9 Million Vacant Houses Across Japan
Worsening Due to Low Birthrate and Regional Disappearance
Inherited but Uninhabited Due to Rural Location
Higher Demolition Costs Lead to Choosing Free Transfer
"This is an item acquired through inheritance. I lived here until June last year. The estimate for dismantling the building seems to exceed 2 million yen (17.45 million KRW). Please be aware of this and we are looking for someone to take it over as-is for 0 yen."
In Japan, "0 yen real estate," where people look for someone to take over vacant houses or land for free, is gaining popularity. Most cases involve inheritance from parents, and since these properties are located in rural areas and do not sell well, plus annual costs such as taxes, maintenance, and repairs, owners seek someone to take them over without charge. In Japan, where low birth rates and regional extinction are serious social issues, vacant houses have come to be seen as a burden to people, and instead of the character for real estate (不動産), they are called "負動産" (burden real estate) using the character for burden (負).
A case where an old detached house was transferred free of charge and reborn as a store. [Photo source=Moduui0Enmulgeon homepage]
On the 22nd, Japanese local broadcaster TV Niigata focused on stories of homeowners trying to dispose of vacant houses even at a loss. Instead of general real estate agencies, they seek specialists who exclusively handle vacant houses to request sales. Because these properties sell at very low prices, general real estate agencies often refuse, saying brokerage fees are not even covered.
In fact, selling vacant houses is a loss not only for agencies but also for homeowners. For example, for a vacant detached house listed at 300,000 yen (2.61 million KRW), after deducting transaction fees, the homeowner receives less than 100,000 yen (870,000 KRW) for both land and building combined. Additionally, since the seller must hire a professional for name transfer, it is effectively a loss even if the house is sold. Nevertheless, the sales of vacant houses continue. To stop ongoing costs such as fixed asset tax, owners prefer to dispose of the property immediately even at a loss.
Vacant houses in Japan are steadily increasing. TV Niigata reported, "Currently, the proportion of vacant houses among homes in Niigata Prefecture is 15.3%, the highest ever," adding, "One in seven houses is vacant." They also stated, "The total number of vacant houses across Japan reaches 9 million."
Given this situation, companies specializing exclusively in brokering 0 yen priced houses have emerged and attracted attention. "Everyone's 0 Yen Properties" connects people who want to sell vacant houses or land for free with those who want to buy them through its website. Established in 2019, this company has introduced 1,100 listings so far, with 880 contracts concluded, accounting for 80% of those listings.
Ry? Nakamura, the company’s founder, said, "In 2018, my father passed away and I inherited a vacant house. Since I had no plans to live there, I tried to dispose of it, but after calculating building dismantling costs, disposal fees, and expected land sale income, I realized a loss of 2.66 million yen (23.22 million KRW). I unknowingly inherited a negative asset," adding, "At that time, I met someone who wanted to open a store in that house, and I transferred both the land and building free of charge, which became the starting point of this business."
In this way, houses in Japan, even when inherited, act as burdens that feel more like debts. TV Niigata urged, "To avoid turning precious assets into burden real estate (負動産), it is important to prepare what you can from now on."
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