4 Days
Source:
النهار
Taxe sur les biens vides
The renewed proposal to tax vacant apartments in Lebanon has reignited debate over whether it would work. The figures cited point to around 380,000 vacant units, 62% of them in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, while the vacancy rate in the capital is nearly 20%. The article argues that a tax could increase housing supply and curb speculation, but would not resolve a crisis rooted in weak purchasing power and a lack of financing. It could also burden owners and investors—or have its cost passed on to tenants. The article recommends applying the tax selectively, taking into account location, value and actual housing needs, with exemptions for damaged properties or those genuinely listed for sale. It proposes a graduated rate, starting at 25% and rising to 50% of net rental value, with the revenue directed toward housing assistance and loans. Resolving the crisis, it argues, requires restoring people’s ability to rent and buy homes while also protecting investment.
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