A recent analysis by Lulian, a company specializing in inheritance services, has found that the likelihood of homes becoming vacant after inheritance is greatly affected by the distance children live from their parents' homes. Data indicates that if children reside in different prefectures, over 70% of inherited homes are likely to become vacant. This insight was derived from studying customer data between 2021 and 2024, focusing on cases where parents passed away and the inheritance process involved real estate. This highlights an important trend that may help in preemptively addressing the issue of vacant properties.

The analysis revealed that the nearest child to the parent’s home is eight times more likely to inherit the property than their siblings living farther away. Gender dynamics also play a significant role, as sons are in general four times more likely than daughters to inherit when both are in line for the inheritance. Notably, over 50% of properties inherited by children living within walking distance are expected to become vacant, a risk that increases to 67% for those within the same prefecture and 73% for those living outside it. The research underscores the importance of understanding family dynamics in inheritance scenarios, particularly in terms of housing stability.

The findings suggest that the risk of properties becoming vacant can be somewhat predicted based on children's living arrangements and family composition before inheritance occurs. Tohka Usami from Lulian explains that understanding a child's living situation can inform preventive measures against property vacancy. This examination is particularly valuable as public statistics on inheritance are limited, and such data-driven insights can guide policy and service developments aimed at mitigating the issues surrounding vacant homes in Japan.