The city of Laval is hunting for empty premises and apartments. Two taxes A tax on vacant housing and a tax on commercial wasteland in the city center were introduced and voted on during the Laval city council on Monday evening, as part of the municipality’s “Action heart of the city” approach.
Commercial wasteland tax is set at 10% the first year, 15% the second and 20% from the third year. The goal is to revitalize the urban fabric according to the town hall, this tax concerns “property which, by nature, is liable to property tax and relates in particular to office buildings or commercial activity” but “it is not due when the non-use is independent of the will of the person liable” mentions the explanatory document provided by the town hall. “I fear that this deliberation will be badly perceived”defends the opposition, “fear that it will be understood as a bad signal”. The majority, via Antoine Caplan, Deputy Finance, responds that “It’s not a tax to make profit” but to encourage revitalization of the city center. “You said that your municipality will not impose new taxes or new taxes, there are two new ones this [lundi] evening”laughs the opposition.
The second tax concerns vacant housing in the form of a residence tax. Vacant dwellings in the city of Laval will therefore be “subject to housing tax on secondary residences not assigned to the main residence”always with the aim of revitalizing the city center.
Taxes that can bring 55,000 euros per year to the city
These two taxes must bring in 55,000 euros per year to the city and will come into force January 1, 2023. Two taxes “socially and environmentally just”, concludes according to the municipality.