The Land Valuation and Tax Amendment Act 2015 has been passed in the House of Assembly.

Among its modifications to property law, the legislation allows for the Land Valuation Tribunal to consider a unit’s market rental value in assessing objections.

Taxpayers will be able to challenge the draft valuation list using market rental evidence.

It was brought before MPs by Public Works Minister Craig Cannonier, who noted that the rental value for the majority of homes had decreased, which would result in the Annual Rental Value (ARV) declining, as well as the amount of land tax owed.

ARVs completed since 2009 indicate a slump in the market, which in turn meant that homeowners would see their assessment value go down.

Mr Cannonier also addressed concerns raised about the department gaining access to residential homes by saying that this has always been allowed and was sanctioned under the Constitution.

Responding to questions by MP Walton Brown as to what circumstances would necessitate this, Mr Cannonier said that entry would be gained to properties to ensure the assessment was done correctly.

He said that in the event that there was a partition that could not be seen from the outside, which might hold a tank, for example, inspectors would want access so that the value of the property was not wrongly assessed.

Mr Cannonier said having to gain access to a residential home for these reasons was “very, very rarely done”.