A proposed property tax for non-resident property owners will not now proceed. After a cabinet meeting in Paris this afternoon, French Transport Minister Thierry Mariani announced that the measure has been scrapped.

The unpopular proposal, particularly criticised by French nationals living abroad, was contained in a bill designed to modernise the French wealth tax (ISF), by increasing the minimal thresholds. The new tax would have affected 360,000 properties (out of a total of 3.2m).

The amount of the proposed tax was to be based on the Taxe Foncière (land tax) amount - in effect a double taxe foncière. Exempt properties would be holiday homes that were rented (although the precise nature of the rental contracts was not specified).

Thousands of foreign owners of property in France can breathe a sigh of relief tonight.

Donal Warde is the owner of Warde Property based in Nice

Alternative mortgage is a gamble There really is only one thing to do when you set your heart on a dream holiday home in the south of France and your bank refuses to lend you the money. READ MORE

New Property Law - scores on the doors, roofs and windows, please. On January 1st 2011 a Grenelle energy law was passed; the new and improved GRENELLE 2. That's deux, not duh, perlease. READ MORE

Legal Matters - Do you have a favourite child? The great new news and a little known 'secret' is that if you particularly favour one of your children you can now express your affection properly; as in inheritance-wise. READ MORE