## Chapter 4: Forming the comfortable living place

## Section 1 – Realizing Prosperous Housing

### 1. Promotion of Basic Plan (National Plan) on Housing

Accompanying the arrival of the aging of society with a low birth rate and changes in the social situation, in order to realize the prosperous lifestyles of citizens for now as well as the future, based on the “Basic Plan (National Plan) on Housing”, measures on ensuring living security and improvement promotion are being pushed forward for achieving the following four targets. The four targets are 1) to develop good-quality residential stock and pass it down to future generations, 2) to develop good living environments, 3) to develop the conditions of the housing market enabling it to suit diversified housing needs, 4) to secure stable supply of housing for those who require special consideration on housing assurance. In FY 2009, the related ministries and government offices held the meeting of measures promotion improving housing stability. Also, the implementation progress of measures focused on the cooperative measures on the aspects of housing, social welfare and crime prevention was summarized.

## (1) Measures for extending housing lifetimes

In June 2009, the “Act on the Promotion of Popularization of Long-life Quality Housing” came into effect. This act aims to switch to a stock-focused society through promoting durable and maintenance-friendly housing, “Long-life Quality Housing (LLQH).” Based on this act, 57,127 units were certified as LLQH in FY 2009. Since FY2008, MLIT have subsidized projects in the private sector that contribute to the promotion of LLQH (113 projects in FY 2009).

(2) Development of good-quality residential stock and inheritance by future generations

1) Environmental development of housing renovation market

For the purpose of proper circumstances for house remodeling, a professional consultation system for the remodeling cost estimate and a lawyer consultation system for troubles were established. In addition, a telephone-consultation organization was strengthened by increasing staff. Moreover, defect warranty insurance for small-scale housing remodeling and large-scale apartment remodeling were approved and marketed in December 2009 and March 2010 respectively. At the same time, the list of constructors registered to the insurance corporation was released to the public for consumers' reference when choosing

Transition in the market size of housing renovation (estimate)

Notes: 1. [Market size of housing renovation in a broad category] includes the expenditure amount of extension and rebuilding constructions categorized as "new housing" defined in the housing statistics, consumer durables related to housing renovation such as air conditioners and furniture, etc. and interior merchandise.

2. The estimated market size excludes large-scales repair or renovation of public spaces of condominiums, renovation of rental apartments and its exterior facilities by the owner.

3. This market size is estimated by the Center for Housing Renovation and Dispute Settlement Support based on the "Annual Statistics on Building Construction Started" (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport), "Annual household expenditure survey report" (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) and "the nationwide population, the number of households and dynamic analysis of population" (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications).

## construction corporations

Moreover, in order to encourage renovation, the popularization of the Refonet for providing diversified information related to the renovation, and the maintenance and popularization of home maintenance records are being pushed forward.

In addition, the Housing Eco-Point Scheme, which issues points for enabling the swap of energy-saving and environmentally-friendly products through Eco-Renovation (insulation renovation of windows, outer walls, roofs, ceilings and floors) and newly built eco-houses, was established in January 2010 and the promotion of Eco-Renovation is being worked out.