Charity urges tax on empty properties

A PROPERTY tax should be urgently introduced to punish developers who delay in putting their empty housing stock into social use or on the market at a realistic rate, housing charityFocus Ireland has proposed.

The proposal was made in a detailed submission by the charity to the Government concerning the empty housing crisis.

Focus Ireland said the revenue raised from an empty property tax could be ring-fenced to help fund programmes which aim to provide secure housing for people in need.

Meanwhile, housing charity Respond said NAMA could help housing associations purchase ghost estates to deliver social housing.

Respond warned NAMA must deliver a “social dividend” to assist families who have been affected by the economic downturn.

There are an estimated 56,000 people on social housing lists, but this figure dates from 2008 and it is thought to far exceed that at present.

Respond spokesperson Aoife Walsh said it was vital the social housing sector is not forgotten.

“It could be argued that the only real housing market at the moment is the social housing market as private demand has been virtually wiped out,” she said.

“With local authority housing waiting lists increasing on a monthly basis,NAMA could help to increase supply through partnership with the voluntary housing sector.”

Respond maintains the sector could help to generate an income for NAMA.

“Through the new long-term leasing initiative proposed by the department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, social housing providers such as Respond could lease or purchase some of the so-called ghost estates,” Ms Walsh said.

Longer term, Respond maintains the vast land banks soon to be under the control of NAMA should be used for future social housing needs.