[bhc]

Is a flat rate fine a good idea in this case?

I imagine an investor keeping his or her $30M mansion just as a hedge against RMB depreciation and keeping it empty will think nothing of the $10,000 fine.

[elchief]

it's 1% of the previous year's assessed value. $10,000 was an example

http://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/vancouver-introduces-empty...

[cecilpl]

The headline assumes a $1m house. From the article:

> The empty-home tax will take effect by Jan. 1 and will be calculated at 1 percent of the property’s assessed value.

[pbhjpbhj]

Why could you not make the charge for non-payment be something like 50% of the assessed value or repossession of the property. Why do you have to leave an easy route out.