In response to the ever-increasing number of vacant houses, a revised law that includes lifting measures to reduce property taxes for properties that are inadequately managed was approved and enacted at a plenary session of the House of Councillors on the 7th.
Regarding measures against vacant houses, the "Act on Special Measures against Vacant Houses" enforced in 2015 allows properties with a particularly high risk, such as the risk of collapse if left unattended, to be designated as "specified vacant houses" and can be removed.
However, since these measures have not progressed sufficiently and the number of vacant houses continues to increase, a revised law that includes strengthening measures at the stage before becoming a specific vacant house was approved and enacted with a majority of votes at the plenary session of the House of Councillors on the 7th.
Under the revised law, properties that may become specified vacant houses if left unattended are newly designated as "unmanaged vacant houses," and if the situation does not improve, the property tax reduction measure will be lifted.
In the previous system, it has been pointed out that even vacant houses are subject to reduced property taxes as housing, leading to their neglect, and this revision aims to encourage owners to manage them appropriately, such as removal.
In addition, the revised law also includes strengthening the authority of the government when removing specific vacant houses.
The law is expected to come into force within six months of its promulgation.