Housing is Political

Reforming tax policies of the residential real estate transactions in the City of Belgrade

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to explore the possibilities to increase social and distributive justice in the Belgrade housing policy context. The research is conducted through the analysis of the effects that the existing housing tax policies and its relation to investments, purchase, owning and renting houses in the capital of Serbia. The research is threefold: firstly, the paper analyses the existing institutional framework for housing taxes; secondly, the authors conduct qualitative research by interviewing real estate agents and house buyers to determine their motives for purchasing their first or additional houses; thirdly, the paper provides a comprehensive model of housing prices determinants in the city of Belgrade. By cross comparing the research results, the paper aims at developing alternative models of taxation which would have significant impact on housing policies, linking them to social justice principles. The change of the tax policies should make houses affordable for those who are buying their first property and intending to live in them, and progressively expensive for those who buy houses for their businesses or as a form of investments or personal savings.