## (2) Providing quality housing

## ○Promotion of the Basic Program for Housing (National Plan)

Pursuant to the Basic Program for Housing (National Plan) (approved by the Cabinet in September 2006), the MLIT is currently promoting measures related to the promotion of securing and improving stability in housing, with the aim of attaining the following four goals: (1) the development of quality housing stocks and their being passed on to the future generation, (2) the development of a sound housing environment, (3) the development of an environment for a housing market where various habitation demands are realized, and (4) the securing of housing stability for those with significant requirements for such stability. In efforts to promote the “Housing with 200-Year Durability” scheme, aimed at extending the lifespan of residences, the “Bill on Promotion and Diffusion of Quality Housing with Long Life” was presented by the MLIT at the 169th session of the Diet.

Notes: 1) Total transaction volume of homes includes new homes commenced in construction and existing homes under transaction.

2) The number of newly built homes in 2003 (Japan,) 2004 (USA/UK,) or 2005 (France) is used in the calculation.

3) The number of existing homes in 2003 (Japan,) 2004 (USA/UK,) or 2000 (France) is used in the calculation.

Sources: Japan: New Dwellings Started (FY2004) MLIT, 2003 Housing and Land Survey, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT)

USA: Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 2006

UK: Communities and Local Government Website (http://www.communities.gov.uk/)

France: Ministry of Transportation, Facilities, Tourism and Ocean (http://www.equipement.gouv.fr/)

Purpose and Volume of Public Rental Housing

Purpose	Volume provided
Housing Provided by Central and Local Governments	To provide quality, low-rent housing to people with lower incomes in need of housing	About 2.19 million units (2006)
Improved Housing	To improve the housing environment of inferior residential districts and provide public rental housing for former residents in need of housing	About 160 thousand units (2006)
Rental Housing Provided by the Urban Renaissance Agency	To provide in metropolitan areas, through the development of residential city districts, quality rental housing — mainly family-oriented units, located within shorter distances of work places — that is not supplied by private business operators at an adequate level. (A rental housing system to support private business operators in providing family-oriented rental units was introduced in 2002.)	About 770 thousand units (2006)
Rental Housing Provided by Housing Corporations	To supply quality rental housing in accordance with local demand	About 140 thousand units (2006)
Local Quality Rental Housing	To provide private land owners with financial support to enable them to develop quality rental housing for aged or child-raising families and offer it at reduced rents	Specified quality rental housing about 160 thousand units (2005) Quality rental housing for the aged about 26 thousand units (2006)
Rental Housing Financed by the Japan Housing Finance Agency	To provide rental housing to the aged and child-raising families with necessary funds available through long-term and fixed-interest loans from the Agency
Rental Housing Provided by Farmland Owners	To help farmland owners build and provide quality rental housing in metropolitan areas by subsidizing the interest charged in financing construction

Notes: 1) The number of rental housing units provided by the Urban Renaissance Agency includes that of quality rental housing for the aged.

2) The number of rental housing units provided by the Housing Corporation does not include the number of specified quality rental housing and quality rental housing for the aged.

3) In 2007, the systems of specified quality rental housing and quality rental housing for the aged were integrated into a newly established regional quality rental housing system.

Source: Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan