Hell, just requiring HAVING a tenant would be great for starters because of how many empty homes there are. If you’ve got the empty homes, and a tax penalty for them being empty, suddenly they’d have to compete for tenants. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Exactly this. Any sort of “is the tenant not being overcharged” check would be extra complexity that’s not strictly necessary anyway. Once more properties become available on the market (because their owners want to pay less property tax), rents naturally start going down. Just need the vacancy tax to be high enough. If it’s a tiny tax, it doesn’t make a change.
I think the concept of a tax penalty with some relief for having a tenant that isn’t being gouged sounds nice.
Hell, just requiring HAVING a tenant would be great for starters because of how many empty homes there are. If you’ve got the empty homes, and a tax penalty for them being empty, suddenly they’d have to compete for tenants. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
What we need it a mandated and enforced vacancy tax nationwide. Make it high enough to fix the housing crisis.
Exactly this. Any sort of “is the tenant not being overcharged” check would be extra complexity that’s not strictly necessary anyway. Once more properties become available on the market (because their owners want to pay less property tax), rents naturally start going down. Just need the vacancy tax to be high enough. If it’s a tiny tax, it doesn’t make a change.