[pbhjpbhj]

>there are a million reasons why you might need to leave your house for 6 months or longer //

Could you give a few examples? I know some rich middle-class (UK) people who have left their home for a couple of months whilst they've had renovations. And I know a few people, again pretty well off, that have travelled extensively abroad or lived abroad and rented out. Beyond that though?

I do think they should adjust to allow small-scale local-owner rental.

>Policies like this make it crystal clear; you own nothing, even owners are renters [...] //

I think they make it clear that peoples housing needs are being preferred over rich peoples right to profit from those same housing needs.

[zaroth]

It could be to care for a sick, disabled, or mentally ill relative. Or because the resident gets sick and needs to move in with a relative.

It could be some sort of seasonal work transfer, or an unexpected work transfer that you are forced into until finding a new position back home. Or maybe you are taking a sabbatical. Or a stint in the peace corps (I think that's usually 18 months).

[sokoloff]

I might want to live in a warm climate for 183 days per year and Vancouver for the rest.

I might have a temporary overseas assignment.

I might have a military deployment. (Or UN or Peace Corps.)

[pbhjpbhj]

3 months is a long overseas assignment in most roles, I guess your company would have to pay you enough to make it worthwhile. That's not the city struggling for housing stocks problem.

Military deployment, seems reasonable, I wonder how many deployable military are living in these houses; also wouldn't the location remain your primary residence and so avoid the tax?

Wanting to live somewhere else? That's exactly what the tax is for - pay up or change your residence.

[sokoloff]

You asked for reasons why someone might choose to move out of their house for 6 months or longer rather than rent it out. I gave a few; nothing more. By all means, I support the local government's right to pass whatever laws/policies/incentives they want as representatives of the residents and a policy could be good on balance even if it screws over a few edge cases.

BTW, most of our overseas assignments are 2 years initially. 3 months seems more like a long business trip, not an overseas assignment to me.

[nommm-nommm]

You must be filthy rich to be able to keep an empty house for 2 years.

[sokoloff]

Not if your housing is covered overseas as part of the package (whether private or military).