British couple bought entire French village because it was cheaper than a flat in UK

In case you haven't heard, it's pretty much impossible for young people in the UK to buy a home these days.

Unless you've got the bank of mum and dad behind you, or you're willing to spend huge amounts on a one-bed flat in London, then you're probably still paying ever-increasing rent prices.

While first-time buyers were recently given a boost following an announcement by the Bank of England, there's still a lot of saving involved if you want to make a home your own.

We've seen some people abandon their homes in the UK for rooms aboard a cruise ship in recent weeks, but one couple have now gone one step further by purchasing a village in France.

Ben outside his new home (SWNS)

Ben Pearson, 39 and his husband Nathan, 31 have both dreamt of moving to France ever since they came across an abandoned farmhouse in this remote area of the holiday hotspot in Sainte Seguros.

After lots of paperwork, the duo were handed the keys in December 2024 to what is essentially a whole village, given that it includes five outbuildings and two hectares of land.

They picked it up for just £80k, and a quick look at Rightmove will give you an impression of the sorts of properties that would get you back in England.

Spoiler alert, they don't include such a significant amount of land, or five different buildings.

There's plenty of work still to be done (SWNS)

Ben, from Hull, said: "It's getting out of the 9 to 5 rat race in England. There is no way we could afford something like that in the UK.

"You can barely buy a flat for £80k. It's a nicer way of life - there is no running around. It will be a peaceful life and no stress - once it is built."

Meanwhile, Nathan, an English tutor, added: "When we dreamed of a simpler life, we somehow ended up buying a small village - we wouldn't change it for the world."

Now, it must be said that there are some significant caveats that come with buying the property from the 1600s, in that it currently doesn't having a functioning toilet, heating and just one working tap.

It's practically a whole village (SWNS)

Nathan said: "It's the oldest property in the little commune. The main house is early 1800s and the farmhouse is 1600s. There were old pots and pans, mason jars all left on the shelves."

The married couple, who've been documenting the process on their Instagram and YouTube page @frenchfarmhouserenowithwine, now plan to renovate the property following Ben's retirement in July and live from a caravan until works are completed, with future plans to rent out the adjourning properties on Airbnb once everything is ready.

While that could cost them well over £100k, the two are looking forward to their new recluse in France.

"This is the sort of thing we'd been looking for." Ben said. "We never dreamed it would come true."