A NORTHSIDE senator has called for a new property tax relief to be introduced for home and apartment owners living in managed estates and developments.
Senator Averil Power (FF) said the property tax was introduced by the Government to
“supposedly
? fund a range of services provided by local authorities.
“Up to now the Government has kept all of the revenue collected through the tax but next year local councils are to receive 80 per cent of the funds collected for local services,
? she told Northside People.
“However, for thousands of people in managed apartment blocks and housing estates in Dublin, they’re paying on the double because they don’t come under the council’s remit for these services.
“I believe these property owners who have to pay high management fees should get some relief on their annual property tax bill.
“At the moment they’re paying through their property tax for services already covered in their management fees.
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Senator Power said the introduction of a new property tax relief would be important for thousands of home and apartment owners, many of whom are in significant negative equity and are facing mounting bills.
“This would be a fair change in the property tax regime which remains fundamentally unfair and anti-Dublin in its current form,
? she argued.
“Fianna Fáil is seeking to bring forward reasonable and constructive proposals that provide some relief for people struggling to make ends meet. This is one such measure.
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Senator Power added:
“We will be publishing more detail in the new year about how we see this change being brought forward to ease the property tax burden.
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A spokeswoman for the Department of Finance said revenue from the Local Property Tax accrues to local authorities and supports the provision of local services which include road maintenance and cleaning, street lighting and emergency services.
“The benefits of these services accrue to all members of society,
? she told Northside People.
“Properties in managed estates, to which such fees apply, would have been purchased by their owners in the knowledge that they would be taking on commitments to partake in, and to fund, the management of the estate, and that it was the intention that many such estates would not be taken in charge by local authorities, nor would it be appropriate for local authorities to do so.
“Management fees in these estates can include services such as refuse collection and maintenance of common areas, as well as a sinking fund for certain r pairs to the buildings, depending on circumstances.
“These are costs which home-owners in other households have to fund themselves for their own properties.
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The spokeswoman said the introduction of the LPT was part of a broader approach to the taxation of property.
“The Government decided that the LPT should be centred on the principles of equity, transparency and simplicity; and that a universal liability should apply to all owners of residential property with a limited number of exemptions,
? she stated.
“Limiting the exemptions available allows the rate to be kept to a minimum for those liable persons who do not qualify for an exemption.
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