German court rules married couples must pay dual broadcasting fees

The Administrative Court of Koblenz has ruled that marriage does not exempt a couple from paying separate broadcasting fees (Rundfunkbeitrag) for two different residences. The court dismissed a lawsuit filed by a woman who shared two houses with her husband but maintained different primary residences for registration purposes.

Because the couple did not register a single joint primary residence or designate one as a secondary residence, the court determined that both properties were subject to the fee. At the current rate of 18.36 euros per month, the two residences combined cost 36.72 euros monthly, totaling 440.64 euros per year.