Kyoto demolition

On April 30, Kyoto City began procedures to carry out a forced demolition of an abandoned house in Kamigyo-ku. This is the first case of a forced demolition to be carried out by proxy by the city.

The single-storey wooden structure, which was over 65 years old, was at the brink of collapse. It had once been a house with a workshop space that was used for the production of Nishijin-ori textiles. There were two owners listed on the property title, one of whom had since died, and another who could not be contacted.

In March, the city issued a public announcement of demolition. Construction sheeting was installed around the property earlier in May, and demolition started on May 11. The old house was fully demolished by early June. The city will bear the 4.7 million Yen cost of demolition.

An increase in the number of abandoned homes can have a negative effect on the environment of the surrounding neighbourhoods. In April 2014, Kyoto City enforced new regulations concerning the management of empty homes. If a structure is considered to be severely deteriorated, the city will request the owner repair the property. In extreme cases, the city can carry out a forced demolition.

A survey at the end of March found 720 abandoned homes within Kyoto City. Of those, 170 were poorly maintained and at risk of collapse. The owners of 300 of the properties were either unknown or could not be contacted.

Sources:
The Kyoto Shimbun, April 30, 2015.
The Sankei Shimbun, May 1, 2015.
The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 1, 2015.
Kyoto City Town Planning Department, March 27, 2015.

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