What if we started actively disincentivizing landlords letting real estate stay empty rather than renting at reasonable prices? Like, give them a maximum of three months to get a new tenant in, and then they start accumulating fines for the unused space.
And some similar system to disincentivize the ridiculous airbnb market as well. Make it unprofitable to have homes sitting empty in a city where people with jobs find themselves living in tents. Hell, make it unprofitable to have homes sitting empty anywhere that has a homelessness problem.
The fine? The full rent amount they’re asking for. You think $1700/month for a studio apartment is reasonable? Well, until you get someone into that apartment, you’re going to be fined that same sum every month.
For Airbnb, a lower cost, but still based on how many nights/month the space is unused, and the fine will be based on the asking price per night.
This is… really, really sensible.
literally email this idea to your local city council representative or similar lowest level government person. if there are meetings that are open to the public, go speak your piece there. an idea like this is very sensible, and this is an issue they are thinking about.
there will be traction. I’m not saying you can get it to happen, the owners of large complexes have a lot of control over your local government. but it’s not complete control, and good ideas are powerful.
Vancouver slaps $10,000 a year tax on empty homes. Lie about it and it’s $10,000 a day
Thanks for the link, and fuck yeah! This is exactly the stuff I’m talking about.
Milwaukee and San Francisco are also looking into policies like these. These ideas are out there and being explored, and I think that’s pretty neat.
My city passed an ordinance requiring airbnb rooms to be registered with the city and they get a certain number of allowed rental days depending on whether it’s owner occupied.
We had to fight a huge marketing campaign from airbnb, but we won. Definitely write to a city council member. You can use Jersey City as a test case. They will be able to find news stories.
I’m pushing the vacancy tax idea on our most progressive councilman, too.