Thomas Gould
Question:313. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is an obligation on a property owner to pay outstanding derelict site levies upon the sale of a property. [62505/21]
View answerThursday, 16 December 2021
Questions (313)
Written answers
Where monies are owed under the derelict site levy, including any interest chargeable for late payment, they become a charge on the land concerned under section 24 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) until they are paid. Where the ownership of the land on which the levy is due is transferred, such as on foot of being sold, the local authority must be notified under section 29 of the Act. When a local authority is notified by any person of a transfer of land or an interest in land, it shall cause the appropriate entry in the register to be amended. These are statutory provisions under the Act and the levy remains a charge on the land until it is paid by the registered owner.
Section 23 of the Act enables local authorities, at their discretion, to provide that levy due may be paid by instalments. Section 26 of the Act further provides that local authorities may, at their discretion and for a specified period, temporarily suspend payment of the levy on hardship grounds but that the levy due shall remain a charge on the land and the registered property owner after that specified period until the amount due is paid.