Entire apartment buildings are deserted, especially in depopulated areas. They deteriorate to a life-threatening condition, but demolition is limited by the protection of private property.
WAY A good thirty years ago, this house was becoming a home for about sixty families.
The five-story house is located in Northern Estonia in Tapa municipality. At the time of construction, it stood in the middle of a small settlement of agricultural workers. There was its own cultural and shopping center, schools and kindergartens.
Then the Soviet Union fell apart and Estonia got out of its grip. At the same time, many other things fell apart.
The de-collectivization of agriculture put an end to kolkhozes and sovkhozes, i.e. huge cooperative farms. The shutdown and privatization of state-run industry stopped large factory areas.
Many apartments remained empty over the years when the elderly died and young people moved away.
In addition, the Soviet army left and left behind a large number of buildings also outside the garrisons. Some of the centers used for vacations organized by the state also remained deserted in their places.
In a way, nature takes over an abandoned house. It is starting to be in a dangerous condition, but it cannot be dismantled.
– It is almost impossible to get all the homeowners together. For many, we don’t even know their current place of residence, Tapa’s deputy municipal manager Andrus Freienthal tells .
However, demolition cannot be done without a general assembly of apartment owners. According to the law, everyone must agree to either demolish the house or sell it to the municipality for demolition.
10–24 percent of Estonia’s housing stock is vacant. Ten percent is based on a study conducted in 2019, 24 percent on the results of the 2021 census, says the Department Head of the Ministry of the Environment Kaja Pae.
– At least about 50,000 apartments, Pae stated Estonian Public Radio last week.
Vandalism is a problem of abandoned houses in Estonia as well
Deserted houses are a particularly big problem in areas suffering from population loss in North-Eastern and South-Eastern Estonia. At the same time, there is a shortage in growth centers like Tallinn and Tartu especially from smaller and cheaper apartments.
Abandoned houses and the apartments in them deteriorate year by year. Intruders destroy places and sometimes themselves.
– A total of 185 fires were set in vacant buildings last year. This year, 105 fires have already been set, says an expert from the Estonian Rescue Service Georg Kalde.
Demolition is significantly easier for those abandoned houses that the municipalities have managed to acquire for themselves. The government supports the demolition works through the Kredex financial institution.
– Without state support, there would be many more abandoned houses. Municipalities have to prioritize their money and the demolition of old buildings is not at the top, says Tapa’s deputy municipal manager Freienthal.
There is more demand for support euros than there is enough money. This year, Kredex already announced in mid-May that new applications should no longer be submitted.