[mschuster91]

There is an easy solution preventing empty homes in markets with a high rate of vacant homes combined with a high rate of involuntary homeless: a tax of 40% of the value as recorded at deed transfer per year of emptiness. Exceptions only given in case of reasonable vacancy (e.g. due to construction works or damages).

If the property ends up vacant for 2 years, government appoints random renters - for a maximum rent no higher than the rate the lowest 10% city-wide is. No possibility of eviction for ten years, except for willful/grossly negligent damage to property or unfit conduct (e.g. disturbing the peace, running drug dens or harassment of other renters). If an owner intentionally does not repair damages to claim the tax exception, government is authorized to do the repairs themselves and recoup costs from the owner.

That should be proper incentive for developers to build housing that is actually wanted and for speculation owners to rent out homes and to keep them intact/rentable.

Edit: for the downvoters, please explain why. This is a system that is the law in Berlin, only with a drastically higher tax rate and lower minimum rent.

[war1025]

You would have fared much better if you led with the fact that a similar system is already in place in Berlin.

The comment reads as an extreme solution that no one would ever implement. The fact that it is already implemented somewhere gives it a lot more credibility.

[sidlls]

I think this is the kernel of a great idea. Empty homes in urban areas especially ought to be relatively rare and we need to have ways to incentivize utilization--with both carrot and stick.

[mateo411]

I think the main idea is what's known as a vacancy tax. If people want to park their money in SF property but not use it, that's fine, they'll just have to pay more.

[narag]

Some questions:

Was this system intended for the homeless?

Were there many vacants before?

How has the offer responded to such measures?

How difficult is to evict a grossly negligent or misbehaved tenant?