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Windsor property owners who let spare homes sit empty will now pay a vacancy tax — but only if their neighbours rat them out.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on Tuesday launched Windsor’s vacant home tax program, which will see homes unoccupied for more than 183 days in any given taxation year penalized with a three-per-cent levy on top of regular property taxes.
The program will be complaint-based, meaning residents will be able to report suspected vacant properties to the city. Unlike similar programs in other Ontario municipalities, Windsor won’t require all property owners to declare their principal residences occupied.
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“This program is designed to encourage property owners to bring vacant homes back into the housing market,” Dilkens said during a media conference at city hall.
“Our goal is to transform vacant properties into thriving homes. This helps to address the housing shortage while improving the overall health and safety and well-being of neighbourhoods across the entire city.
“We see the negative impacts of vacant homes on our community, particularly in situations where vacant homes also go neglected.”
Council approved the city-wide tax on vacant homes in November.
Several circumstances exempt vacant properties from the tax: principal residences; units considered under construction, renovation, or redevelopment with city-issued permits to back up the claim; and units vacant for up to two years following the owner’s death or admittance to a hospital or care home.
Also exempted: units listed for lease or sale for up to one year; property that had an ownership transfer during the year; units vacant due to court order or proceedings; multi-residential properties with more than six units; social or affordable housing units that receive funding from the city.
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Once the city receives a report of a vacant property, the city will send the property owner a declaration form, and send staff out to visit the residence. Any property owner who deliberately falsifies information on the declaration will be issued a $3,500 fine.
The program will run annually, with the net revenue generated from the tax being re-invested into the city’s housing initiatives, including the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan.
The city estimates Windsor currently has between 250 and 500 vacant homes.
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Ward 2 Coun. Fabio Costante represents neighbourhoods with dozens of boarded-up houses and has long pushed for a tax on vacant homes. Following Tuesday’s announcement, he said he’s happy the program is finally underway.
“This has always been described as one tool in a large toolkit when we’re dealing with our housing crisis, but it’s an effective one, in my view,” Costante said.
“Any vacant property that we can now activate as a result of this vacant home tax is going to help chisel away at the housing crisis that we’re dealing with.”
Residents can report suspected vacant properties through Windsor’s 311 system.
tcampbell@postmedia.com
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