This system will be in force from the tax year 2027. It must be paid by the owner or usufructuary of the real estate concerned. A home will be subject to the tax if it has been vacant for at least two years on January 1 of the tax year. The tax will be calculated based on the cadastral rental value of the home. This corresponds to the annual rent that the property could produce if it were rented.
1,400 housing requests
In municipalities located outside a tense area, such as Saintes, this tax rate is freely set by deliberation of the municipal council, without however being able to exceed 50%. “This is not to punish the owners, but we have a fairly tense context with 1,400 requests for housing from Semis (Société d’entreprises mixes real estate de Saintonge), explains Mayor Horizons Bruno Drapron, who presented this measure to the municipal council, Thursday July 2. There were 1,200 vacant homes in the private sector, which could be rented. The desire is to motivate them a little. To motivate them, we set the highest rate, at 50%. »
“We are being asked to comment on a tax tool without having information that would allow us to assess its relevance and effectiveness”
The opposition led by Ludovic Norigeon (PS) is asking for clarifications. “We are in favor of housing development. Our priority is to welcome new Saintais by first using the existing buildings, in order to limit as much as possible the artificialization of the soil and its waterproofing. However, we are asked to comment on a tax tool without having information that would allow us to assess its relevance and effectiveness. » He asks for an assessment concerning the implementation of the similar system applied to commercial premises, since a deliberation in October 2025. The mayor promises one “within six months, a year”.
Possible aid
Ludovic Norigeon challenges the mayor on rhetoric. “You regularly criticize us for wanting to increase taxes, it has become a recurring argument and an intellectual shortcut. I see that when the possibility presents itself, you decide to activate additional tax leverage, with the highest rate. »