It hearkens back to the17th century and the natural rights philosophy that we are all born with the right to life liberty and property and those rights cannot be taken by the government without due process.
OK Fast forward to the mid 20th century-so times are good and Mr. Landlord buys property and rents it out for income to support his family. Since times are good property prices and rents are high woohoo. Then life happens.
There is a slight downturn in the economy and the tenant has to relocate. The property ts empty 2 months and Mr Landlord doesn’t have the money to spruce up the place so he has to let the property at a lower price. Over the next 15 years the maintenance and tenants become very sketchy. Finally after renting to a bunch of students the place is no longer habitable so Mr L puts it on the market where it goes unsold.
OR
In a high crime area many owners sell their homes cheaply to a developement company that plans to take advantage of a govt grant to renovate the neighborhood. The grants are cancelled when a new govt comes in and the bank funding collapses. The development company hires a management company to try to rent some of the homes until the economy gets better. Most remain empty.
OR
An old lady is living in 2 rooms of an old family home while the house falls into disrepair around her. When she dies her heirs are hit with a big tax bill and a house that they can’t sell or rent
There are lots of reasons for empty buildings.
After the properties remain empty, squatterss may move in. The properties might be stripped pf copper pipes and anything that can be sold for scrap. Windows get broken 7 roofs may leak and you end up with thousands of empty dwellings. The govement may want to come in and turn them into homes for the homeless but 1st they have to buy the buildings and then make them habitable and who’s going to pay for that?. Imagine trying to get the taxpayers to pay for decent apts for the homeless!