New law may remove tax breaks for abandoned homes
From February 28, 2015, the Act on Special Measures Concerning Vacant Houses will go into effect. This law has been designed to help reduce the number of abandoned homes across the country. Such homes pose fire and hygiene hazards, can invite crime and can be a general blight on the neighbourhood.
Under this Act, a local government can designate an abandoned and deteriorating property as a risk to the environment, and thereby make the property owner ineligible for the fixed asset tax deductions that would otherwise apply. In some cases, local governments may have the right to forcibly demolish the building.
In the 1970s, tax breaks were introduced to help ensure a steady supply of housing at a time when there was a housing shortage. Under this tax scheme, the annual fixed asset tax on residential land was reduced to a 1/6th on the first 200 sqm, and 1/3rd for the portion over 200 sqm, provided there was a house on the land.
Naturally this made it much more cost effective to leave a dilapidated and inhabitable structure on land that the owner had no current plans for, since removing the house could result in their tax bill increasing six-fold. For example, an annual fixed asset tax bill of 80,000 Yen would become 480,000 Yen.Read more
January 2015 rental data - Tokyo Kantei
According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,545 Yen/sqm in January, down 0.7% from the previous month and down 1.1% from last year. The average apartment size was 60.03 sqm and the average building age was 19.7 years.
In Tokyo’s 23-ku, the average monthly rent was 3,180 Yen/sqm, down 0.5% from the previous month but up 1.1% from last year. This is the 3rd month in a row to see a month-on-month decline. The average apartment size was 56.58 sqm and the average building age was 18.0 years.Read more
Hope for Kamakura’s modernist museum
One of Japan’s exemplary models of modern architecture - the Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura - now stands a chance at being saved from demolition after a recent structural analysis found that it could be reinforced against earthquakes.
The Kanagawa Prefectural Government is also in discussions with the landowner, the nearby Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine, to seek an extension to the land lease.
In late 2013, it was reported that the prefecture decided against renewing the lease due to the high costs of maintaining the buildings and the anticipated costs of retrofitting. The prefecture announced plans to close the museum at the end of March 2016. Under the terms of the lease, any buildings were required to be demolished before returning the land to the Shrine.Read more