Liz Murphy and her husband David swapped the UK for an entire hamlet in France, joining forces with her parents to buy six 400-year-old houses, two barns, and three acres of land in Poitou-Charentes, south-west France.
The Move to Lac De Maison
The family purchased the rural hamlet of Lac De Maison four years ago for £450,000. Liz sold her £400,000 three-bedroom home in Manchester, while her mother Helen sold her four-bedroom property. Together, they bought the hamlet and have since turned three properties into holiday homes sleeping 19 people, renovated their own home, and extended the parents' house.
Liz, a business owner from Altrincham, said: "Now we've had five years really with lots of renovations and building work tackling issues and problems but now we're able to sit back a bit – not relax but actually enjoy ourselves a bit more. It's really nice."
Family Benefits
The couple moved with their children Tom, 14, and Charlotte, 10, in December 2020. Previously trapped in the "rat race" with busy nine-to-five jobs, they now enjoy daily contact with Helen and her husband Terry, who also moved. Liz added: "The kids lived in Manchester and mum and Terry in Nottingham. We'd see them once every couple of months but now the kids get to see them every day."
Helen, a retired senior practice nurse aged 76, said: "It was a big surprise in many ways. I've always loved France and always wanted to be here, so Terry and I decided on a big adventure and to go for it."
Lifestyle and Cost Comparisons
The family appreciates the French lifestyle. Helen noted: "I think the ambience of France is less stressful than the UK. We are very much in a country with not much to do, but I love the laid-backness of it." Terry, a retired computer programmer, added: "We liked the idea of a French lifestyle. It's easier going over here, it has a nice culture and everywhere is spotlessly clean."
Regarding costs, Terry said: "It's very difficult to make a fair comparison between the cost of living in France as opposed to the UK as our circumstances have completely changed. However I think that the price of food stuffs is roughly equivalent. Our electricity bill is high but that should reduce dramatically now we have solar panels." He also noted that the French tax system is better for pensioners, with tax deductions for employing a cleaner, gardener, or caregiver.
Renovations and Future Plans
The family lives mortgage-free but spent more than expected on renovations. Liz explained: "Everything we are putting into it is to future proof it for others when they want to come and live here. It was blood sweat and tears but worth it in the end." They plan to downsize to a smaller property to help care for Helen, whose health is worsening, but intend to stay together as a family unit.
