The government has set numerical goals to improve the durability and quality of houses.
The goals are part of the nation's basic plan on housing and life until 2015, which was adopted at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. The plan was altered on the basis of the basic housing and life law, which was approved by the Diet in June.
The goals call for government action to extend the average durability of housing units from the current 30 years to about 40 years, officials said.
The specific measures will be drafted by a panel to be staffed by officials from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Environment Ministry.
In the meantime, prefectural governments are to compile their own plans. The main plan calls for raising the ratio of housing resales from 13 percent in 2003 to 23 percent in 2015. It proposes raising the use of "barrier free" common-use space and facilities in apartments and condominiums from 10 percent to 25 percent.