If you own a second home, travel for long stretches, or leave a property mostly unused, 2026 may feel different for one simple reason: your house now generates a data trail. Smart meters and advanced utility systems can show extremely detailed patterns of electricity and water use, and low-use patterns can raise questions about whether a property is truly occupied. Researchers have shown it’s possible to infer occupancy from electricity-consumption patterns, which is why utility data keeps popping up in housing policy conversations. And while there isn’t one nationwide vacancy tax or “empty house fine,” several cities already use vacancy-style rules, and enforcement often happens through audits that demand evidence.
