Population and Housing

[danbrotherston]

I suppose if we believe that so much existing housing is sitting empty that flushing speculators out of the market and bringing it into use would give a significant increase in effective housing supply, then maybe this sort of tinkering with pricing rules could have an impact. I’m skeptical of this however: I’m pretty sure the only way out is to do things which cause more housing to be built.

I think he's referring to empty land, not vacant housing.

I have previously proposed that the cities should eliminate the property tax discount for vacant land. If anything, it should be at a higher rate than land that contains usable buildings. The property tax discount is an incentive to NOT build on the land.

I mean, the problem is that most land which should have dense housing on it, isn't vacant, its underutilized.

That too can be solved with a change to the tax system, but it is a change that would be harsh to people living in a densifying area. I don't think someone should be forced from their home in Victoria Park just because it's a growing city.

I'm not sure how to take away their power over their neighbours though.