In the Rēzekne municipality, a significant number of apartments remain unoccupied and poorly maintained, prompting local authorities to seek European funding for improvements.
In Strūžāni, a village in the Rēzekne municipality of Latvia, more than 60 municipal apartments have been uninhabited for years, resulting in a significant decline in the buildings' technical conditions due to lack of maintenance. Local government officials are now attempting to address this issue by seeking financial support from European funds. The abandoned apartments highlight a broader issue within the region regarding the management and utilization of housing stock.
The situation in Strūžāni is particularly dire, as it leads the municipality in terms of empty apartments. Though some apartments have been privatized, they are rarely occupied, contributing to the ongoing challenges in the area. Local residents point to the lack of job opportunities and public transport as the underlying problems causing people to leave or avoid moving into these apartments. The municipal executive director, Ērika Teirumnieka, emphasized the severity of the problem, especially as winter approaches, with concerns about freezing pipes in abandoned units.
Despite reported demand for housing as queues build at the municipality for available apartments, the reality is that potential tenants are hesitant to move in due to the necessary renovations they would need to undertake on their own. This mismatch between supply and demand indicates the need for a strategic response from the local government that not only addresses the physical state of the apartments but also the broader socioeconomic factors affecting residency in Strūžāni.
