The Empty Homes Tax: Vancouver's Approach to Tackling Vacant Properties

Written in April 2024. Some details have changed since, so check current numbers before you act on this.

Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax is a city tax on homes left unoccupied for more than six months of the year. The city introduced it in 2017 to push empty homes into the rental market, and it's pledged the money to affordable housing projects. You stay clear of it by living in the home as your principal residence or renting it out for the required period. It's added rental availability, but the debate over whether it fixes affordability hasn't gone away. Some homeowners have pushed back, arguing it burdens owners with valid reasons to keep a place empty, and others question whether it touches the deeper currents of the crisis at all.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean's whispering waves and the stoic gaze of the North Shore mountains lies Vancouver, a city as renowned for its breathtaking landscapes as it is for its glaring housing challenges. In the midst of this beauty, a silent issue lurks within the city's bustling urban core – vacant homes. It's a phenomenon that doesn't just echo the silence of empty spaces but amplifies the voices calling for change. Enter Vancouver's response: the Empty Homes Tax (EHT).

What is Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax?

Back in 2017, when the city decided to introduce the EHT, it wasn’t just launching a policy; it was sending a message. This wasn't about penalizing homeowners; it was an invitation – a call to action for those holding onto empty properties to join the city's effort in easing our housing squeeze. The tax applied to homes left unoccupied for more than six months of the year, encouraging owners to rent them out and, in turn, enrich the fabric of our community.

Has the Empty Homes Tax worked?

Since its inception, the EHT has been like a stone thrown into Vancouver’s real estate waters, creating ripples that reach far and wide. On one hand, we’ve seen an uptick in rental availability – a breath of fresh air for those who’ve felt suffocated by the city's tight rental market. On the other, it's generated funds that the city has pledged to funnel into affordable housing projects. Every dollar collected from the tax is a building block for a more inclusive Vancouver. If you're holding a second property, run the rental math in my investor calculator, and if you'd rather sell, start with my Seller Blueprint.

What are the criticisms of the Empty Homes Tax?

Of course, charting a course through uncharted policy waters comes with its challenges. Some Vancouverites have raised concerns, pointing out that the tax places a burden on homeowners who might have valid reasons for keeping properties vacant. Others question whether the EHT addresses the deeper currents of the housing affordability crisis or if it merely skims the surface.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As we stand at this crossroads, looking back on the path the EHT has carved through Vancouver's housing landscape, it’s clear that this journey is far from over. It's about fine-tuning, adapting, and ensuring that as we move forward, we do so together – as a community committed to finding sustainable solutions to our housing challenges.

Have homeowners challenged the Empty Homes Tax?

Yes, there have been legal challenges by homeowners in Vancouver against the city's empty homes tax, asserting it is an overreach of municipal powers and has unintended consequences for certain property owners.

What is the vacancy tax in BC?

The vacancy tax in BC, referred to as the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, is a provincial initiative designed to discourage housing speculation and promote the availability of homes for local residents.

Join the Conversation

Have you felt the impact of the EHT in your corner of Vancouver? Maybe you’ve seen a once-empty home come to life with new residents, or perhaps you have thoughts on how we can continue to navigate the complexities of housing affordability. Drop a comment below – let’s keep the dialogue going. After all, it’s through sharing our stories and insights that we can collectively craft the future of our city.

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