Gov't scheme to use vacant housing falls short of target

Simple solution, a hefty empty property tax. Still leaves it to the individual to make their own choice whether to leave it empty, rent it out, register it or sell it but it will increase the financial incentive to make a conscious decision.

English aspy: "Simple solution, a hefty empty property tax. Still leaves it to the individual to make their own choice whether to leave it empty, rent it out, register it or sell it but it will increase the financial incentive to make a conscious decision."

Actually, not that simple at all. I know quite a number of elderly people who have inherited houses from relatives that have passed on. I remember being shocked when I heard the sighs of frustration and despair upon inheriting property -- especially if it had an empty house. First, it takes upwards of YEARS to get all the paperwork out of the way for proper ownership. Second, they get taxed on it right off the top. Third, they get whacked again regardless of whether they leave the house empty, rent it out, register it, or sell it. In most countries people fight over GETTING inheritance. Here it is already a loss and even a punishment in many cases, and your suggestion puts an added burden on families who inherit empty houses and lots. There should be an option for families to sell the land at low cost with little or no tax if they are doing so for registering it for this program. The government can buy it (they don't need to buy it and then tax the people on it, too) and rent it out.

Private renters frequently turn away single seniors and low-income single-parent households, worrying they will have to deal with rent defaults or elderly people passing away

This is just a convenient excuse to use to hide the truth about the rip-offs in the Japanese rental system. Foreigners also have the same situation. They only want people who will pay all their ‘money for nothing’ fees without question. They want you to pay two or three months for ‘key money’ which disappears into a void to never be seen again. They make you pay an extra month’s rent if you renew your lease, which they call ‘account keeping fee’ and is total BS. They want you to pay ridiculous sums of money when you move out, which is supposed to be for cleaning and/or refurbishing, but is very rarely done. These criminals are already taking a commission from the monthly rent that should cover all the refurbishing and cleaning costs, as is done in other countries. Any time you go into a real estate office you’ll see at least three or four people standing around doing nothing, nothing except for soaking up a salary from all the BS fees remnants are made to pay. They are seriously criminals!

Key money is illegal in many countries. The laws need to change to benefit the people and not land owners.

governments subsidize part of rents and repairs necessary to make spaces barrier free for the disabled

I dont really see how that would entice many people with an empty property to make it rental?

Subsidize all then, since majority of people with empty property already pay tax on it anyway, any repairs cost an arm and a leg and the empty standing properties are ones nobody actually wants to live at.

Why not subsidize existing rental properties instead ?

and, you dont have to pay keymoney.... nobody forces you to rent...just look for other property.