---
title: "BC NDP on housing | BC provincial 2026 | voche.me"
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last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:06:11.749Z"
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**

BC NDP · BC provincial 2026

# A tax on unsold condos and a higher tax on empty homes

The BC NDP would create an Unsold Condo Tax on finished condos left unsold for more than a year, and raise the speculation and vacancy tax by one percentage point.

[Compare all parties on this ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/parties/issues/housing) [All eleven issues](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp/platform)

[**92**Candidates](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp/candidates) [**8/11**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp/platform) [**37**Sources on file](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp/money)

**5**Questions answered

HOUSING SUPPLY AND RENTAL RULES

## BC NDP on housing

The BC NDP announced its housing promises for this campaign in Burnaby on September 25, 2026. Both promises change taxes on homes that stand empty.

The party says its speculation and vacancy tax, a yearly tax on homes left empty, has already turned 20,000 empty units into homes. That is the party’s own figure, and voche.me has not checked it.

The party’s “Results for You” page lists housing actions it says it took in government, such as rules that allow townhouses, duplexes and triplexes, and limits on short-term rentals. The page carries no date, and some of its figures refer to 2024.

2 PUBLISHED COMMITMENTS

## What they say they will do

- ### A new Unsold Condo Tax

  Developers who leave a finished condo unsold for more than one year would pay a tax that starts at 2% and rises by 1% for each further year. The party says this could bring up to 5,000 condos onto the market.<dl><dt>Cost</dt><dd>The party has not published how much the tax would raise.</dd><dt>Who has the power</dt><dd>A provincial tax. The legislature would have to pass it.</dd></dl>

  [BC NDP](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-turn-more-empty-condos-homes-people-can-afford) [Maple Ridge News (Black Press)](https://mapleridgenews.com/2026/09/25/eby-promises-increase-to-b-c-s-speculation-tax-create-new-unsold-condo-tax/) [The Canadian Press, via National Newswatch](https://nationalnewswatch.com/2026/09/25/b-c-s-eby-says-ndp-would-tax-new-unsold-condos-raise-speculation-vacancy-fees)
- ### A higher speculation and vacancy tax

  The tax would rise by one percentage point: from 1% to 2% for owners in Canada and from 4% to 5% for foreign owners. The party says any extra money would go to building affordable homes.<dl><dt>Cost</dt><dd>The party has not published how much the change would raise.</dd><dt>Who has the power</dt><dd>A provincial tax. The legislature sets the rates.</dd></dl>

  [BC NDP](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-turn-more-empty-condos-homes-people-can-afford) [The Canadian Press, via National Newswatch](https://nationalnewswatch.com/2026/09/25/b-c-s-eby-says-ndp-would-tax-new-unsold-condos-raise-speculation-vacancy-fees)

### What is not published

- The party has not published how much money either tax change would raise.
- No new target for the number of homes to be built was found in the 2026 campaign releases.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

## Questions about this

<details>

<summary>What is the Unsold Condo Tax?

</summary>

It is a tax the BC NDP says it would create for finished condos that a developer has not sold after one year. The rate would start at 2% in the second year and rise by 1% each year after that. The Black Press report says the rate would apply to the condo’s assessed value.

<a href="https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-turn-more-empty-condos-homes-people-can-afford">BC NDP</a><a href="https://mapleridgenews.com/2026/09/25/eby-promises-increase-to-b-c-s-speculation-tax-create-new-unsold-condo-tax/">Maple Ridge News (Black Press)</a>

</details>

## Sources

A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true.

1. [Registered political parties in British Columbia ](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/Registered-Political-Parties-Information.pdf)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
2. [Candidate list for the October 24, 2026 general election ](https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/GE-2026-10-24-Candidate-Website-Report.PDF)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
3. [Current party standings, 43rd Parliament ](https://www.leg.bc.ca/members/current-party-standings)Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · checked September 30, 2026
4. [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election ](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
5. [Statement of Votes, 2020 Provincial General Election ](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2020-provincial-general-election.pdf)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
6. [Annual allowances to political parties ](https://elections.bc.ca/provincial-elections/provincial-financing/annual-allowances/)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
7. [Making a political contribution ](https://elections.bc.ca/provincial-elections/provincial-financing/making-a-political-contribution/)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
8. [Financial reporting and political contributions ](https://elections.bc.ca/candidates-parties/financial-reporting-and-political-contributions/)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
9. [Financial Reports and Political Contributions System, provincial search ](https://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/Options.aspx)Elections BC · checked September 30, 2026
10. [BC NDP home page ](https://www.bcndp.ca/)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · checked September 30, 2026
11. [BC NDP media centre ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · checked September 30, 2026
12. [Results for You ](https://www.bcndp.ca/action-for-you)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · checked September 30, 2026
13. [David Eby launches election with plan to build B.C. strong amid Trump’s attacks ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/david-eby-launches-election-plan-build-bc-strong-amid-trumps-attacks)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 22, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
14. [Eby to triple U.S. health worker recruitment ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-triple-us-health-worker-recruitment)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 23, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
15. [Eby pledges new “Built in B.C. and Canada” buying rules ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-pledges-new-built-bc-and-canada-buying-rules)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 24, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
16. [Eby to turn more empty condos into homes people can afford ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-turn-more-empty-condos-homes-people-can-afford)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 25, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
17. [Doerkson’s first campaign commitment confirms healthcare to “take the brunt” of their cuts ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/doerksons-first-campaign-commitment-confirms-healthcare-take-brunt-their-cuts)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 27, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
18. [Eby to double critical mineral exports, expand Port of Prince Rupert ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/eby-double-critical-mineral-exports-expand-port-prince-rupert)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 28, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
19. [David Eby secures largest private sector investment in Canadian history ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/david-eby-secures-largest-private-sector-investment-canadian-history)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 29, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
20. [Statement from BC NDP leader David Eby marking National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/statement-bc-ndp-leader-david-eby-marking-national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-and-orange)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published September 30, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
21. [David Eby and BC NDP focused on working together and fighting for people at 2025 Convention ](https://www.bcndp.ca/releases/david-eby-and-bc-ndp-focused-working-together-and-fighting-people-2025-convention)SAYS SO ITSELFBC NDP · published November 17, 2025 · checked September 30, 2026
22. [British Columbia’s next provincial election set for Oct. 24 after Eby calls early vote ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/livestory/british-columbia-snap-election-2026-ndp-leader-david-eby-9.7349059)CBC News · published September 22, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
23. [Meet the party leaders running in B.C.’s provincial election ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-provincial-election-party-leaders-list-9.7354333)CBC News (The Canadian Press) · published September 22, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
24. [Premier designate David Eby says B.C. NDP leadership acclamation “not how any of us expected this to end” ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/david-eby-ndp-leadership-campaign-elections-bc-1.6623522)CBC News · published October 20, 2022 · checked September 30, 2026
25. [Eby focuses on U.S. health worker recruitment at Surrey border stop ](https://arrowlakesnews.com/2026/09/23/eby-focuses-on-u-s-health-worker-recruitment-at-surrey-border-stop/)Peace Arch News (Black Press), republished by Arrow Lakes News · published September 23, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
26. [Eby promises increase to B.C.’s speculation tax, create new “Unsold Condo Tax” ](https://mapleridgenews.com/2026/09/25/eby-promises-increase-to-b-c-s-speculation-tax-create-new-unsold-condo-tax/)Maple Ridge News (Black Press) · published September 25, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
27. [B.C.’s Eby says NDP would tax new, unsold condos, raise speculation, vacancy fees ](https://nationalnewswatch.com/2026/09/25/b-c-s-eby-says-ndp-would-tax-new-unsold-condos-raise-speculation-vacancy-fees)The Canadian Press, via National Newswatch · published September 25, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
28. [Party leaders make economic, budget promises in Week 2 of B.C. election campaign ](https://energeticcity.ca/2026/09/28/b-c-election-campaigns-enter-second-week-with-candidate-policy-announcements/)The Canadian Press, via Energeticcity · published September 28, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
29. [Kropp, Alexis, Jhaj and Monds named Abbotsford-Mission candidates ](https://abbynews.com/2026/09/28/gasper-alexis-jhaj-and-monds-to-seek-abbotsford-mission-seat/)Abbotsford News (Black Press) · published September 28, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
30. [B.C. budget includes tax increases, 15K public job cuts, projected $13B deficit ](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-budget-2026-9.7094451)CBC News · published February 17, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
31. [BC Backs Off on DRIPA Amendments. For Now ](https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/04/14/BC-Backs-Off-DRIPA-Amendments/)The Tyee · published April 14, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
32. [First Nations say Eby backs down again, now seeks joint path on B.C. Indigenous law ](https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/04/20/first-nations-say-eby-backs-down-again-on-bc-indigenous-law/)The Canadian Press, via CP24 · published April 19, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
33. [The provincial deficit dropped by $3.3 billion to $7.7 billion in 2025/26: Bailey ](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/10/news/provincial-deficit-dropped-33-billion-77-billion-202526-bailey)The Canadian Press, via Canada’s National Observer · published August 10, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
34. [LNG Canada to go ahead with Phase 2 in Kitimat, B.C. ](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2026/09/29/lng-canada-to-go-ahead-with-phase-2-expansion-project-in-kitimat-bc/)The Canadian Press, via BNN Bloomberg · published September 29, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
35. [Prime Minister Carney welcomes LNG Canada Phase 2 ](https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/09/29/prime-minister-carney-welcomes-lng-canada-phase-2-second-largest)Prime Minister of Canada · published September 29, 2026 · checked September 30, 2026
36. [New Democratic Party, Encyclopedia of British Columbia ](https://www.knowbc.com/knowbc/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/N/New-Democratic-Party)KnowBC (Encyclopedia of British Columbia, Harbour Publishing) · checked September 30, 2026
37. [The New Democratic Party: A Look Back ](https://thetyee.ca/Election/Battleground/2005/05/11/NDPLookback/print.html)The Tyee · published May 11, 2005 · checked September 30, 2026

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