L&F, operator of "Nihon Akiya Support," partners with Mizushima Shinkin Bank to address regional vacant property issues.

L&F Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Representative Director: Hisazumi Mori, hereinafter referred to as "L&F"), the operator of "Nihon Akiya Support," has entered into a business matching agreement with Mizushima Shinkin Bank (Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Chairman: Hiroyuki Yokomizo, hereinafter referred to as "Mizushima Shinkin") to launch initiatives aimed at resolving the vacant property issue and contributing to the local community.

Overview of Initiatives

Based on the business matching agreement, Mizushima Shinkin will provide L&F with information on customers who wish to manage or sell vacant properties, with the customer's consent. L&F will then provide consultation services for vacant properties, offer vacant property management services, and support the sale of vacant properties based on this information.

Since its establishment in 1950, Mizushima Shinkin has consistently provided high-quality, community-rooted financial services with the basic philosophy of "coexistence and co-prosperity with the local community," based in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. By partnering with L&F, which offers management services to alleviate the burden of vacant properties, both organizations will not only create mutual business opportunities but also work towards solving regional vacant property challenges and improving customers' quality of life.

About L&F

With the theme "Bringing joy to everyone involved in real estate and housing," L&F aims to solve social issues related to real estate and housing unique to a super-aged society, and is a company that develops and operates services for property owners and real estate/housing-related businesses.

"Nihon Akiya Support," launched in 2015, has grown to become the only vacant property management specialist brand operating in all 47 prefectures among independent vacant property management specialists. It has built a robust nationwide network capable of responding to the diverse needs of vacant property owners, not only for management but also for sales and utilization.

Furthermore, as cases where properties cannot be sold when entering facilities due to asset freezes caused by dementia or other factors are increasing, L&F is also expanding its business nationwide under the brand "Family Trust Consultation Service" in the field of family trusts, which is expected to have synergy with "Nihon Akiya Support."

L&F aims to be a socially contributing company that leverages its real network and IT technology, including the in-house development of dedicated web applications for all its operational businesses.

Situation Surrounding "Vacant Properties"

The increase in vacant properties due to population decline is a major problem that leads to the deterioration of the local living environment, further population outflow, and the decline of the regional economy. Additionally, in many cases, the owners of vacant properties (heirs, etc.) live away from their hometowns, posing a challenge in fulfilling their responsibilities as managers under the Act on Promotion of Measures to Deal with Vacant Houses (hereinafter referred to as the "Vacant House Measures Act"), which was enacted in 2015. Furthermore, in December 2023, the revised Vacant House Measures Act, which further strengthens the obligations of vacant property owners, came into effect. Under this revision, not only "specified vacant houses" (vacant houses with significant problems such as the risk of collapse) but also vacant houses that have the potential to become specified vacant houses in the future are subject to administrative guidance as "improperly managed vacant houses." This also allows for the cancellation of the special provision for residential land for fixed asset tax, marking an era where all vacant properties are subject to management responsibilities.

With the enforcement of this revised law, the burden on vacant property owners is expected to increase further, and the demand for vacant property management services from those who cannot manage their properties due to distance is anticipated to grow significantly. Among the customers using the vacant property management services of "Nihon Akiya Support" operated by L&F, approximately 79% reside outside the city or prefecture where the vacant property is located (as of the end of December 2025), and many are entrusting the management of their childhood homes, which have become vacant, to L&F from the heir generation who have moved away from their hometowns.

About "Nihon Akiya Support" Operated by L&F

"Nihon Akiya Support" provides a one-stop service that assists vacant property owners from consultation to concrete solutions such as sales, utilization, and renovation, centered around vacant property management services offered in cooperation with 256 affiliated real estate and housing-related companies nationwide (including those in preparation for opening as of June 11, 2026), who serve as vacant property supporters. Since the service began in 2015, it has gained significant customer support through its patented "Real Estate Management System," which provides video streaming of management work, and high-quality management work performed by housing professionals.

Mizushima Shinkin Bank https://www.shinkin.co.jp/mizushima/

Company Overview

Company Name: L&F Co., Ltd.

Company URL: https://www.l-f.co.jp/

Location: World Business Garden, Marine View West 26F, 2-6-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City

Established: April 2007

Capital: 60.5 million yen

Representative Director: Hisazumi Mori

Business Activities:

Operation of the nationwide network for vacant property management, "Nihon Akiya Support"

https://xn--w8jvl3b6d9gz83xm5o0mc223e.jp/portal/

Operation of the nationwide network of real estate professionals and legal experts, "Family Trust Consultation Service"

https://www.f-shintaku.jp/

Operation of the owner web app for rental management companies, "Owners Cloud"

https://www.owners-cloud.com/