being properly managed, we are working on developing ways to use or dispose of vacant houses and buildings, as well as a consultation system for owners of vacant houses.

(4) Assuring housing stability for those who require special consideration for housing

### a. Supply of public rental housing

To deliver public housing supplied by local governments to low-income earners in serious need of housing, and to promote the supply of quality rental housing to households consisting of elderly people who need special consideration to stabilize their housing, the MLIT set up the Regional Excellent Rental Housing Program as a scheme that complements the public housing and subsidizes the expenses incurred for the development of public rental housing and also for the reduction of the rents.

To provide a housing safety net for those who are obliged to leave their homes because of dismissal or any other reason, the MLIT promotes a single-source information service that gives out information about public housing available to retiring individuals, and rental housing from the Urban Renaissance Agency, in coordination with local branches of Hello Work (Public Employment Security Office), and has also taken measures aimed at stabilizing the dwelling of the retiring individuals.

Figure II-5-1-1 Purposes and Results of Public Rental Housing

Purpose	Number of houses managed
Public housing	Supplies quality rental housing to low-income earners who are in serious need of housing with low rent.	About 2.17 million houses (FY2012)
Improved housing	Supplies public rental housing to existing residents who are in serious need of housing in a deteriorated residential area.	About 150,000 houses (FY2012)
UR Rental Housing	Supplies quality rental housing that is conveniently located for access to work, focusing on family-oriented rental housing hardly in ample supply from private business entrepreneurs, in major urban areas, as well as develops residential districts (since FY2002, a privately supplied support rental housing program has been launched to support the supply of family-oriented rental housing from private business entrepreneurs).	About 750,000 houses (FY2012)
Agency rental housing	Supplies quality rental housing to fill the regional demand for rental housing.	About 130,000 houses (FY2012)
Regional excellent rental housing	Provides subsidies to private land owners to fund maintenance and other expenses and cover rent cuts to provide excellent rental housing for households consisting of elderly people, child-raising families, etc.	- About 131,000 designated excellent rental houses (FY2013)
- About 39,000 designated excellent rental houses for elderly people (FY2012)

(Notes) 1 The number of rental houses managed by the Urban Renaissance Agency includes the subsidized rental housing with high quality for elderly.

Source) MLIT

### b. Using private rental housing

In order to facilitate the promotion of smooth move-ins to private rental housing by people such as the elderly, disabled, foreigners and families with small children, we are providing housing assistance such as information services and consultation services through the Housing Assistance Council (48 councils (37 prefectures and 11 cities) established as of the end of FY2014), which is made up of local government, real estate related organizations and housing assistance organizations.

## 2 Supply and Utilization of Good Housing Land

## (1) Land price trends

The results of the 2015 Posted Land Prices (as of January 1, 2015) for the national average showed that though the residential property prices fell the drop rate had decreased, and for commercial properties that prices had recovered from a decline and leveled out. The average for the 3 major metropolitan areas where prices had made an upward turn last year continued the rising trend for both residential properties and commercial properties. On the other hand, land prices for the rural areas still continue the downward trend, though the drop rate has decreased.