We retired last year and are starting to fly back and forth to spend more time at the house . When we are around we get fully involved in the gardening, mowing and strimming. When we are there you are free to take off for your own holidays or stay if you prefer.The apartment is private having it's entrance at the back of the house and there are extensive gardens/sitting areas.We have had a number of Guardians, including a Dutch couple who have been with us almost a year and a young couple Dutch/English who were with us three and half years , who started a successful business on site and then bought their own house locally to renovate. We are still close friends.
Our visitors don’t want to go home and tell us time here has ‘been good for their souls’
What we can offer:
In 2013 we created, with our builders, a self contained first floor apartment within this former farmhouse. Kay designed the apartment to a standard that we would be happy to occupy. It is well insulated and has independent top quality Haverland heaters in every room. It is light and airy with high ceilings and views of the Pyrenees and our neighbours lake from the sitting/dining/fitted kitchen room which runs the whole of the south side of the apartment. There is a double bedroom, bathroom (with shower and full sized bath tub) and a smaller room currently used as a study and for storage .
The Area
Wonderful nature. You are free to walk anywhere on our land.
Great walks in all directions from the property and in the surrounding countryside. Nearby, Castelnaudary 25 minutes (on the Canal Midi) is great for shopping, including 4 supermarkets for just about everything, good local hospital 20 mins, the historic city of Carcassonne about 45 mins, wonderful medieval Mirepoix about 25 mins with supermarket and many cafe's and restaurants, Cathar village Fanjeaux 15 mins (mini supermarket, bakery, butcher, cafe, pharmacy , doctors, petrol, church and lots of events).
Our ideal Sitters
A couple ,one of whom has horticultural skills. You need to be happy being by yourselves and living deep in the countryside. All our neighbours are farmers and a hill away in all directions. You need to enjoy being out of doors as approx one day a week would be spent maintaining the garden and grounds, mowing (ride on tractor or the walk behind mower) and quite a deal of strimming, will be the priority outside. You must be able to demonstrate competency with equipment (we will pay for fuel and any parts). All equipment will be provided by us and full training will be given. Watering, spraying, pruning, weeding small borders and pots as necessary. Be knowledgeable about plants or be willing to learn.
Airport pickup from Toulouse or Carcassonne (we will refund all costs). As much of the work in the garden is weather & season dependent there will be busy and then quieter times of the year.
Guardians pay for their own use of water, electricity, broadband and house taxes and are responsible for apartment consumables. Guardians must be resident full time and occupy the apartment at night unless the homeowners are present (an insurance requirement), open and close the main gates each day. There is an external CCTV system at the gate and covering all external doors.
Time away can be taken at any time when both homeowners are at the property.On average we visit every 2 months for 4-6 weeks at a time.
Some French would be very helpful in this rural area.
Check electric fence is upright if a neighbours cows or horses are in our fields.
Keep in touch via Zoom,Whats App and . We want to know that you are OK, answer any questions, deal with any problems if they should arise.
We always take time to meet and show the property, trial the equipment and discuss the sit in detail with our prospective sitters.We will be interviewing at the property in France from early June 2023 - mid July 2023
Considerations:
This property stands alone surrounded by our own land and neighbours fields. You are not on the edge of a village or hamlet. A car is essential, this is a rural location, there is no public transport.
No pets. No smoking in apartment. Quality references .Police checks required
We have testimonials from our sitters either on this site, Mind My House and .