'Land-hoarders' - Only 3.5% of vacant sites liable for Vacant Homes Tax
Waterford City and County Council reported 1,867 vacant sites, yet only 66 were deemed liable for the Vacant Homes Tax ni 2025.
A recent report has revealed that only 3.5% of vacant homes were liable for the Vacant Homes tax.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) confirmed that Waterford has 1,867 vacant dwellings. Of that figure, only 66 have self-assessed as being liable for the tax.
Waterford City has a multitude of vacant and derelict sites scattered, including Clarendon Court on Penrose Lane which has laid idle for over a decade.
Waterford TD Conor McGuinness (Sinn Féin) pointed criticism at Fianna Fáil/ Fine Gael for the inconsistency. He commented: "Statewide, the CSO have identified over 70,000 vacant homes, but only 2,361 were self-assessed as liable for the Vacant Homes Tax in 2025.
“While some may not be eligible, we know that there are speculators and land-hoarders laughing all the way to the bank because of the weak actions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
“I am contacted every single day by people who see empty homes in their communities. They see them fall into disrepair and often they contact me because they, or someone they love, does not have access to secure and affordable accommodation. Leaving homes to rot in a housing crisis is akin to hoarding food in a famine.
“This is particularly visible in villages and towns across Waterford, where vacancy is hollowing out communities and holding back local development.
“The Vacant Homes Tax is a failure. That is the reality. There is no excuse for tens of thousands of potentially liable homes not paying this tax.
The Deputy offered further criticism towards fellow Waterford TD John Cummins and the Housing Minister James Browne. He said: “The government is all carrot and no stick. They do not believe in penalising those who leave homes to rot in our communities because they are more interested in tax breaks for developers and speculators. It begs the question what exactly Ministers John Cummins and James Brown are doing in the Department of Housing, because it is clearly not delivering houses or tackling vacancy.”
TD David Cullinane stated: "It is clear that providing grants will only go so far. What Waterford needs now is a Vacant Homes Tax that penalises those who choose to leave homes to rot in a housing crisis.
"This problem is also stark in Waterford city centre, where vacancy continues to undermine the potential of the urban core and leaves streets underused while people struggle to find a place to live."
