New law against land speculation in preparation
politics
In 2023, a new state law will come into force that provides for taxes on unused building land and is intended to curb speculation. Anyone who hoards building land and does not have it built up has to pay. State politicians hope that more living space will be built. Mayors are demanding more information in order to achieve the desired effect.
If existing building land is not used for more than five years, you have to pay a fee to the municipality. Only a few owners have been informed of these plans by state politicians, says Friedrich Holztrattner, Mayor of Bad Vigaun (ÖVP): “The citizens have not been informed at all so far. Who pays? How much? Who doesn’t pay?”
Obligations, exceptions, back doors?
The answers to such questions depend on property sizes and the municipality in question. There are also exceptions if the building land is reserved for your own children, for example.
The law will take effect from 2023, and payments must be made from 2024. The state of Salzburg is now preparing this process, says the state councilor responsible for regional planning, Josef Schwaiger (ÖVP): “We are currently preparing a database, which will then be made available to the municipalities.”
Municipal association prepares information material
The Salzburg Municipal Association is also preparing for the new situation, says its President Günther Mitterer, Mayor of St. Johann (ÖVP). So there should soon be sample applications and sample letters for the information from community citizens.