Empty Homes, Honolulu City Council

Honolulu City Council postpones empty-homes tax bill
An empty-homes tax meant to penalize real-­property owners who leave their Oahu residences vacant for extended periods of time was formally deferred Wednesday evening by the Honolulu City Council.
Honolulu Council Punts Empty Homes Tax Vote, Extends Sprinklers Deadline
The empty homes proposal, which would raise property taxes on homes left vacant at least six months out of the year, drew a packed house and hours of testimony before the council delayed a vote until the completion of a fiscal study, with initial results expected in January.
New council tax premium for empty homes
The decision to introduce the premium was made at a council meeting last week. For homes which have stood empty for between one and five years, owners will pay double the standard level of council tax. Homes unoccupied for between five and 10 years will be three times the standard charge.
After hours of testimony, city council defers decision on empty homes tax bill
The council decided to follow the city administration's request to wait for a study to be completed on the measure
Empty homes tax bill up for final reading Dec. 11
The Residential E classification simplifies the original (EHT) proposal by integrating it into the city’s property tax system,” Council staff stated in a news release. “It targets vacant or underused residential properties,
Oahu lawmakers vote to defer controversial empty homes tax
Oahu lawmakers voted to defer the Empty Homes Tax, which aimed to tax vacant properties to boost housing supply. The issue will be revisited after a city study is completed
City council to vote Wednesday on empty homes tax bill
Everybody wants to come here, so for the wealthy, this is a great place just to park money,” he added.But the problem of empty homes is not only in high-end neighborhoods.In Alewa Heights, HNN spotted at least two homes that have been empty for years where paint is chipping off and windows are boarded up.
Second homes are also due to see council tax bills double under the changes.
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Will Exemptions In Honolulu’s Empty Homes Tax Bill Water Down Its Effect?
Council members say Honolulu’s housing crisis, which a 2019 state-commissioned study estimated requires adding more than 22,000 units by next year to meet demand, spurred the empty homes tax. Tax those units sitting vacant, the thinking goes, and owners will have incentive to sell or rent them out.
Honolulu City Council to debate controversial empty homes tax
The Honolulu City Council will debate the controversial Empty Homes Tax today, with strong opinions on both sides about how to address the housing crisis.
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Council postpones empty-homes tax bill
An empty-homes tax meant to penalize real-­property owners who leave their Oahu residences vacant for extended periods of time was formally deferred Wednesday evening by the Honolulu City ...