The province is set to introduce the West Vancouver “empty home tax” this fall. Under the new legislation, empty homes will be charged if they’ve been vacant for a certain number of days over the past year. Staff will determine the minimum days through consultation this fall. There are also certain exceptions to the tax, including vacant homes in probate or awaiting development. But you should know how much the new fee is before you start looking for a solution.
Whistler’s empty home tax
The NDP government says the tax is a “proven policy that has worked in other communities.” However, Whistler has been a particularly troubled town when it comes to finding rental housing. Many businesses in the area estimate the wait time could range from three to 10 years. As a result, the Whistler rental tax was introduced in 2018. Since then, the tax has been further narrowed to exclude vacation homes and cottages. It’s not clear how much the Whistler rental tax will cost, but detailed maps are available online.
The housing crisis in Whistler isn’t an issue of supply and demand – it’s a housing distribution issue. Unfortunately, many of the empty homes in Whistler don’t have anyone renting them, forcing hard-working people to drain their savings in order to afford a place to live. This is a situation that is downright insulting. Therefore, the government is exploring ways to address the situation, including a tax on vacant homes.
The tax is aimed at foreign investors, but it does not apply to Whistler residents. The new tax was implemented in January 2018 to help curb housing prices in the area. The new laws make it mandatory for residents to declare their exemption from the tax in January 2024. A total of 99 per cent of residents are exempt from the tax, but it is still worth noting that Whistler is still exempt from the tax.
The FAQ section is designed to answer frequently asked questions. Most topics link to other pages or blog posts. A direct link to another website is included in the article. Whistler’s Real Estate Council banned dual agency in June 2018. Therefore, an agent representing the buyer and seller will represent each client separately. In the event of an ownership dispute, a non-resident can buy a property in Whistler.
Exemption from the BC Speculation Tax
The government of British Columbia has announced a new tax on vacant homes in BC. The new tax is similar to the municipal empty homes tax in Vancouver. It will apply to vacant homes in six communities, including Vancouver, while Whistler remains exempt. As a resident of BC, you will be required to file a declaration stating that you are exempt from the speculation tax for the years 2023 and 2024. Currently, 99 percent of all property owners are exempt from the tax.
The BC Speculation Tax applies to properties that remain vacant for over a year. In order to qualify for an exemption, you must be a resident of British Columbia and own the property as your primary residence. You can also qualify for exemptions due to life events or major home renovations. The information provided here is for your convenience, but is not a replacement for legislation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Service BC.
An exemption from the BC Speculation Tax on empty houses in Vancouver may be in your best interest. The average home in Vancouver is more than $1.3 million, and if you rent your property out, the extra income can easily cover the tax. However, this tax can add up to a large sum over time. You should take this into account when making a decision about whether or not to sell your empty home.
The first and most obvious way to avoid paying the Speculation Tax on an empty home is to rent it out for at least six months a year. You can avoid paying the tax if you have tenants renting it out. It also helps to note that this tax only applies to properties in BC that are vacant for six months or more. Moreover, it also helps to consider making your property your principal residence if you cannot rent it out.
Assessment based on property value
When is it time to appeal your assessment? You can do this by asking your local tax assessor, but you need to know the process to appeal a property’s assessed value. Many jurisdictions limit the time that you can file an appeal after you receive a new tax notice. In such cases, you need to contact your local tax assessor as soon as possible to let them know that you think your assessment is wrong. But before filing an appeal, you should consider your property’s market value and the surrounding properties.
The assessed value of your home is a number calculated by a tax assessor using a set of rules. The assessment rate varies depending on your county, state, and city. Using an appraiser’s report instead of the assessed value is a good way to get a more accurate valuation. Your county’s website or the office of your local tax assessor should provide you with the assessment rate for your neighborhood.
For certain tax classes, the amount of your Assessed Value can increase only so much. This is due to the fact that state law sets limits for these increases. Generally, you cannot increase your Assessment Value more than 6% a year. And if your property is less than 10 units, you can’t increase it more than 45% over five years. But there is a way to fight the limits and get the maximum value for your property.
When you disagree with the appraised value, contact your local tax assessor. You generally have thirty days to challenge your property’s value. Afterward, you can hire a lawyer to appeal the value, if you want to. You should pay a filing fee for the appeal. You should also note that the appeal process may take more than a year, because of the high volume of appeals. But, if you do manage to file an appeal, there is a chance to get your assessment revised after a year.
Increase in assessment to 1% in 2017
In order to encourage Vancouver property owners to rent their vacant properties, the city introduced an empty home tax. This tax is a set percentage of the property’s assessed value, which is 5% next year. While Vancouver has the lowest vacancy rate in Canada, it has an unfavorable impact on its rental market. Increasing the tax will discourage Vancouver property owners from keeping vacant properties.
The vacant property tax was first introduced as a one-percent levy in 2017. The idea was to raise the city’s one-percent vacancy rate. But last year, Vancouver councillors increased the tax to three percent. To date, the tax has raised $32 million for affordable housing and returned 4,000 empty homes to local owners. However, the city is considering further increases as it struggles to tackle Vancouver’s housing affordability crisis.
The new tax is expected to reduce vacant properties. As a result, the province’s budget will see increased revenue to fund affordable housing initiatives. It has also been reported that Vancouver’s EHT has helped reduce vacancy rates. A report released by the Vancouver City Hall shows that vacancy rates have dropped by 2%, and that over 99% of British Columbians are exempt from the tax.
The empty home tax was implemented in Vancouver in 2017, and was set at one per cent of the assessed taxable value. The rate has increased to 1.25% in 2020, and could go as high as three per cent in 2021. The city council has yet to determine the full impact of the tax. However, it is hoped that the empty homes tax will help to reduce homelessness in Vancouver.
Impact on rental market
Some say the impact of the vacant home tax will keep more rental homes on the market, while others question its effectiveness. Others have argued that the tax is a way to encourage developers to build new purpose-built housing. Whatever the case, it is hard to ignore the fact that housing prices in the Metro Vancouver area have skyrocketed in recent years. But economists say that there may be other factors at play, including speculation and the foreign-buyers tax.
The NDP government introduced the vacancy and speculation tax in 2018 with the aim of funding affordable housing projects and discouraging foreign ownership. However, it didn’t take into account the fact that two-thirds of the properties taxed in West Vancouver were owned by families with more than one residence. As a result, many renters in the region are in panic mode over finding rentals. The new tax is expected to hit the rental market in Vancouver the hardest.
In the meantime, the new taxes are likely to delay the arrival of prospective buyers. As the vacancy rate is already at a high, the new taxes will only slow down the process and make buyers wait longer. Despite the looming uncertainty, Vancouver will likely remain one of the top markets in the world for years to come because of its geographical location and quality of life. Vancouver’s agents at the country’s largest brokerage, Royal LePage, said the tax would make it harder to police vacant homes.
The new empty home tax will affect rental rates in the West Vancouver real estate market. While the tax is intended to increase housing supply in the city, it has raised millions of dollars more than the government had originally projected. The tax increased the primary market vacancy rate by 0.1 per cent in 2017, slightly lower than the Lower Mainland region. If the new empty home tax has a positive effect on the rental market, landlords and investors alike will see an increase in rental rates.
Among many other things, David A. Grantham is a contributing author to UmassExtension West Vancouver Blo. He is a renowned expert on real estate in BC.
Born in North Vancouver, Louisiana, Dr. Grantham grew up in Lower Lonsdale. He then went on to complete his business degree at the University British Columbia. As of this writing, Grantham has completed over 100 projects, including the development of a high rise building in Vancouver.
He is a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He was a dedicated outdoorsman and enjoyed sports such as hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing. His wife, Alison Grantham, and their two daughters survived him. He is survived by his wife Alison Martin Grantham and two daughters.