TV licence increased €4, second home idea dropped

THE French government will not force owners of second homes to pay for a television licence for the property.

Instead it will increase the fee on the regular TV licence by four euros from 2013, pushing the price up to €129 a year.

As part of this year's budget the idea of charging second home owners a 50% rate for a licence was proposed, but the prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has turned his back on the idea.

This come despite a junior finance minister supporting the plan and Socialist members of parliament putting forward the proposal.

The TV licence, or la redevance audiovisuelle, is collected through your tax d’habitation, although those on very low incomes, or over a certain age or sufferers of certain illnesses, are exempt.