Could a tax against empty homes help end Australia's housing crisis? - eviltoast

My first instinct is “yes” but then I thought about it and I think it’s just going to exacerbate the short-stay problem unless combined with other measures.

  • tochee@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    Yep. Can’t dodge it, encourages productive use. The only thing is it might push more properties towards airbnb unless you tax that more to make it less profitable.

    • w2qw@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Outside of holiday towns I don’t think AirBNB is actually an issue it’s such a small percentage of properties that it’s really just marginal. Arguably they get a small subsidy for paying residential rates but most the time it’s an apartment that gets the minimum rate so effectively a hotel is paying less.

      In holiday towns it’s similar but arguably they cause more dramatic spikes in rent but overall it should be similar. Tourists are also generating a lot of revenue and jobs so would you rather low rent but no jobs or higher rent but a competitive job market?