**British Couple Purchase French Hamlet for €80,000—”Less Than a UK Flat”**
In a remarkable move to overhaul their lives, a British couple have left the confines of the UK’s property market and the pressures of daily working life behind, opting instead to buy what they describe as a ‘French village’ for only €80,000. Ben Pearson, aged 39, and his husband Nathan, 31, saw their dream of a gentler, more rural lifestyle come true when they secured a centuries-old farmhouse and a cluster of outbuildings in the tranquil hamlet of Sainte Segros.
The couple, who hail from Hull in East Yorkshire, had long harboured fantasies of starting anew in France. After some years of house-hunting, their persistence paid off when a neglected property, set on two hectares of land, made its way back onto the market. The price they paid—just over £68,000 at current exchange rates—represents a fraction of the cost of even the smallest flats in many parts of the UK.
Obtaining the keys in December 2024, Ben and Nathan found themselves not only the owners of a farmhouse dating as far back as the 1600s, but also inheritors of five substantial outbuildings. Their vision is to restore the main house into a comfortable three-bedroom residence, while eventually renovating the additional structures to serve as guesthouses or short-term lets.
Ben, an engineer with the RAF, explained their motivations: “We were yearning for escape from the perpetual treadmill of nine-to-five in England. Opportunities like this are simply out of reach in the UK—you’d struggle to buy a bedsit for the same money.” He added that they are attracted by the prospect of a stress-free and more rewarding lifestyle: “Here, life promises to be more peaceful, with room to breathe.”
Nathan, who works as an English tutor, shared his delight at the adventure: “When we thought of a simpler existence, we never guessed we’d end up buying what amounts to a small village. We wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything.” The pair are starting their new chapter not entirely unprepared; Ben’s mother, Karen Pearson, has herself lived locally in France for the past decade, possibly smoothing the couple’s transition.
The couple had noticed the property on earlier visits to Karen’s village but were not ready to commit to such a change until more recently. Three years ago, they began searching in earnest for their ideal retreat, and when the farmhouse became available again, they wasted no time in making an offer. The process was not without its trials, as they spent two years navigating French bureaucracy, waiting in suspense as paperwork slowly progressed.
The state of the property is as challenging as it is enchanting. The main building boasts original features, some dating back to the early 1800s, although it currently lacks basic amenities—there is just a single water tap, no plumbing, and heating is limited to a solitary open fireplace.
Nevertheless, Ben and Nathan are undeterred by the scale of renovation required. Ben expects to finish his current employment by July before relocating full-time to France, where they will initially live in a caravan on-site while making the main house habitable. The to-do list is daunting: a new roof, heating system, and septic tank are just the start, and they hope to carve out a liveable room within the first six months.
An eye for heritage guides their plans. Nathan mentioned their intention to “honour the grandeur” of their new home, even considering framing some of the historical documents left in the farmhouse. The couple have budgeted £100,000 to begin restoring the estate, acknowledging that such projects often encounter unforeseen costs.
Despite the challenges ahead, Ben and Nathan are buoyed by a sense of community. “Even in the nearest town, people are notably warm and welcoming,” Nathan observed, addressing widespread stereotypes about provincial France. Ben echoed this optimism: “This is exactly what we had hoped to find, though we never truly believed it would become reality.”
Their story is already inspiring others. Through social media, they are chronicling their journey of transformation—a testament to the possibilities that arise when one dares to dream beyond the ordinary, especially at a time when home ownership in the UK remains out of reach for so many.