Tax landlords for empty shops, says councillor

A Douglas councillor says taxing empty shops would be the simplest way to help the Island's ailing retailers.

After the government announced it would launch a strategy to reduce the number of empty units over the next decade, Devon Watson took to social media.

He says one of the biggest cost for shops is rent and many businesses can't afford high prices.

And he says vacancy taxes would be the easiest way to stop landlords leaving properties empty for extended periods.

One of the biggest cost for businesses is rent.

Some high street stores require hundreds of thousands of pounds a year just on rent alone. Vacancy taxes would be the simplest way to disincentivise leaving properties empty for months or years at a time. https://t.co/SFGpAUezPm

— Devon Watson 🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@drwatsonsa) January 7, 2025