It has been reported that many people are becoming dissatisfied with life in Britain and are looking to move overseas. This used to be confined to those looking for a change in their retirement years or for those limited people who wanted to make a new start and moving overseas was often seen as a huge move. Not so these days with all corners of the globe becoming ever more accessible and most countries within a few hours reach.



For those wishing to move overseas before retirement, they need to have some form of income. Overseas business investments are always a dubious thing to get into unless you can take advise and be sure about what you are doing. However, the business of French leaseback is coming to the fore as a way of moving overseas and providing yourself with an income as well as a future investment.

French leaseback is less a business opportunity and more a term that covers several different types of businesses that come with distinct tax savings. To check out the advantages involved and to see if the move away from Britain was all it was cracked up to be, we caught up with a few overseas investors of French leaseback properties.

Mr and Mrs Davidson, formerly of Wakefield, moved to France in October 2001 after hearing of the benefits of French leaseback. They had been itching to move abroad for some time and after a fairly impressive win on the lottery, decided to invest in a care home in Provence. 'We have a regular income, we have made massive savings on tax and we love the work', says Mrs Davidson.

Her husband agrees, adding 'We looked into many types of business to invest in. We still have a lot of working years ahead of us but wanted something we felt would be worthwhile whilst not throwing our money into something we were unsure of. French leaseback allowed us to work with the elderly, who we have much respect for, and enjoy the life in a country we have come to love'.

Another fan of the French leaseback idea is Sarah Kingston. Originally, Mrs Kingston hails from London but after losing her husband in the conflict in Iraq, she felt the need to get away and start again. She took her husbands life insurance and invested it in something she knew her husband would be proud of. Young people.

'My husband was always talking of the help he wished he could give to young people in a world that is so difficult to get a leg up in' said Mrs Kingston. 'He was a great believer in a good education being the basis of all you would need in life and to this end, I have invested the insurance money in a large house in Paris where I let the rooms to students studying in nearby colleges and universities.

'I feel this is one way I can contribute to something my husband saw as important. That of being able to help young people on their path into life. I think helping others is the best way I can carry on his legacy as that is what he died doing.'

For people like the Davidson's and Mrs Kingston, French leaseback is a way of moving overseas for a fresh start and also ensuring that their money goes to good use and that they see a good return on it to ensure their own future income.