Licenses and bonding explained

In the travel industry we often talk about licensing and bonding but what does this mean to our clients and owners at Pure France

Real estate worldwide is covered by local laws. A house in France will always be subject to french law. Running a rental agency for french property is a regulated activity. The agency must have a government license, called a carte professionnelle, and a bond to guarantee clients’ money.

It does not matter where in the world the agency, the homeowner and the client are based. A company dealing with french property from another country still requires this certification. Being in the UK or USA does not put it beyond the reach of the gendarmes.

So, our competitors outside France, who trade without the necessary carte professionnelle, are operating in breach of french law and their clients are not protected by french consumer legislation.

The rules are there to protect clients and owners. They prevent the incompetent and dishonest from presenting themselves as reputable businesses.

Only those who demonstrate the necessary qualifications and experience can obtain the carte professionnelle and the bond. The directors of Pure France, Dan Jones and Hugh Atkins, each hold the carte and the company is bonded.

Bonding is insurance from an official body which protects clients‘ funds. As an agency we receive holiday-makers’ money and hold it on behalf of property owners. We keep this cash in a special client account which is separate from our own funds.

Our clients’ money is guaranteed by CGAIM, the french bonding authority. Other countries have their own bonding arrangements. The UK, for example, has its own bonding organisation, ABTA which covers british-registered travel operators.

Unlike owner-direct websites, PureFrance.com is a full service rental agency where clients’ funds are fully protected.