Vancouver’s empty homes tax should stay at 1% to ensure it’s still being paid: staff

Vancouver’s empty homes tax should not be increased beyond its current rate in order to ensure people keep paying it, a city staff report states.

While the report, which will be presented to city council on Tuesday, said further exemptions for second homes should not go ahead, staff do recommend further exemptions to homes under renovation.

The tax applies a one per cent levy on a home’s assessed value if owners cannot prove they occupy the property for more than six months of the year, either themselves or with renters.

The report comes after a review of the tax was ordered by council earlier this year to study the policy’s effects on the housing market and its overall fairness.

Questions about raising the tax rate popped up during the most recent municipal election, with then-candidate Kennedy Stewart vowing to raise it up to three per cent. Stewart continued to pursue the idea after winning the election.

But staff say raising the tax rate would risk non-compliance, particularly among homeowners who are also subject to the province’s speculation tax.

“Housing policy and tax experts engaged by staff during the review expressed strong concern about the potential for an increase in the tax rate to incentivize non compliance and avoidance,” the report states.

2:05 Provincial rules stand in way of more empty homes taxes in B.C.

Instead, those experts called for stricter penalties for not paying the tax, which staff said they intend to review with the province.

Some exemptions exist for the tax, including properties under renovation, property transfer, and strata rental restrictions.

While staff rejected a proposed exemption for second homes that are used part time through the year, the report does suggest further exemptions for renovated properties.

The proposed amendment would add together the tenancy time and the amount of time spent qualifying for permits to renovate or redevelop properties, after the city heard complaints from owners about being charged the tax while waiting for permits to be approved by the city.

That sticking point formed the basis of one of several lawsuits launched this year against the city over the tax.

Overall, staff say the tax has been effective in its goal of adding more homes to the rental market and generating revenue for the city to put towards affordable housing projects.

The latest data shows the city collected $39.4 million in revenue during the 2018 tax year from the owners of 1,989 vacant properties.

That’s more money from less properties than in 2017, when 2,538 homes generated $38 million in revenue.

An extra $22.1 million was collected from non-compliance audits on 892 properties.

In addition to the drop in vacant properties, the city found the number of properties tenanted went up by seven per cent from 2017 to 2018, from 46,770 to 50,102.

“At this point, based on consultation with tax experts, housing experts, the public, and other stakeholders, the tax is working mostly as intended and minimal further amendments are recommended at this time,” the report states.

“The data also supports this conclusion with key indicators showing trends that point to the tax working to encourage occupancy.”