Clare County Council has reminded owners of second properties that the newly introduced Non Principal Private Residences (NPPR) fee is now due and payable by 31 October.

The charge, which has been introduced under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, is set at an annual rate of €200 per residence.

Clare council said a €20 late payment fee will apply in respect of each month or part of a month during which the charge remains unpaid.

The charge applies mainly to owners of private rental property and holiday homes.

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It also applies to vacant residential property, unless newly built, but unsold.

The fee is payable by the owner of the NPPR to the Local Authority in whose area the property concerned is located.

Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer, Finance Department of Clare County Council, has advised property owners to determine and declare their liability to the NPPR charge as soon as possible.

She said: "The Act provides for a new annual charge on certain residential property. It also provides that no charge has to be paid on a residential property where the property in question is the ’sole or main residence’ of the owner concerned.

"Essentially, a non principal private residence is any dwelling owned by a person, which is not the owner’s normal home."

Ms Greene said property owners should submit payment before 31 October to avoid incurring additional fees. She added that any unpaid charges and penalties might adversely affect any future sale or transfer of the property.

(PR/KMcA)