【Achieved 200 Local Government Partnerships!】Demolition Tech Crassone and Tokyo's Sumida Ward Sign First "Sumida Ward Vacant House Countermeasures Agreement" in 23 Wards

Crassone Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; Representative Director CEO: Teppei Kawaguchi; hereinafter "the Company"), which operates the demolition DX platform "Crassone," has signed the "Sumida Ward Vacant House Countermeasures Agreement" with Tokyo's Sumida Ward (hereinafter "Sumida Ward"). As a measure against the vacant house problem, which has become a social issue nationwide in recent years, we aim to create a safe and secure town by promoting the demolition of vacant houses in Sumida Ward. With this agreement, the number of partnerships in Tokyo has reached 3 local governments, and the total number of partnerships nationwide (including government-operated organizations) has reached 200 local governments. Furthermore, the national population coverage rate has reached 22.2% (※1).

Background of the Agreement

In recent years, the number of vacant houses has increased, becoming a social issue. According to the "2023 Housing and Land Survey" (※2) announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of vacant houses nationwide is 9 million, and the vacant house rate is 13.8%, reaching a record high. In Tokyo, the number of vacant houses is 896,500, an increase of 86,600 compared to five years ago.

Sumida Ward is implementing vacant house countermeasures to ensure the safety and security of its residents, aiming to reduce dangerous vacant houses (and their potential) that have a negative impact on the surroundings, and to create a city where quality vacant houses contribute to regional revitalization as effective resources. The ward has set two directions: "Enhancement of preventive measures" targeting properties in early stages, including those currently occupied, and "Steady promotion of dilapidated house countermeasures" targeting properties that have become old and dangerous, thereby promoting measures tailored to the condition of the buildings.

The Company operates "Crassone," a service that matches over 2,300 specialized construction companies nationwide with property owners in the demolition construction sector, with over 160,000 cumulative users (※3) to date. In addition, its public-private partnership vacant house countermeasures project, utilizing the "Demolition Cost Simulator" and "Home Ending-of-Life Navigation," has been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Model Project for Vacant House Countermeasures Utilizing the Housing Market" for three consecutive years from FY2021 to FY2023. Currently, the Company is promoting public-private partnership vacant house countermeasures with 200 local governments nationwide (excluding Sumida Ward).

This agreement was reached with the aim of implementing preventive vacant house countermeasures, such as raising awareness among vacant house owners and establishing consultation services, to curb the occurrence and deterioration of vacant houses in Sumida Ward and promote their proper management and effective utilization. Through these efforts, we will solve the vacant house problem and, by utilizing IT technology and data, including our "Demolition Cost Simulator," we will encourage vacant house owners to make decisions regarding vacant house demolition, promoting voluntary solutions and active utilization of subsidy programs.

Main Initiatives Based on the Agreement

1. Introduce the "Demolition Cost Simulator" to vacant house owners, which provides estimated demolition costs.
   (URL: https://www.crassone.jp/simulator/tokyo/sumidaku)

2. Utilize the "Vacant House Value Assessment Sheet," which can issue a report summarizing management costs, demolition costs, and land sale appraisal prices based on vacant house building information.

3. Distribute flyers on how to proceed with vacant house demolition to residents and vacant house owners.

4. Utilize the Company's services and information for consultations from residents and vacant house owners and for vacant house countermeasures.

Representative Comments

Sumida Ward Mayor Toru Yamamoto

Keywords: Vacant house, Tokyo, Sumida Ward, End-of-life planning, Startup, Crassone, IT, Demolition, Public-private partnership