Mayoral hopeful tackles scourge of vacant properties

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This article was published 07/06/2022 (1387 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mayoral candidate says the City of Winnipeg should charge the owners of vacant homes a two per cent tax to discourage them from keeping the properties unused.

Rick Shone said far too many homes are left vacant for months or years, creating a blight that can attract arson, crime and other dangers.

If elected, he has proposed the levy be based on the assessed value of homes that are left vacant for more than half of the previous year.

“If they sit vacant, particularly if they’re boarded up, they are a blight on the neighbourhood. Nobody likes to live next to a boarded house,” said Shone. “This can actually create a bit of a dangerous situation, if people (also) break into (the vacant homes) and squat and live (there).”

He said one such property near his business in the Centennial neighbourhood was broken into and repeatedly damaged by fire, including one blaze that threatened the house next door, before it was demolished.

Shone owns Wilderness Supply stores in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Ont.

His plan calls for the tax revenue to be devoted to affordable housing.

Some exemptions would ensure snowbirds, primary residents, those completing extensive renovations and others with clear plans to make use of a property don’t pay the fee.

Under current rules, the owners of vacant properties can be charged a one per cent tax on the value of their property, only after the city has inspected it for five years.

“What we’re saying is we need to speed this up. If a property is vacant for half a year, let’s figure out what you’re doing with that property and let’s get it moving so that either somebody can live there or you can sell it to somebody else who can make that property viable,” said Shone.

He is one of nine candidates registered to run for mayor in the Oct. 26 election.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga