A new government project is investigating how to locate empty ‘ghost homes’, find their owners, and encourage them to bring them back to being occupied. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 5.2% of houses in New Zealand are classed as ghost homes.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has set aside $500,000 for the research which focuses on Hamilton. However, it is expected the findings would apply to other major centres.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spokesman De Reus said the concept of a ghost home tax or any other policy review was not being considered as part of the project.
