By Thomas Møller Christensen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Colourbox

Thousands of buildings across the country remain vacant and underused. While property owners know that decisions must be made about the future of these structures, many hesitate to take action - only worsening the situation.

"When decisions on vacant properties are delayed, it can lead to financial losses, deterioration, and a decrease in the property's value. This affects not only the property owner but also the neighboring community and the local municipality," explains Niels Haldor, Senior Researcher at the Department of the Built Environment (BUILD) at Aalborg University.

But it is not only about financial losses, Niels Haldor emphasizes:

"The social and environmental consequences are also significant. Unused properties can become a burden on the surrounding community."

Lack of knowledge creates uncertainty

Many property owners are unsure about how to proceed due to a lack of clear guidance and concrete examples of effective solutions. They grapple with critical questions: Should the building be preserved, modernized, or demolished to pave the way for new development?"

Making these decisions is challenging, and without solid information, they tend to be postponed repeatedly. This often leads to the building falling into disrepair, making potential solutions even more expensive to implement.

Denmark's first guide on vacant properties

For the first time, property managers and municipalities can access assistance based on Danish experiences. The Department of the Built Environment (BUILD), in collaboration with Freja Ejendomme and the Ministry of Defence's Property Agency, has published a guide designed to facilitate informed decision-making regarding vacant buildings.

The guide introduces a framework for managing vacant properties and addresses the need for a shared understanding and best practices within the sector.

Niels Haldor, a co-author of the guide, emphasizes that effective management of vacant properties requires timely decisions and a commitment to cross-organizational collaboration:

“When we share knowledge and work together across organizations, we ensure that decisions are made on a solid foundation and that properties are utilized to their fullest potential.”

This new guide, along with its preliminary study, marks the first scientific publications on this topic in Denmark.