It is now easier to buy a second home in France, whatever your budget

That dream of buying a French chateau could come closer to reality this year thanks to a new change in immigration rules. The French parliament has passed laws allowing British second home owners to spend at least six months of the year in France without the need for a visa.

This is a drop from post-Brexit rules, which meant that the only way you could legally stay in France for 90 out of 180 days was to obtain a long-stay visa – a process that was often complicated and required applicants to at least Cost £85 each time.

The amendment is expected to be approved by the French Constitutional Council this spring. It could herald a renewed interest among British buyers looking to spend time abroad.

Joanna Leggett, marketing director at French estate agent Leggett Immobilier International, said: 'The rule change is already creating a surge of interest from second home bargain hunters in a market where there are many great opportunities. Anyone who starts looking now can benefit from the new legislation at the time of purchase.'

Leggett added: 'The romance of buying a castle is huge – interest has increased eightfold following the success of TV shows such as Channel 4's Escape To The Chateau. It is a particularly attractive option for those looking to a second home where they may live for a few months a year – and rent it out at other times. But while your heart shouldn't rule your head, there's still a lot of wonderful choice out there.”

The appeal is obvious. For the average house price in Britain of £290,000, you can buy a modest castle in France, even though it needs work. But if you stretch the budget, add the turrets and moat with a vineyard.

You can buy a 15th century medieval castle overlooking the Pyrenees for £316,000; a majestic ten-bedroom 19th-century chateau in the Loire Valley for £450,000; or push the boat out with a £1.5 million modernized 18th-century castle in south-west France with elegant gardens and a one-hectare vineyard.

An alternative is to buy a castle apartment, such as a £150,000 luxury two-bedroom retreat in the south-west, with shared pool and tennis courts.

Jack Harris, of international estate agent Knight Frank, said: 'There are stunning opportunities for castle hunters, especially in the South West.

'The region's international airport in Toulouse and major improvements to rail service and internet connections only add to its appeal. Whether it's a labor of love stamping your own designs on a castle in need of renovation – or you simply want to make cosmetic changes – there's no shortage of options on the market.”

Shopping is made easy thanks to websites such as French-Property.com, Frenchestateagents.com, Knightfrank.co.uk and My-French-House.com, which allow you to explore hundreds of castles for budgets from £100,000 to £1 million or more. Leggett says: 'During lockdown we saw an increase in the number of people buying property sight unseen – but my advice is that you have to go there to get a feel for the place. Buyers often say they want a rural retreat, but still want a bakery and bar, ideally within walking distance, plus a nearby town. Airport and train connections are also essential considerations.”

However, before you get carried away, make sure you crunch the numbers as there will likely be significant ongoing costs once you own the property. 'Doer-uppers' can quickly become a money pit if there is poor plumbing, no central heating and the house needs new wiring and shell work.

The French government also has energy tariff restrictions for renting out properties – which could have consequences if you buy a draughty castle. Currently, homes must meet a minimum energy label G, but this will be tightened to level F early next year. There are also taxes you have to pay. Every year there is a 'taxe d'habitation' for second home owners, averaging €772 (£664) for a house and €941 (£808) for an apartment.

But the total cost can be much higher, as councils can add hefty surcharges – from 5 to 60 percent. A total of 3,399 municipalities may apply a surcharge and more may follow. Do your research to find out what it would cost you.

Adding to the burden is a 'taxe fonciere' property tax, which is paid regardless of whether you live in the property, it is vacant or rented. It is based on the rental value of a property and can usually amount to up to 17 percent of this amount per year.

There is also a 'taxe d'enlevement des ordures menageres' (TEOM) waste collection tax, which typically amounts to €124 (£107) per year per person.

Buying the property also entails administrative burdens and various costs.

Tres jolie: house with pool in Duras, near Bordeaux, priced at £219,000

You usually have to engage a local 'notaire' – notary. They removed the need for a lawyer for both a buyer and a seller, as in Britain, and as locals they need to understand property paperwork and deal with issues such as conveyancing and land ownership, as well as any language barriers.

Notary fees are deducted from the notary costs – often between 7 and 10 percent of the purchase price. This includes taxes, transfer fees and stamp duty.

There is also an 'honoraires' broker's fee of usually 5 to 10 percent of the sales price that must be paid. This is often included in the purchase price. Leggett says: 'Traditionally the fee was always paid by the buyer, but you need to check this because nowadays the seller sometimes pays this bill.' If you need to take out a mortgage to buy the property in France, you will need a French rather than a British lender. For this you must borrow money in euros. So you are exposed to changes in the exchange rate.

Beautiful: This castle in Poitou-Charentes is for sale for £850,000

You will normally be offered a longer term fixed term deal of ten years or more than in the UK, but the rates are comparable. Typically, you'll pay about 4 percent for a 15-year loan on an 80 percent loan to value.

Once you've gotten through all these loopholes, consider renting out all or part of your dream castle to help pay some of those bills. One of the most popular ways is to rent out a furnished holiday home. With so much choice on the market you need to stand out to attract customers – so a castle helps.

Reduction of double taxation means that you do not pay tax on your income in either France or Great Britain. Rentals in France are taxed at 20 percent up to €27,519 (£23,764) per year – and at 30 percent on amounts above this level. But you can also use costs, such as maintenance, to offset the final bill. You are advised to pay an accountant to help you complete tax returns in France and to ensure that you do not pay double for receiving income in Britain.

Websites such as Gites de France and Airbnb can give an idea of ​​the prices charged – and a place to advertise your chateau. Gites receives a 10 percent discount on all bookings – or 4.5 percent if you are willing to pay €109 per year. Airbnb charges a 'host-only fee' of 14 to 16 percent.

You might also consider paying an agent a management fee of 5 to 10 percent of rental income, who can take care of the property and keys when you're not there. Cleaning usually costs €15 per hour.