Japan to create zones for repurposing vacant homes

TOKYO Kyodo Japan plans to establish zones that simplify procedures for repurposing vacant homes into cafes and lodging facilities in an effort to reduce the growing number of uninhabited properties across the country, a draft bill showed Monday.

The bill intended to revise the law on special measures for vacant houses, the government is aiming to create 100 such zones within five years of the law taking effect. The bill will be submitted to the current parliament session.

The changes will make it easier for municipalities to demolish properties at risk of collapse, while vacant houses that are not adequately maintained will be made ineligible for preferential property tax treatment, encouraging owners to take prompt action.

The number of vacant houses in Japan has gone up 1.5 fold over the past 20 years, with the figure only expected to increase due to the declining population. Some 3.49 million properties are left unoccupied for long periods.

The government is working to encourage their use before they become deteriorated due to concerns that vacant buildings have a negative impact on anti-disaster measures, crime prevention, sanitation and the scenery.

The municipalities will decide where to establish the zones, which are envisioned to include areas where tourism is promoted and city centers, as well as guidelines for their use.

The proposed amendment will simplify procedures for marking vacant houses in poor condition for demolition.

After going through a process called execution by proxy, local governments can demolish houses at risk of collapsing. When there is a high degree of urgency, such as natural disasters causing further damage, some steps can be omitted under the revised law.

Vacant houses marked as being at risk of collapsing are currently ineligible for a preferential system that reduces the property tax on land with residential homes.

The changes will make owners of properties that are not properly maintained and don't comply with their local government's advice to repair or rebuild ineligible for preferential tax treatment.