Relaxation of resolution requirements by owners to facilitate reconstruction
Ministry of Justice aims to submit and pass amendments during regular National Assembly session
The Japanese government is easing reconstruction requirements for old mansions as the number of old condominiums (apartments) increases and their owners age. The Ministry of Justice plans to submit the related bill to the regular National Assembly session starting on the 26th and aim to pass the bill within the session.
According to Yomiuri Shimbun, NHK, etc. on the 17th, the Ministry of Justice’s Legislative Deliberation Committee prepared an amendment focusing on easing the requirements for resolution by owners in order to promote the reconstruction of aging mansions the previous day.
Under current law, more than four-fifths of the votes are required for reconstruction, and unanimous consent is required for demolition. All amendments require more than four-fifths, but in cases where there are problems with earthquake resistance or fire resistance, the ratio of owner consent required for reconstruction or demolition has been relaxed to more than three-quarters. It also stipulated that owners whose whereabouts are unknown, which has been regarded as the opposite, can be excluded from the resolution.
Regulations surrounding apartment management were also reviewed, and in the case of repairs for the purpose of making them barrier-free, etc., the ratio was changed from more than three-quarters to more than two-thirds.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the number of mansions built more than 40 years ago is expected to increase to 4.45 million by the end of 2042, about 3.5 times the number by the end of 2022. The Japanese government plans to prevent mansions from falling into mismanagement by revising the law to lower the threshold for mansion owners to form agreements.
A review of the Disaster Mansion Act, which applies when damage is caused by a large-scale disaster, was also included in the amendment. In order to accelerate reconstruction, the consent required to demolish a damaged mansion will be relaxed from more than four-fifths to more than two-thirds.
Jiji News reported on this improvement in regulations, “As the number of old condominiums increases and the owners age, the purpose is to facilitate the formation of agreements, leading to the regeneration of buildings and the prevention of poor management.”
Source: Donga
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