Kashima Antlers F.C. Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture; President: Fumitaka Koizumi) announced that on Saturday, May 23, it signed a "Partnership Agreement for the Promotion of Vacant House Countermeasures" with the five municipalities of the Kōkō region (Kashima City, Itako City, Kamisu City, Namegata City, Hokota City) and AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Head office: Koto Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenji Kawata; hereinafter "AlbaLink") to resolve the issue of vacant houses in the Kōkō region.
This agreement presents a "highly effective solution model" that leverages the strengths of government, private sector, and sports through close collaboration. By integrating the resources and networks of each municipality in the Kōkō region, AlbaLink (which specializes in regenerating difficult-to-utilize real estate), and Kashima Antlers, this initiative will fundamentally promote the distribution and utilization of vacant houses. Through this project, we will strive to resolve real estate issues in the region and accelerate the revitalization of the Kōkō region.
Background of the Agreement
Currently, the number of vacant houses nationwide has reached a record high of approximately 9 million, and the vacancy rate has hit an all-time high of 13.8% (according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "2023 Housing and Land Survey"*), making it a serious social issue.
The Kōkō region is no exception to this problem, with its vacant house rate exceeding the national and prefectural averages. Neglected vacant houses not only pose "disaster prevention and crime prevention concerns" such as building collapse and arson, and "environmental and hygienic deterioration" due to pests and illegal dumping, which can hinder safe civic life, but also serve as "factors hindering the healthy development of the local economy" such as declining surrounding property values and reduced tax revenues for local governments.
*"2023 Housing and Land Survey: Basic Tabulation on Housing and Households for National, Prefectural, and Municipalities" (https://www.e-stat.go.jp/dbview?sid=0004021631)
Antlers views the sustainable development of its hometown as the foundation for the club's continued existence. To address this shared important issue, the five Kōkō municipalities, AlbaLink, and Antlers have brought together their respective knowledge and resources to establish this collaborative scheme involving government, private sector, and sports to resolve this problem.
Specific Initiatives and Future Developments under This Agreement
Based on this agreement, the five Kōkō municipalities, AlbaLink, and Antlers will promote the following initiatives primarily in "vacant house distribution" and "vacant house utilization."
■ Awareness-raising and consultation promotion using club outreach and administrative networks
An "empty house consultation booth" was set up today (May 23) at the Meiji Yasuda J1 Hundred Year Plan League Regional League Round EAST Matchday 18 against FC Tokyo. We will continue to conduct awareness activities for fans and supporters on match days, and in cooperation with each local government, we will directly approach potential owners who have been difficult for the administration to reach. This will be done through measures such as enclosing awareness flyers with property tax notices, disseminating information through city newsletters and social media, and holding joint empty house consultation meetings.
■ Presenting "zero public expense" solutions and diverse utilization through specialized know-how
AlbaLink will handle and purchase properties that are difficult to register in existing "vacant house banks" or are extremely difficult to distribute in the general real estate market, such as those that are "unreconstructible," "have numerous remaining items," or "have complex rights relationships," using its unique regeneration and distribution know-how. Since all funding is from the private sector, each local government can resolve problematic properties in the region with "zero" financial burden (public expense).
Regenerated properties will not merely be resold; we are considering flexible utilization tailored to the policy needs of each region. In addition to using them as residential housing to promote migration and settlement, in the medium to long term, we will advance multifaceted initiatives in collaboration with local businesses. This includes redefining vacant houses as "regional assets" that create new value, such as accommodation facilities where fans and supporters can stay before and after matches, community spaces that serve as places of relaxation for local residents, and satellite offices.
Antlers will continue to deepen its collaboration with the five Kōkō municipalities in its hometown and with AlbaLink, aiming for further revitalization of the local economy and contributing to the realization of a sustainable local community through the power of sports.
