A collection of case studies of share houses utilizing vacant properties | A must-see for anyone interested in managing a share house!
Share houses are becoming increasingly popular nationwide, and I get the impression that they are gradually being accepted as a major lifestyle.
In particular, in Japan, where the population is declining and the birthrate is aging, "sharing" will be an important concept going forward, and from that perspective, there are many people who would like to "operate a share house."
For those of you considering this option, we'd like to introduce you to the idea of "using vacant houses to operate a shared house," and in this article, we'll be showcasing examples from all over Japan.
There are procedures and points to keep in mind when starting a share house, but for now, I hope this gives you an idea of what kind of share house you might like, such as "there are examples like this" or "I'd like to try running a share house like this."
Before introducing shared houses that utilize vacant properties, let's first touch upon the definition of a shared house.
A share house is a rental property where multiple people share a single residence. Generally, residents share the kitchen, living room, and bathroom, while using their own private rooms for privacy. There are two main types: one where a management company handles everything from tenant recruitment to operation and building management, and another where friends or friends directly rent from the landlord and share. While the lower rent compared to regular rental housing, and the fact that security deposits, key money, and brokerage fees are often not required, have long been considered attractive features, recently, beyond cost advantages, share houses are gaining popularity as a place for residents to connect with each other. Concept share houses, with properties themed around specific lifestyles, are also becoming more common, with many share houses now being created to suit the lifestyles of their residents. (【HOMES】What is a share house? Understanding the meaning of share house | Real Estate Glossary)https://www.homes.co.jp/words/s2/525002448/(From)
To put it simply, it refers to a living space, such as a detached house, that is shared with people other than family members.
Sometimes it's used by friends together, and sometimes it's used by people meeting for the first time in a shared house.
The advantages of living in a shared house are explained in detail in the following article, so please take a look.
What is a share house? We'll explain, along with 12 recommended share houses in Miyagi Prefecture!
Here, we'll introduce the advantages of using vacant houses to start a shared house business.
This is a point that we especially want those considering building a new house to pay attention to.
Compared to building a new share house, a key feature of this approach is that the initial investment cost is significantly reduced because there is no need to construct a new building.
Vacant houses can be rented out rather than inherited, and in most cases, they can be rented out at a lower price than newly built properties.
Furthermore, in some cases, vacant houses may have existing furniture and appliances that can be reused, or the layout may not need to be significantly altered, potentially reducing renovation costs.
When renovating vacant houses, local residents often lend a hand, and one of the advantages is that community building can occur during the renovation process.
Even people who don't live in the share house develop an attachment to it, and those who were involved in the renovation may recommend it to others.
However, since human relationships are crucial, the key will be whether or not you can build good relationships during the renovation process.
The problem of vacant houses is becoming serious nationwide, and utilizing vacant houses can contribute to solving local community issues.
Furthermore, by inheriting and utilizing historically significant properties, many local residents are pleased with the changes.
Many local governments offer subsidies for this purpose, so there is plenty of support available for utilizing vacant houses.
Now, let's look at some examples of shared housing projects across Japan that utilize vacant properties.
If you're interested in running a shared house, please consider the option of using an empty house.
"Engawa House" is a share house located in Mitaka City, Tokyo, with the concept of "Created by everyone, where everyone gathers, and where everyone connects."
This vacant house, built approximately 60 years ago, was renovated in consultation with local residents and opened in 2019. Since then, it has served as a hub connecting the community and its residents, functioning as a "share house where people live with the town."
It operates as a hybrid of a shared house and a shared space, and its characteristic feature is that "anyone can easily drop by," with various events being held in the shared space and people growing vegetables together in a shared farm with local residents.
The website includes information such as "This is the policy we follow when operating our share house," which is very helpful for anyone considering running a share house.
Address: 4-18-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka City, Tokyo 181-0004 Access: 30 minutes by bus and on foot from JR Mitaka Station Opened: 2019 URL:https://engawaya.org/
b.e.park is a share house that operates by mixing various forms, including a spice dining area, a book cafe, an event space, and a share house.
This complex, which started with the concept of "creating a playground for adults," has restaurants on the first floor and shared housing on the second floor and above.
This is a place where new encounters are likely to occur.
One of the appealing aspects for residents of a shared house is that they have access to many areas, such as the restaurant space which can be used as a co-working space.
Address: 3-31-3 Soshigaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-0072
Access: 2-minute walk from Soshigaya-Okura Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line.
Opened: 2020
As you might guess from the name (?), "Muscle Training Share House Higashi-Ikebukuro" is a share house that even comes with a personal trainer.
We have been operating a shared house with a training gym and personal trainers since January 2023, utilizing a wooden building that is approximately 50 years old.
With a total floor area of 149.30 square meters across the first and second floors, the space is utilized in a way that takes advantage of its size, and its excellent location in Higashi-Ikebukuro is also a factor in its targeted approach to "men in their 20s and 30s who want to train regularly."
A common challenge when training alone is giving up halfway through. This is addressed by the benefit of having a personal trainer.
Address: 6-32-4 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012
Access: 6-minute walk from Yurakucho Station or Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Tokyo Metro.
Opening: 2023
URL:https://kintore-sharehouse.com/
The student-only share house "NK Building" was created using Wakayama City's "FY2022 Subsidy Project for the Development of Student-Only Share Houses in Vacant Houses in the City Center."
This is a subsidy program with the condition that it will cover up to two-thirds of the total cost of renovations necessary to convert the building into a share house (with a maximum of 2 million yen per room). We have renovated the 3rd and 4th floors of a vacant building and are using it as a share house for students.
By providing a community space with a shared kitchen on the third floor and three private rooms on the third and fourth floors, the space is designed to allow residents to gather and converse while still maintaining their private space.
This can be considered a good example of using local government subsidies to renovate vacant houses and establish a shared house.
Address: 47 Hashicho, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture 640-8215
Access: 8-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station
Opening: 2023
URL:http://www.city.wakayama.wakayama.jp/res/projects/default_project/_page/001/049/448/20220329-2.pdf
Roopt operates shared housing utilizing vacant properties in Miyagi Prefecture and Tokyo (as of October 2023).
We will also introduce several examples of Roopt's shared housing projects that utilize vacant properties.
Roopt Ishinomaki Hiyorigaoka is a shared house located near the summit of Hiyoriyama, one of the symbols of Ishinomaki City.
This property, originally used as employee dormitory for an insurance company, has been operating as a shared house with guest rooms since 2022.
While the image of a share house is often one with a single entrance where everyone shares the same space, in the case of "Roopt Ishinomaki Hiyorigaoka," the living space is divided into four sections, a remnant of its time as an employee dormitory, and each space is shared by several people.
Hiyorigaoka is a particularly safe area within Ishinomaki, and some people choose to live in this share house because they appreciate the sense of security it offers.
Roopt Okumatsushima, located in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, is a shared house and guesthouse with 6 private rooms and 1 guest room.
This property was originally a family home, but it's surprisingly spacious for a house, so you can live in a private room averaging 12.25 tatami mats, which is rare for a share house.
One of its features is that the renovations are being done to increase the number of rooms for shared living, such as adding partitions or removing sliding doors and turning them into walls.
The spacious living room is also used as a venue for events and workshops, allowing residents and local community members to enjoy interacting with each other.
Located just a one-minute walk from JR Hon-Shiogama Station, "Roopt Shiogama Kaigan-dori" is a shared house utilizing the second to fourth floors of a four-story building after renovations.
By dividing the space into shared areas such as the living room and bathroom on the second floor and private rooms on the third and fourth floors, you can effectively separate your personal time from time spent socializing.
Additionally, there is a guest room next to the living room on the second floor, which allows residents of the share house and guests to interact naturally.
In this "Roopt Shiogama Kaigandori" building, we've added walls and shifted their positions to secure living spaces for the shared house.
Located just a 2-minute walk from Kagurazaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, 'Roopt Kagurazaka' is Japan's first DAO-type shared house, utilizing Web3 technology.
This system allows people who are not residents to be involved in the operation of the shared house, and suggestions for improving the shared house are proposed and discussed online.
As a result of operating as a DAO-type shared house, sales increased 1.7 times in one year, and profit margins improved significantly.
We utilize two adjacent vacant houses; one is used as dormitory living space, and the other operates as a co-working space and gallery.
Located in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, where you can feel the atmosphere of old Tokyo, 'Roopt Sumida Kyojima - Cactus House -' is a share house operated exclusively for students.
This is a 90-year-old single-story row house with a garden full of cacti, and we are renovating it to make it a comfortable place to live while preserving its retro atmosphere.
Located about a 12-minute walk from Oshiage Station, its convenient location makes it ideal for students commuting to school. The owner hopes that students from various universities will use the facility, creating a synergistic effect.
In this era of population decline and rising prices, I predict that the number of shared houses utilizing vacant properties like these will increase, even in Tokyo.
This time, we introduced share houses across Japan that utilize vacant properties.
In Japan, where the number of vacant houses is increasing and the population is declining and aging, utilizing vacant houses as shared housing can contribute to solving social problems.
I hope this will be helpful for those who are struggling to find ways to utilize their vacant property, or for those who are thinking, "I'd like to run a share house someday."
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