Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
344. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what powers local authorities have to ensure that units in apartments controlled or owned by investment funds are not kept deliberately vacant; if vacant homes officers are allowed to investigate the level of vacancy in apartment complexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52518/23]
View answerAddressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.
As part of the Vacant Homes Action Plan, a new CPO Activation Programme was launched in April. The Programme supports a proactive, planned and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant and derelict properties which they have identified, bringing them back into use as homes. It also includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.
Overall, there is a target of 4,000 properties entering the CPO Activation Programme in 2023. Of these, a target of 400 has been set for properties to enter the compulsory acquisition process, where engagement with the owner has not resulted in the vacant or derelict property being brought back into use. Individual targets have been set for each local authority for 2023.
A Vacancy Survey project, supported by the Department commenced in December 2022, the objective of which is to capture data on the number of vacant dwellings in each local authority. The information captured through the survey provides each local authority with a database of vacant and derelict properties, which can be added to on an on-going basis, when vacant properties are identified, including those in apartment complexes. This can be used by local authorities to commence work to activate those properties, engaging with owners and communicating with them regarding the schemes available to support bringing them back into use. It is acknowledged however, that gaining access to apartment complexes to identify and investigate vacancy does pose challenges.
With the introduction of the Vacant Homes Tax, the State now has the power to levy a tax on vacant properties. The key objective of the tax is to encourage the owners of vacant residential properties to bring those properties back into use. The tax applies to residential properties, including apartments, which are occupied for less than 30 days in a twelve-month period. The first chargeable period for Vacant Homes Tax is 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023. The first self-assessed returns were due on 7 November this year and the tax will be payable on 1 January 2024. In Budget 2024, the Minister for Finance announced that the rate of the Vacant Homes Tax will increase from three times to five times the property’s existing base Local Property Tax charge. The increase will take effect from the next chargeable period, commencing on 1 November 2023.
