The Department of Environment persists in stating that 1.6m households are liable for the household charge. This is patently not the case. It is houses that are liable for the tax not households. If a person owns two houses – one they live in, one a holiday home, they pay twice. They wouldn’t do that if it was a tax purely on households. The household charge is a tax on property. There are 1.994m habitable housing units in the state – they are all liable for the tax with some exemptions. Here is some useful data compiled by the Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes from official statistics and Dail questions. It gives a much more thorough picture of the liabilities relating to the household charge than the governments line, and that is the case whether you are for or against the charge.
1 Housing units in state 1,994,845 CSO
2 Unoccupied/vacant housing units unsold 18,636 Housing Development Survey, DECLG, 2011
3 Renting social housing 129,033 Census 2011, Table 39.
4 Renting voluntary housing 14,942 Census 2011, Table 39
5 Being bought from Local Authorities under shared ownership scheme 23,547 Census 2006. Doesn’t appear to be in Census 2011.
6 Mortgage interest relief 19,000 Keane Report
7 Housing units in unfinished estates 34,000 Money Guide Ireland
8 Number of landlords who registered Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) in 2011 183,551 NAMAwinelake
9 Number of NPPR registered in 2011 for the NPPR Tax 339,431
10 Number of housing units for which the HHT was paid on 1st June 2012 915,408 Dail Question Ref No: 27986/12. Clare Daly.
11 Numbers waivered for HHT on 1st June 2012 17,167 Dail Question Ref No: 27986/12. Clare Daly.
12 Number of housing units registered to multiple accounts on 1st June 2012 332,900 Dail Question Ref No: 27986/12. Clare Daly.
13 Number of accounts to which more than one unit was registered on 1st June 2012 106,332 Dail Question Ref No: 27986/12. Clare Daly.
Figures calculated from above
14 Number of housing units liable to register for Household Tax (HHT) 1,808,687 (1-2-3-4-5)
15 Number of housing units liable to pay the Household Tax 1,755,687 (14-6-7)
16 Total number of property owners liable to register 1,469,256 (14-9)
17 Number of housing units actually registered on 1st June 2012 932,575 (10 + 11)
18 Number of housing units not registered on 1st June 2012 876,112 ( 14-17)
19 Number of NPPRs registered assuming the family home was also registered on the same account. 226,568 (12-13).
20 Number of property owners registered on 1st June 2012 (Accounts with LGMA) assuming each account also has the Principal Private Residence registered. 706,007 (10 + 11 – 19)
21 Number of property owners who have not registered. 763,249 (16-20)
22 % of property owners not registered 52
These figures seem to be correct, although there are some exception that need to be taken out of the total number of liable housing units (exemptions 2, 5, 6, 7 – all small, but not in the public domain; might account for up to c.20K units)
With thanks to Mick Murphy (National Treasurer of the Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes) for sending us the information.
Rob Kitchin
Ireland after NAMA 
June 19, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Is this going to be made public, to show the Lie we are being told?
June 19, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Reblogged this on fleminghway61.
June 20, 2012 at 7:47 am
[…] After NAMA has a very good piece on “What are the real household charge numbers?” which comprises of “.. some useful data compiled by the Campaign Against Household & […]
June 20, 2012 at 8:20 am
how much more lies,are we going to take,,??? we irish people are cowards….stand up for urselfs,,,,no work for a week,, bring country to standstill…..
June 26, 2012 at 4:57 pm
That’s the way we like Irish people ! Don’t become like us french sheeps or you will be strangled by taxes !
June 20, 2012 at 8:29 am
Reblogged this on Malachysteenson’s Blog and commented:
Reblogged on my blog
June 20, 2012 at 9:58 am
[…] full detailed breakdown of how he arrived at this figure can be found on his blog. This entry was written by The MyHome Newsdesk, posted on 20 Jun at 10:58 am, filed under […]
June 21, 2012 at 4:00 pm
The majority have spoken
June 21, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Reblogged this on European Energy Geographies and commented:
The Ireland after NAMA blog continues to offer us real insight into what really going on in Ireland today.
June 22, 2012 at 11:03 pm
[…] stated “The [household] charge has been paid by 75% of people” On the IrelandAfterNAMA blog, there was a guest post from Mick Murphy, the National Treasurer of the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes, who – […]
June 29, 2012 at 1:36 pm
What ever happened to
‘from each according to their ability, to each according to their need’
If the Irish people need the social framework then all those with the ability to pay should pay.
Property ownership should be taxed and multiple property ownership should be the subject of multiple taxation.
The household charge is a step in the right direction. At a time of expanding social need those who can afford the €100 should chip in like the rest of us. I’m afraid Clare Daly and Mick Murphy are dodging behind populist slogans on a payment Clare certainly can afford. They are being opportunistic in the meanest party political way. They are being a bit more
‘socialite’ than socialist in their defense of property before people. Whats the old saying ‘ Left in form but Right Action.