Expert Urges FCTA To Tax Unoccupied Houses

A housing expert, Mr
Festus Adebayo, yesterday urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to impose tax on unoccupied houses in the territory.
Adebayo made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
He said that if tax was imposed, it would force the prices of unoccupied houses or rents on them, especially in estates, to fall and be affordable to majority of residents of the area.
He said that if carried out, the measure would also help to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
The expert said that tax on unoccupied houses would equally discourage usage of stolen money to build or acquire land and housing properties carelessly in Abuja.
“The FCTA should begin to implement its property tax administration policy by putting tax on those properties.
“When all those properties are getting taxed and the tax is huge, the owner will be forced to sell the property at the rate people in the market are requesting for other than keeping the building there.
“Even if the money used to build the house is laundered, they cannot still afford to pay huge tax every year.
“The government should not let houses to be standing and nobody occupying them especially in Maitama, Asokoro, Kubwa, Utako, Wuse and Lokogoma,’’ he said.
Adebayo said the affordability of the houses would facilitate greater access to good home, especially by those in the lower income group.