On Friday, the government announced the adoption of a series of amendments to the draft bill on land tax and gave the go-ahead for a vacancy tax targeting empty plots and unused residential properties. The goal is to curb speculation in the housing market.
These two bills were originally introduced under the previous DP-LSAP-Green coalition but had stalled. The land tax reform was rejected by the Council of State due to legal inconsistencies and had to be rewritten.
Housing Minister Claude Meisch (DP) had stated in June during an interview with RTL Radio that both texts would be brought before the cabinet before the summer, a promise now fulfilled.
