Hamilton politicians approve citywide bylaw that taxes vacant homes – Hamilton [Video]

Hamilton politicians cleared the way Wednesday to implement a citywide bylaw that taxes vacant homes.

The one per cent vacant unit tax (VUT), approved by council, will apply to residential units in the city whose owners don’t identify a dwelling as occupied.

The levy will take effect in January and aims to discourage properties from being left unattended and free up an estimated 1,000 empty units for rentals.

The approval comes six months after initial legislation didn’t pass a council ratification vote following debate and information sessions in 2023, which saw thumbs up at other levels.

At issue was the principle behind how the city planned to collect the tax, by sending out some 177,000 letters to owners with the expectation that close to 100 per cent would come back with a response.

Eastside (Ward 5) Coun. Matt Francis, who was one of the six voting against the tax in …