Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
256 Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to amend the non-principal private residence levy in order that landlords that have split a house into multiple dwellings are not charged as if each dwelling is a separate house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7241/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2009, the Government decided to broaden the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on all non-principal private residences. The charge is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential properties that are not the owner's sole or main residence. The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, which sets out the detail of the charge, defines residential property as including flats, apartments and bedsits. The €200 charge is payable on each unit of accommodation used, or suitable for use as a separate dwelling, whether or not any amenity or facility in the building or premises may be shared. Therefore, the owner of a house split into a number of bedsits is liable for the charge on each unit in that house. When the Bill was being debated in the Oireachtas, the view was taken that this was the fairest approach. I have no plans to amend the charge on non-principal private residences in this respect presently but I will take the views of the Deputy into account in any future assessment of the charge.
