itz wrote:a4architect.com wrote:Githae /Njiraini are on the right path regarding taxation.
Once they set an enabling environment for collection of idle land tax, probably after enacting the land commissions, this will result in flooding of land for sale hence reduction of land prices.
People will now opt to buy land and construct as opposed to renting. This will cause a surge in employment within the construction sector hence reduction of crime rate,poverty, unemployment,landlessness e.t.c
This, coupled with Turkana Oil is the solution for Kenya's economy.
@architect.This is a simplistic way of looking at the factors of demand/price/supply of land.It will also depend on their definition of idle land.If i plant trees,or grass for hay would they consider it idle land.I think those who own land will look for ways to avoid that tax so no celebrations yet or opening the champagne bottle because of expected lower land prices.
Cheap available credit has higher effect on inflating land/property prices.
I also had a question for you.In the higher end neighborhoods like karen/runda where they only sell land at minimum of half acre, do they issue seperate titles on different houses incase you build more than one house on that half acre.
@itz, as we speak, all land in Kenya is zoned as either residential, commerical,agricultural .educational or industrial.
Within each zone eg residential, the density is also stated e.g karen o.5 acre per house, Umoja, cbd minimum 5 floors high, Umoja maximum 5 levels high e.t.c.
When the land owner simply says he has planted grass on his high density umoja plot or industrial plot at industrial area, he will simply be lectured on the land use and the minimum ammount of development within that specified land use.
On the Karen issue, only 1 house is allowed on 0.5 acre plot. Titles are only issued for o.5 acre and above.
As usual, some people wishing for status quo to remain will simply push for unqualified persons to be employed within the local authorities and land commissions. Unqualified means persons whose education does not allow them to interpret zoning regulations and land values as oppoed to land valuers, land surveyors, quantity surveyors, land planners and architects.
Once they replace the above with geographists, statisticians, lawyers, scientists e.t.c they can remain with satus quo.
As Iron Sharpens Iron, So one Man Sharpens Another.