What is Empty Homes Tax?
An '''Empty Homes Tax''' Is a [[tax]] on homes that are not lived in for more than six months of the year. A home that is lived in by its owner or a tenant for at least six months does not have to pay this tax. == Province of British Columbia == {{main article|Speculation tax}} The Province of [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] charges an empty homes tax. The rate of the tax which is charged depends on if you are a Citizen of Canada. This tax is not the same as the City of Vancouver's empty homes tax. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Finance|first=Ministry of|title=Tax rates for the speculation and vacancy tax - Province of British Columbia|url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/speculation-vacancy-tax/how-tax-works/tax-rates|access-date=2022-04-25|website=www2.gov.bc.ca}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|last=Finance|first=Ministry of|title=How the speculation and vacancy tax works - Province of British Columbia|url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/speculation-vacancy-tax/how-tax-works|access-date=2022-04-25|website=www2.gov.bc.ca}}</ref> == Vancouver, British Columbia == In the [[Canada|Canadian]] city of [[Vancouver]], the empty home tax is one percent of the [[assessed value]] of the home. A [[CBC]] report said that [[rental vacancy rate]] rose only 0.1% after the tax started. The report also said that the tax was going to bring the city $38 million.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/empty-homes-tax-not-helping-rental-crisis-generating-millions-more-for-vancouver-report-1.4925994 Empty homes tax not helping rental crisis, generating millions more for Vancouver: report], CBC Canada</ref> The city spent $10 million putting this new tax in 2018 into effect.<ref>[https://www.vancourier.com/real-estate/half-of-vancouver-property-owners-have-filed-empty-homes-tax-declarations-1.23584340 Half of Vancouver property owners have filed Empty Homes Tax declarations], Vancouver Courier</ref> ==Santa Cruz, California== In the City of [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]] a group is trying to put a measure