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Decision to apply property tax to houses built from 2013 criticised

Wednesday, 2 June 2021 07:22

The Government's proposals for changes to the property tax system have been labelled 'crazy' and 'bizarre' by the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation. 

It's after the government yesterday decided homes built since 2013 will no longer be exempt from the annual charge. 

It'll mean about another 100,000 households will get bills for the first time early next year. 

It comes as experts warn that house prices in Cork could rise by up to 7% as Covid restrictions are lifted 
The Irish Examiner reports that Goodbody says trends like working from home, pent up demand and additional savings built up by those at work during the pandemic are also influencing the housing market and driving prices up 

David Hall, from the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, says it's the wrong time to make a change to the Local Property Tax 

"It's the wrong call at this time, when many people have health priorities and financial priorities following on from the pandemic.

"The numbers are absolutely clear, so many hundreds of thousands of people are still affected by the pandemic, still have their employment affected, still requiring government supports.

"To hit them with a further tax during such uncertainty is crazy."

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