Mindset Reform Needed to Face the Vacant House Problem
Hello 😃🌞
I am Kondo, an administrative scrivener thinking about solutions to the vacant house problem.
Today, I would like to share my thoughts after reading a news article about the "2024 Housing and Living White Paper" published by the All Japan Real Estate Federation and the All Japan Real Estate Guarantee Association.
The text within the lines below is quoted from the real estate news by Real Estate Economic Institute Co., Ltd. dated Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
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Approximately 40% are involved in the "vacant house" issue / All Japan Real Estate Federation Survey
On the 23rd, the All Japan Real Estate Federation and the All Japan Real Estate Guarantee Association released the "2024 Housing and Living White Paper." They conducted an online "Fixed-Point/Awareness Survey on Housing" targeting 5,003 men and women aged 20 to 65 nationwide, summarizing changes in consumer awareness regarding housing from 2023 to 2024. The survey period was from August 16 to 21, 2024.
~Omitted~
Regarding questions about vacant houses, 37.6% of respondents answered that their own or their family's house is "already a vacant house or has the potential to become one in the future," revealing that approximately 40% are involved in the vacant house problem. While many answered that they "feel the need for discussion but have done nothing" (35.2%) or are "leaving it as is/have not thought about it" (22.5%) regarding vacant houses, 22.4% also stated that they are "proceeding with discussions within the family (parents and children)."
To solve the vacant house problem, "subsidies for demolition costs" (39.9%), "administrative outreach to vacant house owners" (24.6%), and "tax incentives and subsidies for new users of vacant houses" (22.2%) are considered effective.
https://www.re-port.net/article/news/0000076857/
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According to the recently published "2024 Housing and Living White Paper," the reality that approximately 40% of people are involved in the vacant house problem has been brought to light. In particular, 37.6% of people feel that they "already have a vacant house or have the potential for one in the future," which reaffirmed to me that this is a nationwide issue, not just a regional one.
What left a particularly strong impression on me was the fact that even when there is an awareness of the problems regarding vacant houses, there are many cases where nothing is actually done. 35.2% answered that they "feel the need for discussion but have done nothing," and I believe this phenomenon indicates that for owners, a vacant house becomes a kind of "burden of postponing the problem." This is consistent with the current situation I see while working in the real estate industry.
There is no doubt that specific support measures such as demolition cost subsidies and tax incentives are necessary to solve the vacant house problem. However, I feel that it is even more important for individuals and families to actively discuss vacant houses and make plans early. Along with administrative support, unless the mindset of each and every resident changes, the problem will only continue to worsen.
I will end here for today.
I look forward to your continued support next time.