“Second residents are the cash cows of coastal municipalities”

Their research shows that the tax on second homes has more than doubled in 15 years. They call it a bad evolution. The coastal mayors see it differently: the second residence tax is not disproportionate and real estate prices have risen enormously in recent years.

The goose that lays the golden eggs: this is how the coastal municipalities see the second residents. At least that’s what the federation of real estate groups CIB says. Kristophe Thijs, Confederation of Real Estate Professions: “This evolution is really striking. In 2006 we see that the coastal municipalities collected an average of around 36 million euros in taxes from second residents. In the meantime, that has risen to 80 million euros. More than doubled in 15 years. It is not normal that second residences provide more income for tax purposes than the residents.”

The mayors say that second residents have to pay more than fifteen years ago. The price of real estate has risen enormously and the second residents get a lot in return. Lowering their taxes is not an option. Marc Vanden Bussche, Mayor Koksijde: “That is not the order of the day. We have a multi-year plan that will be implemented. And I have to say it: we regularly hear people shouting and going to the press, but in fact it is about very few people. Many pay those taxes with a smile.”

The coastal mayors plan to sit down with CIB to iron out the creases.