Emma Roddick, Highlands and Islands SNP MSP has suggested Scotland could follow Spain in taking radical measures to tackle the housing crisis.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced plans this week to prioritise available homes for residents, by imposing a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-residents in countries outside the EU. – Spanish PM proposes up to 100% tax rate for non-resident non-EU nationals buying property
In a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, Emma Roddick asked the Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan MSP, whether the Scottish Government would consider pursuing similar measures in Scotland.
Commenting, Ms Roddick said:
“When there’s a housing crisis and unprecedented pressure, you need to take firm action to make sure people who want to live and work locally can still find a place to call home.
“It is reasonable to ask people with the money to purchase multiple houses, sight unseen, with no intention of visiting, let alone living there, to pay back into funds that will allow government to replace that housing stock.
“Scotland has a history of taking strong action on housing and we remain a leader in housing rights in the UK. We need to do more, now, to encourage the use of houses as homes.”
The housing plan announced in Spain includes 12 measures to tackle rising prices and availability including:
- to limit the purchase of homes by non-resident non-EU nationals by raising the property transfer tax to as much as 100% of the property’s value
- a legal amendment to establish a 100% tax exemption on IRPF (Personal Income Tax) for owners who rent according to the Reference Price Index
- the application of VAT to tourist flats in so-called tense housing areas
- the creation of a system of public guarantees to protect owners and tenants who participate in the affordable rental system