Foreign experience in solving the problem of abandoned housing

The article provides an analysis of foreign experience in solving the problem of abandoned housing. Based on the analysis, we have identified the following areas of solving the problem of abandoned housing: prevention of the emergence of abandoned housing and response to existing abandoned housing. The main activities within each of the directions for solving the problem of abandoned housing have been characterized. The importance of work to prevent the emergence of abandoned housing has been emphasized. We also highlight the stages of response to existing abandoned housing used in international practice: identification of abandoned housing (usually as part of a broader work to identify “problem property”); taking organizational and legal measures for abandoned housing, the most extreme of which is the seizure of housing into public ownership; disposal of abandoned housing seized into public (national government, state/local government, municipality) ownership (transfer to the social housing stock, alternative use, sale, or demolition). We have found that in most countries, the role of the government is mainly limited to establishing a legislative framework for dealing with “problem property” in general and abandoned housing in particular. Furthermore, we emphasize that the key “player” in solving the problem of abandoned housing is mainly municipalities, often in cooperation with residents, NGOs, self-organization bodies, church and school committees, and other civil society organizations. The importance of organizational and financial assistance to municipalities in solving the problem of abandoned housing by the national government is emphasized. Essential features that should be considered when assessing foreign experience in terms of applicability in Ukraine are highlighted, namely that the issue of abandoned housing is mainly considered in the broader context of “problem property”, which also includes deceased inheritance, ownerless property, “vacant” (unoccupied) housing, improperly maintained housing, etc.; the concept of “abandonment”, in turn, may also have different meanings; it has been noted that abandoned housing usually means a building as a whole, and not a separate room (apartment) in it (which is explained by a different structure of residential property than in Ukraine). It has been emphasized that these peculiarities should be considered when using foreign experience in our country.