News Japan to tighten laws against abandoned houses

The number of vacant houses not serving a residential purpose has almost doubled during the past two decades, to nearly 3.5 million in 2018, according to an official housing survey, with the figure expected to reach 4.7 million in 2030. The government says these akiya, disused houses, could cause security and sanitary problems as they decay. [...] The proposed bill to amend the law -- approved by the cabinet in March and currently under Diet deliberation -- is expected to give authorities stronger control. Vacant houses usually gain a property tax reduction because they are still considered housing lots. But the amendment would eliminate the reduction for unkempt akiya, even if they are not specified as risky buildings. As a consequence, an owner's taxes on such properties could jump sixfold, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

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Some experts say another contributing factor is Japan's relatively small market for existing homes. According to the ministry, unit transactions of pre-owned houses made up less than 15% of total housing transactions in 2018, in sharp contrast with the U.S. at 81% and the U.K. at 86%. "In this sense, vacant houses are an issue unique to Japan," a representative from Katitas, a Tokyo-listed company that purchases vacant houses, remodels them, then flips them, told Nikkei Asia. A woman in her 30s living in Tokyo, who recently sold a house in Akita Prefecture she inherited from her late father to the company, said she wanted to do away with it quickly due to the burden it would have on her. "It would be difficult to manage the house from afar, as the roof would need to be cleared of snow in winter."

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Some experts say another contributing factor is Japan's relatively small market for existing homes. According to the ministry, unit transactions of pre-owned houses made up less than 15% of total housing transactions

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A vehicle belonging to the ward's government arrives at a heavily overgrown property. The team inside is part of a specialized task force dealing with abandoned homes, and today they are conducting an inspection of one such property. The target is a building cloaked in thick vegetation. Its roof has collapsed, and ivy now clings to the remaining walls. Once there was a window, now only remnants remain. A narrow 97-centimeter-wide path is the only access to the building, making entry difficult. Leading the team is Chiba, the head of Setagaya's abandoned property countermeasures unit. "You can only get in by going through that path. This land belongs to a private owner, and without entering, we can't proceed," she says. The property is designated as a "specified abandoned house," a classification for structures that pose significant harm to their surroundings. Setagaya Ward has issued a demolition order, but the owner has yet to comply. "This is a preliminary investigation to prepare for demolition," Chiba explains. Due to the narrow pathway, regular heavy equipment cannot be brought in for demolition work. Locals express unease about the mysterious, deteriorating property. An empty beer can was recently found at the site, raising questions about who might be entering the building. Beyond attracting vermin, such structures are considered potential sites for crime.

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