Young’s housing ideas favour hotel industry

Re: “Better solutions exist than taxing vacant home,” comment, March 1. Victoria Coun. Geoff Young should think through his so-called “solutions” to deal with the problem of Victoria’s housing situation.

In particular, I refer to his comments on transient accommodation, where propertyowners rent out space short-term via such facilitators as Airbnb. In order to discourage this and, supposedly, increase housing stock, he advocates that this type of accommodation be not only taxed at the same higher rate as hotels, but also be reassessed to pay the higher commercial property-tax rates — yet again bringing them in line with the hotels.

This shows a lack of empathy for property owners, particularly seniors, who have had to resort to renting out rooms on a short-term basis to supplement their income to be able to afford the high cost of living — and already high taxes — in this city. Nor does it take into consideration the effect on the local economy of the spending by tourists and other visitors to Victoria who, deprived of reasonably priced accommodation, will hesitate — if not cease altogether — to visit this city.

Young’s proposals seemingly are directly in accordance with those proposed in a recent letter to council from the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria, which states that short-term vacation rentals pose a distinct “threat” to the hotel industry and that there should be a “level playing field.” How absurd is that?

Are these seeming absurdities of Young and the hotel association merely a coincidence, then? Kate Hanley Victoria