Kerala had 15 lakh vacant homes, still added 2.9 lakh in 2021-22: Report

According to the report, Malappuram district took the lead with 53,774 newly constructed buildings.  In contrast, Idukki reported the lowest count at 8,751.

This substantial figure in Malappuram signifies robust construction activity, potentially influenced by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and economic development through foreign remittance, said the report.

The government data goes with the finding of the Kerala Migration Survey 2023, which, delving on the distribution of remittance, found that the largest chunk — 21 percent — went to the housing sector.

The state planning board, in its working group report on housing in 2022, had found that “that the rich and powerful among the rural and urban households in Kerala constructed big houses disproportionate to their household size and needs”.

“Moreover, several households have more than one residential house. The hunch is that between 10-15 lakh houses remain vacant or unoccupied in the rural and urban areas of Kerala. Most of them belong to upper middle class and rich families,” the report said.

At the same time, non-residential buildings, comprising commercial and industrial, constituted only 26.42 percent of the total buildings erected. Within the non-residential category, 85.52 percent are meant for commercial purposes. The industrial and institutional sector had only 4.87 percent and 2.53 percent, respectively.

The report also indicated the negligible share of the state government contributing to new concrete structures. Out of the total 3,95,803 buildings constructed in 2021-22, around 97.76 percent were owned by private parties, 0.76 percent by government/local bodies, while 1.48 percent by others.

The report indicated growing business and economic activities in the state’s rural areas. Among these residential houses, 70.96 percent are constructed in rural areas and 29.04 percent in urban areas.

Rural Kerala also accounts for the largest chunk of non-residential buildings with 69.62 percent. Among new buildings built in 2021-’22, around 85.13 percent of industrial buildings and 73.74 percent of institutional buildings are built in rural areas.