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James Horan/Photocall Ireland
# Damaged
How many people aren't paying property tax because their homes have pyrite?
In order to avoid the property tax, a homeowner has to get a certificate confirming the presence of significant pyrite damage.
AROUND 1,200 HOMEOWNERS have applied not to pay the Local Property Tax due to pyrite damage in their homes.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan confirmed that the Revenue Commissioners have received the self-assessments from the property owners so far and has accepted the claims at face value.
In order to be eligible not to pay the property tax because of pyrite, a homeowner has to get a certificate from an engineer or a geologist confirming the presence of significant pyrite damage.
Pyrite is a cheap building material which was used frequently in some parts of the country during the property boom. It swells and can cause major structural damage which costs tens of thousands of euros to fix.
A 2012 report by an independent panel established by then-Environment Minister Phil Hogan identified 10,300 homes that may have been damaged by pyrite.
Minister Noonan said that the Revenue Commissioners have begun reviewing all the applications.
“The Commissioners have confirmed that claims for exemption may be reviewed and where necessary the Commissioners will seek a copy of the certificate to verify the validity of the claim,” he said.
“The Commissioners have informed me that they have begun their review process and have requested a copy of the certificate confirming the presence of significant pyritic damage from a number of property owners in support of their pyrite exemption claim”.
Explainer: The scheme that will fix pyrite victim’s crumbling homes >
Read: ‘Every room is just rotten’: Video shows how pyrite destroyed this woman’s home >
Read: Rebel Labour TDs warn of “rip off” over Dublin’s property tax being spent in rural areas >
