So Chow’s agenda is unapologetically geared to supporting renters and whacking owners, especially those whose homes have appreciated in a way only capitalists cheer. Her actions list: - A new luxury homes tax. Says her pledge: “Olivia Chow will ask the wealthiest to chip in more through a luxury homes tax. She will raise the Municipal Land Transfer Tax on luxury homes, with new graduated rates on purchases of homes valued at over $3 million, $5 million, $20 million and so on. She’ll use the money to support people experiencing homelessness and help people stay housed.” Toronto already has the highest land transfer fees in North America.
- A tripling of the new ‘empty house’ tax which has just come into effect. In a city trying to be an international business centre and where lots of people have DT pied-à-terres, it’s consequential. Says she: “Housing should be lived in, not sit empty as a commodity for speculators. The City’s Vacant Homes Tax is designed to reduce the number of empty homes and make more homes available to rent. Olivia will raise the Vacant Homes Tax from 1% to 3% to make more homes available, and she will use the funds from the tax for affordable housing initiatives.”
- Empower renters and gut landlord protection. Chow’s Renter Action Committee will, “Develop a strong City of Toronto Anti-Renovictions Bylaw that will leverage the City’s authorities to deter renovictions and work to launch an advocacy campaign to preserve affordability for renters by urging the Ontario government to institute real rent control for all rental units, that’s tied to the unit and not just the tenant.”
- Increase property taxes, certainly above the current rate of inflation. Some of her political opponents claim the hike will eventually be north of 20%.
- Take $100 million a year from property owners and establish a ‘Secure Affordable Homes Fund’ with the power to override any offer on listed properties, taking them off the private market and giving them to not-for-profits, community land trusts, and Indigenous housing providers. “By having this right to buy properties listed for sale, the City can step in and secure even more affordable units.”
周的行动清单:
- 新的豪宅税。她的承诺是:“周奥利维亚将要求最富有的人通过豪宅税提供更多资金。她将提高豪华住宅的市政土地转让税,对购买价值超过 300 万美元、500 万美元、2000 万美元等的房屋实行新的累进税率。她将用这笔钱来支持无家可归的人们,并帮助人们找到住房。” 多伦多的土地转让费已经是北美最高的。
- 刚刚生效的新“空置房屋”税增加了两倍。在一个试图成为国际商业中心且许多人都拥有 DT 临时住所的城市中,这是非常重要的。她说:“住房应该用来居住,而不是作为投机者的商品闲置。该市的空置房屋税旨在减少空置房屋的数量并提供更多房屋可供出租。奥利维亚将把空置房屋税从 1% 提高到 3%,以提供更多住房,她将把税收资金用于经济适用房计划。”
- 赋予租户权力并加强房东保护。周先生的租户行动委员会将“制定一项强有力的多伦多市反翻新章程,利用该市当局阻止翻新,并努力发起一场宣传活动,敦促安大略省政府对所有人实行真正的租金管制,以保持租户的负担能力”出租单位,这与单位有关,而不仅仅是与租户有关。”
- 提高财产税,当然要高于当前的通货膨胀率。她的一些政治对手声称加息最终将超过 20%。
- 每年从业主那里筹集 1 亿美元,建立一个“安全经济适用房基金”,该基金有权推翻对上市房产的任何报价,将其从私人市场上撤出,并将其提供给非营利组织、社区土地信托和原住民住房提供者。“通过拥有购买待售房产的权利,市政府可以介入并获得更实惠的单位。”
房东噩耗
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