Part 4/11:
Managing the growing number of empty houses is a legal and logistical challenge for local governments. Authorities have a system where they assess vacant homes annually and categorize them based on their reuse potential. The best candidates are those that can be reoccupied or repurposed; the worst are houses on the brink of collapse. If a building poses hazards, authorities can order its demolition and even bill the owner if they can be found.