>there are a million reasons why you might need to leave your house for 6 months or longer //
Could you give a few examples? I know some rich middle-class (UK) people who have left their home for a couple of months whilst they've had renovations. And I know a few people, again pretty well off, that have travelled extensively abroad or lived abroad and rented out. Beyond that though?
I do think they should adjust to allow small-scale local-owner rental.
>Policies like this make it crystal clear; you own nothing, even owners are renters [...] //
I think they make it clear that peoples housing needs are being preferred over rich peoples right to profit from those same housing needs.
It could be to care for a sick, disabled, or mentally ill relative. Or because the resident gets sick and needs to move in with a relative.
It could be some sort of seasonal work transfer, or an unexpected work transfer that you are forced into until finding a new position back home. Or maybe you are taking a sabbatical. Or a stint in the peace corps (I think that's usually 18 months).
3 months is a long overseas assignment in most roles, I guess your company would have to pay you enough to make it worthwhile. That's not the city struggling for housing stocks problem.
Military deployment, seems reasonable, I wonder how many deployable military are living in these houses; also wouldn't the location remain your primary residence and so avoid the tax?
Wanting to live somewhere else? That's exactly what the tax is for - pay up or change your residence.
You asked for reasons why someone might choose to move out of their house for 6 months or longer rather than rent it out. I gave a few; nothing more. By all means, I support the local government's right to pass whatever laws/policies/incentives they want as representatives of the residents and a policy could be good on balance even if it screws over a few edge cases.
BTW, most of our overseas assignments are 2 years initially. 3 months seems more like a long business trip, not an overseas assignment to me.
Could you give a few examples? I know some rich middle-class (UK) people who have left their home for a couple of months whilst they've had renovations. And I know a few people, again pretty well off, that have travelled extensively abroad or lived abroad and rented out. Beyond that though?
I do think they should adjust to allow small-scale local-owner rental.
>Policies like this make it crystal clear; you own nothing, even owners are renters [...] //
I think they make it clear that peoples housing needs are being preferred over rich peoples right to profit from those same housing needs.