Municipalities seek authority to impose service fees on summer homes in the Faroe Islands

Municipalities are eager to obtain the authority to impose service fees on summer homes and vacant houses within their communities. This enabling legislation is in progress but will not be ready until next year.

The initial plan was to present the legislative proposal, which would grant municipalities this power, to the Parliament in the fall; however, this will now take place next year.

Bjarni Kárason Petersen, the Minister of Justice, stated briefly that the aim is to review the proposal this fall, with a hopeful presentation anticipated in early 2025.

According to a municipal survey conducted by Kringvarp and Lóðri, there is significant support among the populace for allowing municipalities to charge service fees on summer homes and vacant properties. Two out of three Faroese, or 67 percent, endorse the initiative.