Services
Electricity
The house is supplied with mains electricity by EDF. The main distribution box and fuse board is in a discreet cupboard in the Living Room.
Water
The house is supplied with main water by Lyonaise Des Eaux, arriving at the property in the cupboard in the Kitchen. The water meter is just outside in the front garden and there is an outside tap by the back door.
There is also an electric pump in the Workshed that provides well water for watering the garden etc.
Gas
There is no mains gas supply, so the gas cooker is powered by butane gas bottles. Replacement bottles are available from the Proxi in Foussais, and are widely available in supermarkets.
Sanitation
Like many rural French homes, there is no mains drainage to the house. Instead there is a fosse septique – a septic tank – which is in good working order, having been emptied and cleaned in June 2011.
Television
There is an ariel on the roof which is capable of picking up French digital terrestrial channels when combined with a suitable TV or set-top box. There is also a satellite dish, capable of picking up UK channels when combined with a suitable receiver. Connections to both of these are available in the corner of the Living Room.
Telephone
The house has a France Telecom line, currently active, and most mobile phone networks have coverage at the house.
Internet
The house is supplied with 10MBps internet, currently provided for us by UK Telecom, whom we would recommend.
Heating
The house was equipped with a brand new heating system in September 2010. The new system is an electric heat-pump system, which is very efficient and eco-friendly. There are radiators in every room in the main living space, and they all work very well. We have noticed a huge difference both in cost and comfort since changing form the old oil-powered heating we had originally.
