Gimme Shelter: How High Municipal Housing Charges and Taxes Decrease Housing Supply

Summary:
Page Title:Gimme Shelter: How High Municipal Housing Charges and Taxes Decrease Housing Supply – C.D. Howe Institute
Article Title:Gimme Shelter: How High Municipal Housing Charges and Taxes Decrease Housing Supply
URL:https://cdhowe.org/publication/gimme-shelter-how-high-municipal-housing-charges-and-taxes-decrease-housing-supply/
Published Date:November 12, 2020
Accessed Date:February 14, 2025

​Taxes, Charges Drive up House Prices, Limit Supply

  • Taxes and charges on new and existing homes are a key driver of the cost and supply of affordable homes for Canadians.
  • Author Benjamin Dachis points to development charges, land transfer taxes, and murky density bonus payments as partial drivers of reduced supply and soaring house prices for would-be buyers.
  • Dachis calls on cities and provinces to change their taxes and charges on housing to lower the cost of new housing and increase supply. He proposes four key reforms.

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