I wasn't advocating non-compliance with the census or the Revenue! I'd love to see registers and regulation for all those areas.
I have a firm belief that the census was flawed, that the information specifically relating to vacant properties has no relation to a debate about the future of the housing market. Frankly, I'm p..sed off that I've given examples where 80% of my immediate family were not included, where 4 properties aren't even on the radar and still people say "oh, you're just talking generalaties"!
The problem is that the CSO provides figures regarding vacancies and we know who they are, whereas from you the figures are only anecdotal. In terms of value, I'd choose the CSO over you ever single day and that's before we come to the fact that at least two other contributors including myself have pointed out that our experience contrasts greatly to yours. As a result, I'm unwilling to take your belief that the census was so totally flawed as an article of faith.
That does not, however, change the fact that flawed or not, the results from the census are expected to be the basis for planning going forward. Non-completion of the census will almost definitely have a negative impact on those who did not complete, along with those who did provided you believe that this is a widespread problem. Given the modus operandi of the census collectors, I have serious doubts that in fact, it is that flawed. It cannot possibly be perfect, but given a line between being a mess and being perfect, I would say that I believe it was closer to perfect than being totally off the wall.
In any case, even if the figure of 275K is overstated, it is still fair to say that even if it is out by 10 or 15 per cent, it is still a shocking quantity of accommodation not accounted for.
It does, to my mind, indicate that the current party of property investment being a win-all situation for some sections of society while other sections of society are effectively locked out buying property near where they work cannot possibly continue. It is mathematically impossible for everyone to own two properties and make money on it. Only some people can win, only some people have, and unfortunately, people are going to lose.
Some people - not necessarily you - seem to take it as an article of faith that once property goes up, it cannot possibly go down at all. Unfortunately, nobody has been able to provide any rational reasons as to why that might be. The problem is affordability and it's running out, along with its friend easy credit.