’s a pretty high chance that the potential buyer could also be a British expat.

British expats tend to be either retirees or those looking for a holiday home.

They are searching for a slice of the good life.

Repairs will put many buyers off.

If a potential buyer spots that you haven’t bothered to fix the obvious things, it will make them think there are far bigger issues lurking in the background.

Many buyers will just walk away and look elsewhere.

And those that remain interested are going to ask for a big price discount to compensate them for the cost of known (and unknown) repairs.

You don’t want your property to be marketed by your agent as a ‘development opportunity’.

That’s the kiss of death.

It’s a polite way of saying it’s in terrible condition. The “knock it down, start again” variety.

It’s always a better option for you to deal with noticeable flaws.

If you think about it, the seller is in a much better position to coordinate repairs than the buyer.

You have local knowledge and can more readily find a painter, plumber, electrician, builder, handyman, or whoever, to sort out any snags.

By keeping your French house in good condition, you won’t give a buyer an easy excuse to change their mind or renegotiate a large drop to the listed price.

Finding out what your French property is worth

I think it’s a good idea to get a feel for what your French property is worth before you start contacting estate agents.

You can always check out other properties for sale in your area using one of the big French property portals, such as Green Acres, French Property, Rightmove, or Cle France.

The tighter your search criteria, the better, because your area is a big factor in the sales price.

Another way to gauge the price trend in your area is to check out a new website launched in May 2019 by the French government’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The idea is to create greater price transparency in the French property market by giving everyone access to the information.

The way it works is you select your region and town from the drop-down menus and then download the data into an Excel spreadsheet.

It provides a comprehensive amount of price data stretching back to 1971 and shows how your area has performed relative to national and regional trends.

It may ultimately help agents to provide more accurate valuations for sellers as they will be able to access detailed data.

An easy way to spot a good estate agent

Let’s face it, estate agents aren’t the world’s most trusted profession.

But I think they can make a big difference to the sale process.

Like any industry, some agents do a lot better job than others.

To pick a good agent, I’ll always start by asking around. There’s nothing like a bit of ‘word of mouth’.

You aim to find out which agents get properties sold, not the ones with the most properties listed.

Once you have made a shortlist, meet them face-to-face. If they impress you, then chances are they will impress potential buyers too. It’s that simple.

I have tended to go for an agent that is well-presented, sincere, and confident.

When they visit your property, I like to see them looking around and noticing all the details. That’s because I want someone with a passion for property, not a salesperson.

What do French estate agents charge?

The commission rates for selling a property in France can be anything from 4% to 10%.

That’s a lot higher than the UK.

The highest commission rates would normally be payable on lower-valued properties because there is often just as much work – so the agent needs to make a reasonable fee.

Generally, higher-end French houses expect a 4%-5% commission.

Bear in mind; the agent’s commission rate is negotiable. It is not a regulated number.

As a tip, smaller independent agents are more likely to be open to negotiation than the large, national networks.

If your property is well-presented and in a decent location, it will also help you lower the agent’s fee.

The reason is the agent will think they can sell it quickly and easily, so should be more willing to accept a lower commission.

You will also be able to get a lower commission rate if you agree to sign exclusively with one agent.

Multi-agent rates in France tend to be higher as the agents normally agree to split the fee.

I have heard that some agents claim they will get the buyer to pay their commission, so you need to pay nothing. It’s one of those too-good-to-be-true sale pitches.

Don’t do it – in my view.

The buyer is already forking out for the property, the notary, and a whole bunch of taxes.

Adding the agent’s fee to the bill is rubbing salt into the wounds. All it will achieve is to send buyers off elsewhere.

My advice on negotiating tactics

The offer stage can be the most stressful stage for the buyer and the seller.

When you get an offer, it can feel like a high-stakes game of poker. Cucumber and mint water with ice.

I’m not a fan of hard-ball negotiations. The point is not to break the other side.

Stubborn negotiators often win the battle but lose the war – meaning they don’t give an inch but then miss out on the sale over a trivial amount. That’s a loss, not a win. You want to find the middle ground.

At the point of receiving an offer, the agent often acts as a counselor or confidant to you. It’s only human to turn to them and ask “What should I do?”. But I try and avoid doing this.

As a property seller, you shouldn’t assume the agent is on your side – even though you are paying their fee.

The primary motive of an agent is to get a deal done. That is their job. I don’t resent them for that.

At some earlier stage, your agent probably asked you why you are selling, when you need to sell, and what would be the minimum price you would accept. It’s not idle chit-chat.

What they are asking is “How desperate are you?”

I don’t like to reveal too much to an agent, so I keep my answers vague:

“We’ve been thinking about it for a while and decided it’s time to move on. I’m in no particular hurry. Let’s get it on the market and see what happens in terms of offers”. Autocue answers. Cards close to the chest.

When you get an offer, ask your agent about the buyer. Are they paying cash? How long have they been looking? How many viewings have they had? You are trying to assess their keenness.

If the price offered is way below what you’re asking, I have tended to tell the agent “It’s a polite no”. I don’t counter-offer on lowball bids. Let them come again.

If the price offered is near to what I want, I make a counteroffer – usually 24-48 hours later. I don’t want to rush back, but also want to keep things moving along.

Some people find negotiating the offer price awkward or risky. As long as you are polite about it and show a willingness to compromise, it can add thousands to your sale price.

I can’t account for every scenario. It will depend on how long you’ve been waiting and whether there’s been any other interest.

As a tip, set your listed price at 5% to 10% above what you think your property is worth. It then leaves room to negotiate. Most buyers love the feeling of getting something off the price (“Darling, that just paid for a new dishwasher and fridge. High five.”). Let them trim off the fat.

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How to sell a house in France quickly

Selling a house in France can drag on.

Finding a buyer can sometimes take many months.

Even after the pre-contract is signed, it still takes another 10-12 weeks for the process to complete.

One easy way you can speed up the process is to have all the paperwork ready.

You were a buyer once, so you know that the deal won’t get done until all the legal checks and queries are out of the way.

Your estate agent or legal representatives can help jog your memory if you don’t know what exactly you need to gather.

Having all the legal docs ready has a hidden benefit. Quick replies to the buyer’s questions, keep the sales process in motion.

Don’t forget; buyers will always have lingering doubts about whether your property is ‘the one’.

Most likely other agents keep calling them up with alternative properties to consider.

Buyers may also still keep an eye on any new listings as they come onto the market. Those property portals can be addictive.

A long, drawn-out sales process gives your buyer a greater opportunity to look elsewhere and potentially lose interest.

As they say in real estate: a quick sale is a good sale.

How to reduce the taxes on selling a French property

The standard tax rates on the gains from selling a French property are:

Capital Gains Tax: 19%
Social Charges: 17.2%
Total Tax: 36.2%

The tax rates above are the same, whether you are a resident or non-resident of France.

Note that since 2015, there is no longer a higher rate of tax for non-residents. Phew!

If the net gain on your property is greater than €50,000, you need to pay extra CGT. It is banded, starting at 2% extra and going up to 6% extra on gains over €250,000.

More importantly, there are also some useful allowable deductions to lower your tax bill.

Standard 7.5% deduction for buying costs

You are allowed to add a standard 7.5% to the purchase price to cover all buying costs, which will reduce your net gain.

If you spent money on your property for repairs/renovations, you can deduct those costs too (as long as you can provide invoices from a tradesman).

For property owned over 5 years, you are allowed a standard 15% allowance for repairs/improvements to the property.

All these allowances are added to the purchase price, not applied to the sales price.

No tax at all for a primary residence

Like in the UK, if your French property is your main home, then it is fully exempt from both CGT and Social Charges.

For the exemption to be applicable, you need to be registered to pay tax in France. If you move out, you are given a 1-year extension on the exemption as long as the property is on the market for sale and remains vacated (don’t rent it out). If you become a tax resident of the UK or another country outside France in the period, you could also lose the exemption.

Falling CGT & Social Charges after 5 Years

From the 6^th year onwards, you get a discount on the CGT and Social Charges paid.

CGT is discounted at 6% per year and Social Charges at 1.65%.

As an example; if you held your French property for 10 years, you would have a 30% discount on your CGT bill and an 8.25% discount on your Social Charges (no allowance in the first 5 years).

While the Notary will calculate all the taxes due, it might be worth your while to get some independent tax advice. It will hopefully more than pay for itself and keep you out of trouble too.

Turning the exchange rate to your advantage… could save you thousands

Most Brits selling property in France completely forget to think about the exchange rate.

It’s understandable.

Moving your money from France to the UK is often the final piece of the puzzle.

However, the Euro to Pound exchange rate can have a significant impact on the Pounds you will eventually receive in your UK bank account.

Even small, fractional moves in the rate can make a big difference in a property transaction.

If you use your bank to transfer your money from France to the UK, you could face charges of up to 5% of the money you send.

Using the example of selling a house in France for €140,000, that could cost you €7,000.

A currency broker can offer more competitive exchange rates and can keep an eye on the fluctuations in the exchange rate, letting you know when the rate moves in your favour.

With a currency broker, you can even protect yourself from currency risk during the sales process using something called a forward contract. It allows you to lock in an exchange rate in advance of completion.

So if you have already exchanged, but won’t receive the money from the sale for another 2-3 months, you can remove any currency risk during that period using a forward contract.

It will reduce your stress and worry, and enable you to work with a fixed budget if you are looking to buy a property in the UK.

You might find it helpful to read our article on How to Transfer Money from France to the UK.

Quick Summary

Here’s a summary of the advice and tips for selling your property in France:

Create kerb appeal (remember the 8-second rule)
Clear away your clutter – no offense
Consider a paint job – they’re cheap but effective
Do any obvious repairs – it pays off
Negotiate the agent’s fee (down)
Negotiate the sale price (up)
Get the paperwork ready – it will speed things up
Don’t miss out on any available tax deductions
Speak to a currency broker – we could save you thousands

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About Key Currency…and how we can help!

Hi, I’m one of the directors of Key Currency – a leading independent currency broker.

We’ve helped hundreds of people save time, stress, and money when they move their money back to the UK.

Having a good team of professionals to support you is a vital part of selling French property.

We can help you through the entire process, work alongside your notary, and even monitor the Euro to Pound exchange rate for you.

Our company has a 5-star “Excellent” rating on the customer rating website Trustpilot, based on over 2,500 reviews.

Key Currency is Authorised by the FCA (No.753989). As such, all our money transfers are conducted through a safeguarded client account – that’s especially important for those sending a large sum of money.

The earlier you get in touch with us, the sooner we can help.

Simply click the button below to request a free quote.

Get a free quote

Nationwide International Transfer (Fees & Process Explained)

Nationwide international transfer fee

Nationwide exchange rates (the more important charge!)

How long does Nationwide international payment take?

The information you will need

How to make an international payment with Nationwide

A trusted and helpful alternative: Key Currency

1. Tidy up and declutter (so obvious but so true)

2. Offer your furniture as a deal sweetener

3. Do the obvious repair jobs (this matters a lot)

4. Get the paperwork ready now (there’s a hidden benefit)

5. Negotiate the agent’s fee (down)

6. Speak to a currency broker (the exchange rate is important)

7. Avoid banker’s draft fees

Quick Summary

Who are we?

Heard of the ‘8-second’ rule?

1. Create a kerb appeal

2. Clear away the clutter

3. The quickest (and cheapest) way to add thousands

Why small repairs make a big difference to the sales price

Finding out what your French property is worth

An easy way to spot a good estate agent

What do French estate agents charge?

My advice on negotiating tactics

How to sell a house in France quickly

How to reduce the taxes on selling a French property

Turning the exchange rate to your advantage… could save you thousands

Quick Summary

About Key Currency…and how we can help!

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