Suncheon-si Transforms Troubling Vacant Houses into New Residential Spaces

4-Year Lease at Half Market Price: 'Suncheon-Style Vacant House Remodeling' Project

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 8th that it is promoting the ‘Suncheon-type Vacant House Remodeling Project’ amid the serious housing difficulties caused by rising house prices and aging houses.

The Suncheon-type Vacant House Remodeling Project remodels the increasing vacant houses in the downtown area and rents them out for 4 years at half the surrounding market price.

The target tenants are newlyweds, university students, and low-income groups, who can secure housing at a price lower than the surrounding market price.

The city comprehensively considers the preservation status of vacant houses and surrounding transportation conditions to select vacant houses for tenants, and provides subsidies of up to 50% of the total remodeling construction cost (maximum 25 million KRW) to vacant house owners on the condition of half-price rent.

Last year, 6 households moved in by recreating spaces in 5 vacant houses in the old downtown area.

This year, remodeling of 2 vacant houses is completed, and 3 more are being recruited, so 15 people are expected to move in early next year.

In addition, Suncheon City is promoting various policies to manage vacant houses.

They are conducting the ‘Vacant House Maintenance Project’ which supports vacant house demolition and the ‘Vacant House Survey’ to build a vacant house platform.

After completing the vacant house survey in April next year, the city plans to prepare various vacant house utilization plans by referring to overseas vacant house renovation subsidies from the UK and Japan, remodeling of communal housing for elderly living alone, and vacant house sales services.

A city official from the Architecture Department of Suncheon said, “Through the remodeling project that reutilizes vacant houses, we are enjoying the dual effect of improving the downtown landscape and providing stable housing for vulnerable groups,” and added, “In the future, we will strengthen publicity on the project’s effects and build a vacant house platform to seek unique and effective vacant house utilization plans exclusive to Suncheon Bay.”