While most of us object to this tax, for various reasons not least because it may well be discriminatory under EU law, and not forgetting all the euros British holiday homeowners pour into France's coffers, at least it seems that the tax would be less than initially feared. As most Brits who buy in France tend to choose rural locations, rather than glitzier and pricier Riviera and Paris locations, for example, the notional rental values of their properties are really rather low, meaning the 20% of this value that would be payable as tax will also be fairly nominal. Of course, most people who own a holiday home in rural France aren't jetsetters, and haven't easily afforded their 'dream', as has been suggested, so any extra expense is bad news. Let's hope Sarkozy sees sense and puts this proposal where it deserves to be - in the bin!