Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax was introduced in 2017 at 1% to push empty homes back into the rental market. The rate has since tripled to 3%, and by the City's own 2025 annual report the policy has done its job: fewer than 1,000 vacant homes remain, a 0.49% vacancy rate, down from 0.90% in 2017.

Yet the tax keeps growing heavier while the market it was meant to fix has gone cold. Greater Vancouver home sales in 2025 fell to their lowest level in 25 years. A C.D. Howe Institute study found the tax reduced empty homes but did nothing to bring down rents. And every Vancouver homeowner must still file a declaration every year under threat of penalties.

Worst of all, the 3% city tax now stacks on top of BC's Speculation and Vacancy Tax (up to 3% in 2026, rising to 4% for foreign owners in 2027) and the federal Underused Housing Tax (1%). Few cities in the world pile this many vacancy taxes onto a single home. The result: buyers stay away, investment freezes, and jobs in construction, real estate and the trades disappear, right when our economy needs them most.

The Empty Homes Tax did its job. Now it is time to let it go.

We call on Mayor Pete Fry and Vancouver City Council to repeal the Vacancy Tax By-law No. 11674, or at minimum attach a sunset clause, and let Vancouver's housing market breathe again.

取消温哥华空置税:使命已完成,让城市重新呼吸

2017年,温哥华市推出1%的空置税,目的是把空置房屋赶回租赁市场。如今税率已翻三倍到3%,而市政府自己的2025年度报告显示:政策使命已经完成。全市空置房屋不足1,000套,空置率从2017年的0.90%降到0.49%。

但税越收越重,它本想医治的市场却已跌入冰点。2025年大温房屋成交量创下25年来最低。C.D. Howe研究所的研究发现,空置税减少了空置房屋,却没有让租金下降。而每位温哥华业主每年仍要申报一次,逾期还面临罚款。

更不合理的是层层叠加:3%的市空置税之上,还有BC省投机与空置税(2026年最高3%,2027年海外业主升至4%)和联邦空置税(1%)。世界上很少有城市把这么多层空置税压在同一套房子上。结果是:买家离场、投资冻结,建筑、地产和技工岗位流失,而这正是经济最需要工作的时候。

空置税已经完成了它的历史使命,是时候放手了。

我们呼吁市长Pete Fry和温哥华市议会废除《空置税附例第11674号》,或至少为它设置日落条款,让温哥华的房地产市场重新呼吸。