Gîtes, furnished rentals, guest rooms… All owners must pay an annual lump sum of 198.01 euros, at the risk of receiving a fine.
Many vacation rental owners are wondering about a mysterious letter from Sacem. The Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers claims copyright. And it’s not a scam.
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This device concerns lessorsfurnished accommodation, bed and breakfast, gitesand hotels, which provide their customers with a television, radio or CD player. The Sacem specifies on its site that the owners must subscribe to an annual flat rate of 198.01 euros excluding taxes, in order to distribute works in the rooms and common areas, “without any restriction“. This price applies to “anyone declaring their broadcasts in advance», thus benefiting from a reduction of 20%.
Some people find themselves in a misunderstanding, having to pay the television license fee in addition to Sacem. Neela, a former owner of bed and breakfasts in Metz, recalls a visit to the organization six years ago: “One morning, I see a man arrive at my house, drawing a Sacem card. At the time, I didn’t even know what this company was. He wanted to check if I had a television or a radio in my establishment.»
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Neela wonders because she only has one television, hers, in the common living room. “I called Sacem to be sure it was not a scam and I paid a little less than two hundred euros“, she specifies. The former owner also indicates that after the closure of her establishment, letters from Sacem continued to arrive in her mailbox, having to call the company back to report the cessation of its activities. According to her, the payment of these rights by individuals “is not at all understandable” and “shouldn’t even exist“.
Fine of up to 300,000 euros
For the most recalcitrant owners, Sacem sends a reminder of “legal compliance“, specifying the case law of the Court of Cassation. In the event of refusal, the penalty incurred entails a fine of up to 300,000 euros. “Our approach is legal, it responds to a mission of general interest enshrined in the Intellectual Property Code“, mentions to the Parisian Jean Félix Choukroun, director of customer service at Sacem. According to him, it is neither a tax nor a royalty. “In the case of a seasonal rental, this represents 105 to 110 days of rental on average per year, it amounts to 2 euros per day, it remains reasonable“, he delays. Jean Félix Choukroun warns that the 150 Sacem agents “are authorized to legally enter homes between two rentals to verify the existence of a television or radio“.
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As for hoteliers, they are delighted with this measure: “We pay this contribution, why Airbnb or other renters would not pay it? Anything that goes in the direction of restoring the balance between us is good“, emphasizes to Parisian Patrice Haultcoeur, general secretary of the Union of hotel trades and industries (Umih) of Hauts-de-France. For those who no longer wish to pay Sacem fees, they are encouraged to withdraw their positions and swear to it, which “no one will come to check“, assures some Internet users on social networks.
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