A pilot within the Netherlands to higher assess property worth raises privateness issues

Some residents of the Netherlands have been requested to take photos of the within of their home to higher consider the property worth. A request elevating issues about privateness.

On October 7 and eight, the Municipal Tax Workplace of Twente despatched letters within the Hogeland-Velve and Enschede-Zuid districts within the municipality of Enschede that shocked hundreds of dwelling homeowners. They had been requested to take inside photos of their properties, of their front room, kitchen and bogs as an illustration, and to ship them to the municipal tax workplace by e-mail.

A part of a nationwide pilot, the request is supposed to higher estimate the property values, the WOZ, the abbreviation of the Dutch property worth (Waarde onroerende zaken), which is evaluated yearly by municipalities.

Homes, industrial buildings, faculties and different public buildings have a property worth that’s used for central authorities taxation, reminiscent of revenue and company tax, but additionally for municipalities to find out property tax (OZB) and different native taxes.

Estimates are normally carried out with public knowledge, such because the housing market, exterior photos, date of building, and so on. However this take a look at goals at getting extra details about the inside circumstances in order that the WOZ results in fewer complaints by owners sad with the evaluation. A newly renovated façade however with an inside in poor situation might as an illustration have an overestimated WOZ and inflated tax.

However the request raised issues of residents about respect for his or her privateness. The Dutch Information Safety Authority spokesperson Caspar Itz advised De Telegraaf that such a request must be solely allowed in distinctive circumstances, “whether it is strictly vital” since a glance inside your own home can present deeply intimate details about oneself.

The town council of Enschede, a metropolis of 160,000 folks within the east of the nation, urgently met to cope with the problem because the deadline for submitting photos was on October 30. Most officers within the Enschede municipality council supported a movement asking to induce the Municipal Tax Workplace of Twente to cease the take a look at.

The municipality has outsourced administration and assortment of native tax and doesn’t the hand on operations. Furthermore, in keeping with Marc Teutelink, alderman for finance of Enschede and member of the chief board of the municipal tax workplace, the pilot can’t be stopped rapidly. He mentioned that some residents have additionally supplied the data on the telephone with out sending photos.

The objective to have a greater analysis of WOZ goals at decreasing the variety of complaints, which have been on the rise, in keeping with Mr. Teutelink. Householders attempt to change the WOZ with the assistance of firms promising them decrease taxes and which might cost clients solely when requests are profitable. It additionally results in elevated prices to cope with complaints.

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