Vacancy Tax Berkeley – Yes on Measure M

Berkeley Needs Homes, Not Blight

Vote YES on Measure M the Vacancy Tax

The Problem

Housing is unaffordable and unavailable. We need every landlord to do their part: make housing available or pay a tax.

Nearly 3% of former rental units are off the market altogether. Nobody can live there, resulting in a tragic waste of resources, space, and housing stock.

The housing crisis disproportionately impacts low-income renters and renters of color. Almost half of Alameda County’s tenants, well over half of Black tenants and almost 90% of extremely low-income renters are rent burdened.

How It Works

The proposed tax would be imposed after 182 days of vacancy and provides extensions for units worked on or in probate.

The vacancy tax is greater for units that are bigger and those empty longer, encouraging owners to put units back on the market.

Exemptions

TAX YEAR	VACANCY STATUS	SMALLER BUILDINGS	BIGGER BUILDINGS
2024	Vacant this year	$3,000	$6000
2025 and later	Vacant this and the prior year	$6000	$12,000

Impact

The tax will generate between $3.9 and $5.9 million in annual revenue each year
Hundreds of vacant homes could become available to live in within two years

With this money, we can

Construct new affordable housing
Acquire and rehabilitate multi-unit buildings for housing and low-income households
Fulfill other city needs