Housing is a Human Right

Vacancy and dereliction are a blight on our urban and rural communities. While thousands of people across the country cannot access secure housing, thousands of properties are lying vacant.

 

This Government’s housing strategy has failed.

We need urgent action to tackle dereliction and bring vacant homes back into use. We in Labour have a plan to increase housing supply, reinvigorate our urban centres, and meet our climate targets.

 

Vacant Homes

Calculations as to the number of vacant homes in Ireland vary depending on what source is used.

While 57,206 properties are vacant according to Local Property Tax returns, census estimates are much higher at 166,752, not including 66,135 seasonal holiday homes. The CSO has also published vacancy figures based on electricity usage which show a far higher number of vacant properties than what is reported by local property tax reports.

There are approximately 37,000 homes that have become vacant since 2016. These are homes that could be easily returned to the housing market with a combination of incentives and punitive measures.

The Government has implemented a vacant homes tax of three times the Local Property Tax of the property. However, the tax does not go far enough to disincentivise vacancy.

For bigger companies who are speculating on property, simple taxation may not be enough to prevent them from keeping property vacant. We need more punitive measures to get vacant home back into our housing supply.

 

Vacant Sites

The vacant sites register lists sites which are suitable for housing but have not been put forward for development. A site can be added to the vacant sites register when the local authority decides that the property has been vacant for 12 months or more. The local authority must give written notice to the owner, of their intention to include a site on the register. Currently the vacant sites levy sits at 7% of the market value of the property.

The Residential Zoned Land Tax will replace the vacant sites levy in 2024. The Residential Zoned Land Tax will apply to land which has not been developed for housing, but is serviced and zoned for residential development. The tax will be 3% of the market value of the land and it will be collected by Revenue.

The vacant site levy is not working and needs to ensure that sites that are suitable for housing are developed to create homes for people.

Derelict Sites

The Derelict Sites Act defines a derelict site as any land that “detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of:

• Structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or
• The neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or of structures on it, or
• The presence, deposit or collection of litter, rubbish, debris or waste

The Derelict Sites Levy is 7% of the market value of the home.

Let us know about any derelict or vacant homes in your area here