Estonian Ministry of Economy conducted a study and found 475 fully or partially vacant apartment buildings, reports ee24.com referring to the news agency LETA.
The study was conducted on the houses, numbering three or more apartments. It turned out that 25% of such sites are vacant. Of the 72 cities and counties in Estonia most of all empty houses were in Valga and Ida-Virumaa.
The study found out that almost 253 apartment buildings are to be demolished and 223 houses need to be repaired. Moreover, over the next 17 years the country will be home to 644 more problematic houses. Most of all potentially problematic homes are in Ida-Virumaa. 222 such houses were counted in this county.
In conclusion, the study provides guidance to local authorities to motivate people to move to homes in the best condition. Empty houses need to be demolished. The state, in turn, could support the repair of houses for relocation.
Experts point out that the main problem lies in the fact that all the apartments in empty houses are privatized, which restricts the freedom of action of local and state authorities.