[Latest 2025 Edition] Introduction to Subsidies and Grants for Vacant House Renovations!

Vacant House Revitalization Promotion Project 【Utilization Project Type】 (Core project of the Comprehensive Grant for Social Infrastructure Development)

Utilizing vacant houses or vacant buildings to improve the living environment.

Target Areas

▷ Areas designated for countermeasures concerning vacant houses, etc., as specified in the vacant house countermeasure plan *1

▷ Coal-producing areas or depopulated areas where the accumulation of vacant houses, etc., hinders the living environment or regional revitalization

▷ Areas designated in the regional housing plan *2 or urban regeneration development plan *3 as areas where the planned utilization of vacant houses, etc., should be promoted due to the accumulation of vacant houses, etc., hindering the living environment or regional revitalization (limited to areas where a residential inducement area *4 has been established).

*1 The vacant house countermeasure plan as stipulated in the Special Measures Law for Promoting Countermeasures for Vacant Houses, etc.
*2 The regional housing plan as stipulated in the Special Measures Law for the Development of Public Rental Housing, etc., in response to diverse needs in the region
*3 The urban regeneration development plan as stipulated in the Special Measures Law for Urban Regeneration
*4 The residential inducement area as stipulated in the Special Measures Law for Urban Regeneration

Target Facilities

▷ Vacant houses or vacant buildings that are not currently in use and are not expected to be used for their original purpose in the future when implementing this project

※ When providing assistance to private enterprises or individuals, it is limited to those that will be utilized for over 10 years for the purpose of maintaining and revitalizing the local community.

Business Activities

▷ To utilize vacant houses and vacant buildings for purposes such as stay experience facilities, exchange facilities, experiential learning facilities, creative activity facilities, and cultural facilities that contribute to the improvement of living environments and the revitalization of the community, acquisition (excluding land costs), relocation, expansion, and renovation of such houses, etc. will be carried out.

Eligible Expenses for Subsidy

▷ Costs required for the renovation of vacant houses and vacant buildings

Acquisition (excluding land costs), relocation, expansion, and renovation of vacant houses, etc. to be used as stay experience facilities, exchange facilities, experiential learning facilities, creative activity facilities, cultural facilities, etc.

▷ Costs required to identify the owners of vacant houses and vacant buildings

Transportation costs for identifying owners, costs for issuing and viewing certificates, communication costs, outsourcing costs, etc.

▷ Costs required for understanding the actual conditions of vacant houses, etc. necessary for formulating measures against vacant houses

For more details, please check the link from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism below!

⇨ Click here for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s vacant house regeneration promotion project materials page

○ Must have a certain floor area
○ Must have a certain level of earthquake resistance
○ Must have a kitchen, toilet, storage, bathroom, etc.
○ Must not lose balance with the surrounding rental market, etc.

In Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, subsidies for renovation costs of vacant houses are provided to promote the establishment of facilities that contribute to community revitalization (such as childcare support facilities, elderly support facilities, coworking spaces, etc.).

Eligible applicants include community associations, NPOs, and other local activity groups, as well as businesses.
Please note that applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once the budget for the fiscal year is reached.

Submission Deadline: November 28, 2025 (Friday)

Subsidy Requirements

(1) Eligible Applicants (one of the following)

1. Organizations formed by citizens (including those working or studying in the area) that allow free participation and engage in continuous activities.
Example: Community associations, NPOs, etc.

2. Businesses renting the vacant house.
* Both 1 and 2 must not have any tax delinquencies and must not be designated as organized crime groups under Yokohama City’s organized crime exclusion ordinance.

(2) Eligible Buildings (all of the following)

1. Single-family homes located within Yokohama City (including mixed-use homes)
2. Must comply with the Building Standards Act
3. Must not have been occupied or used for more than one year prior to the application date
4. Must not be recognized by the city as a specific vacant house under Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Special Measures Law for Promotion of Measures Against Vacant Houses
5. Must meet one of the following earthquake resistance criteria:
(1) Constructed after obtaining building confirmation in June 1981 or later
(2) Vacant houses that started construction after obtaining building confirmation before May 31, 1981, and are recognized as meeting earthquake performance standards
(3) Houses that will undergo construction to meet earthquake performance standards or install earthquake shelters by the time of the performance report
6. The building’s renovation must be agreed upon by the owner of the vacant house regarding the obligation to use the subsidy for more than five years and the waiver of restoration obligations.

(3) Eligible Expenses and Amounts

Eligible Expenses

A Renovation work for interior and exterior improvements aimed at establishing a facility that contributes to community revitalization (including barrier-free renovations)
Example: Interior and exterior finishes such as walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, etc., fixtures such as doors and windows, and facilities such as water, gas, electricity, and communication
Kitchen, toilet, bathroom, washroom, etc.

B Installation of earthquake shelters and exterior works

C Construction material costs for renovations to a “facility that contributes to community revitalization” when materials are purchased and implemented by the applicant (so-called DIY)

Amount

Half of the total eligible expenses (Maximum 1,000,000 yen: A, B, C total)

* If the construction cost is 1,000,000 yen (tax included) or more, it is required to conduct a bid by a local business (headquarters or main office located in Yokohama) or to collect estimates from two or more local businesses.
However, this does not apply to the installation of seismic shelters (limited to cases where ordered separately from other eligible expenses) if approved by the mayor.

(4) Specific examples of construction material costs when purchasing materials independently
Materials necessary for renovations related to “facilities contributing to regional revitalization” are eligible.
However, easily removable items, extravagant items, decorative items, protective materials, tools, etc. are not eligible.

<Examples of eligible construction material costs>
Construction material costs 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DIY content
Materials used for flooring, wall materials, ceiling materials, etc.　⇨　Wallpaper, tiles, floor replacement

Materials used for doors, windows, etc.　⇨　Replacement of aging doors, replacement with highly insulated windows

Materials used for installing equipment and storage, etc.　⇨　LED lighting, warm water washing toilet seats, handrails, counters, storage spaces, outdoor deck installation
Paint, nails, adhesives, etc. (limited to those used up during renovations.)

<Generally, contents that cannot be DIY>
Electrical wiring
Water supply and drainage equipment　　⇨ 　Please request a contractor.
Gas work
Water-related areas such as kitchens, toilets, and bathrooms  ⇨  Due to high difficulty and involvement of water supply and drainage work, it is
difficult to do it DIY.

Parts that affect the structure of the building, such as columns and walls 　　 Depending on the renovation content, structural calculations may be required
Renovation work that changes the layout　　　　　　　　　⇨　　or may require building confirmation application, so for renovation and extension work, please request a contractor.

(5) Eligible projects (all)

Projects that meet all of the following as contributing to regional revitalization are eligible. In this city,
after discussions with relevant departments, it will be determined whether the project contributes to regional revitalization, so please consult early in the planning stage.
A. Understanding has been obtained from the neighborhood association or community association as contributing to regional revitalization
B. There is a business plan for more than five years
C. Recognized as contributing to regional revitalization in this city

<Examples of eligible projects> (Facility name, overview, etc.)
・Living (supporting) – Child-rearing support facilities, elderly support facilities –

Not for profit, but for the community to utilize and to foster community formation among users.

・Activities 〜NPOs and other community activity bases〜

A base for activities aimed at local residents, operated by NPOs and activity groups.

・Work 〜Coworking Space〜
A space shared by a large number of unspecified users that has office functions and emphasizes community formation.
An environment for telework is established for local residents, which in turn contributes to regional revitalization.

For more details, please check the link below!