Vacant houses in Denmark: Problems, localization and initiatives

Vacant houses have become an international phenomenon, which in many countries has called for political intervention. However, housing vacancy is very differently distributed across housing types and regions, and the degree to which the vacancy is defined as a problem varies across countries, therefore the issue has called for various political responses. This paper presents a case of vacant single-family houses in Denmark, which has become a central political issue in recent years. The vacancy is closely related to an increasing urbanization, and a changing demography in peripheral areas, especially in smaller towns and villages. Since 2010 various national programs for addressing this issue was launched. The paper discuss how municipalities within these programs address strategical and operational issues, including identification of vacant houses, negotiations with owners, financing the demolition and the subsequent use of the plot. From this, central challenges for managing vacancy in a more strategic way are identified.