Clare County Council Issues Reminder To Owners Of Second Properties

The charge, which has been introduced under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, is set at an annual rate of 200 Euro for 2009 per residence but late payment can incur a significant fee. The Council, under the instruction of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has advised that a 20 Euro late payment fee will apply in respect of each month or part of a month during which the charge remains unpaid.

The charge applies mainly to owners of private rental property and holiday homes. It also applies to vacant residential property, unless newly built, but unsold. The fee is payable by the owner(s) of the NPPR to the Local Authority in whose area the property concerned is located.

Ms Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer, Finance Department of Clare County Council, has advised property owners to determine and declare their liability to the NPPR charge as soon as possible.

Commenting on the background to the new charge, she stated: "The Act provides for a new annual charge on certain residential property. It also provides that no charge has to be paid on a residential property where the property in question is the 'sole or main residence' of the owner concerned. Essentially, a non principal private residence is any dwelling owned by a person, which is not the owner's normal home."

Ms. Greene said property owners should submit payment before 31st October to avoid incurring additional fees. She added that any unpaid charges and penalties might adversely affect any future sale or transfer of the property.

"The Act provides that, if a charge is not paid within a month after the last date for payment, a late payment fee will apply for every month or part of month that the 200 Euro charge remains unpaid. For 2009, this means that the late payment fee will apply to all payments made after 31 October 2009. The late payment fee will continue to roll up as long as the charge remains unpaid and the amount involved can be substantial", explained Ms Greene.

Any person in any doubt about the liability of their property should contact Clare County Council at 065-6821616 or nppr@clarecoco.ie. Further information is available from the website www.nppr.ie, where the charge may be paid. Clare County Council is also accepting completed NPPR registration forms with payment by cheque or bank draft.

-ENDS-

Note To Editor:
- Ms. Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer, Finance, is available for interview and further comment. To arrange please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

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