An Auckland mayoral candidate wants to impose extra rates on empty houses, commercial buildings and land to help solve the city's housing shortage.
Auckland mayoral candidate Vic Crone Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall
National Party-aligned Auckland Future mayoral candidate Vic Crone said some properties were sitting unused for capital gain.
She proposed measures to make it less attractive to sit on property or unoccupied buildings for more than six months, including targeted rates, rezoning, a time limit on developments, and improving the council's consenting process.
"This is important and it is urgent. We don't have enough homes available and it is a supply and demand issue and we have to get the supply up and these measures are targeted at getting supply into the market faster. And every little bit we do will help."
The size of the targeted rates would need to be consulted on, she said.
