## Distribution Promotion/Utilization of Existing Housing

As the number of available houses becomes greater than the number of households and further population decline is expected, it is important to become a society where “good quality is built, well-maintained, and used for a long time.”

Within the distribution of all housing (existing housing + new housing), the share of existing housing distribution in Japan is low compared to new housing, and is at very low level compared to countries in Europe and North America. It has been pointed out that in spite of there being actual housing stock available, this stock is not being used for upgrading/moving. For this reason, it is important to vitalize the distribution of existing housing so that existing housing of good quality can be purchased with confidence.

(Note) For 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, the distribution amount of existing housing was calculated with numbers for January through September being used to calculate the full-year equivalent.

Source) Compiled by MLIT from "Housing Construction Statistics" by MLIT, "Housing and Land Survey" by MIC

(Notes) 1 France: For the yearly distribution amount of existing housing, the monthly distribution amount of existing housing was annualized and the yearly average of that number was used.

2 Number of housing transactions was for those with a transaction amount of over GBP40,000. Therefore HMRC—the survey facility providing this data—estimates that due to this threshold, 12% of the overall housing transactions do not get included as subjects of the survey.

Source) Japan: "2013 Statistical Survey of Housing and Land" by MIC, "2013 Housing Construction Statistics" by MLIT

United States of America: U.S. Census Bureau "New Residential Construction", "The 2011 Statistical Abstract" (2010 Data)

United Kingdom: Department for Communities and Local Government "Housing Statistics" (2012 Data)

France: Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement durable et de l'Énergie "Service de l'Observation et des Statistiques", "Conseil général de l'environnement et du développement" (2013 Data)

http://www.driea.ile-de-france.developpementdurable.gouv.fr/

Therefore, for the purpose of sharing the basic directions for expanding and vitalizing the existing housing/reconstruction market as well as the issues involved, MLIT established the “Used Housing Market Vitalization Roundtable” in September 2013 as a place where those involved in real-estate transactions and financing can have an honest and free exchange of opinions. The results from these discussions were then summarized in a report in March 2015. In this report the roundtable discussions that took place over the 2 years was summarized around the themes of (1) improving building evaluations and getting established in the market, (2) creating a supply of available quality housing and preparing the conditions to promote the distribution of such housing, (3) efforts for the financial aspects in contributing to the vitalization of the used housing market, (4) vitalizing the one-family rental house market, (5) cooperating with regional policy.

Going forward, based on these roundtable discussions, we will continue to hold “Used Housing Market Vitalization Roundtable” as necessary for the purpose of sharing the awareness of current conditions/issues and facilitating mutual role-sharing and cooperation with those involved, as we work to actualize the efforts to vitalize the used housing/renovation market of Japan.