Richmond News
Mayor Malcolm Brodie appeared doubtful a home vacancy tax would work in Richmond but said he will monitor the progress of a pitch made by his Vancouver counterpart, Gregor Robertson, to address empty residences.
Robertson has asked the provincial government’s Ministry of Finance for special taxation measures to mitigate the effects of empty homes driving down the vacancy rate in a city already feeling the pinch of unprecedented housing unaffordability.
Brodie said he didn’t think empty homes in Richmond are as much of a problem as they are perceived to be in Vancouver.
“I don’t have data. My perception is, in terms of various combinations of observations, we have less of an issue than Vancouver. But that’s just simply my opinion on it,” said Brodie.
Still, he acknowledged empty homes are a problem, and Richmond should look at any possible solutions. …