Rural life –
abandoned houses & recycling

From empty houses to vibrant countryside

Can an old, abandoned house be the key to a vibrant countryside? In Kristianstad, the answer is yes – and work is already in full swing.

There is great interest in empty properties throughout the country. In Kristianstad, it was the municipality's Rural Council that took the initiative to seek support through Leader for this project.

Around 200 potential abandoned houses in the municipality were identified through a preliminary study in 2022. Since then, activity has taken place around just over a third of the properties, such as renovations or new population registrations.

Now, three months into the project, mailings have been sent to owners of around 130 properties and new tips are coming in almost daily. The great interest was immediately noticeable: a purchase agreement was signed in the first week.

In 2026, workshops and lectures will be arranged on topics such as recycling, a digital platform that will bring together houses, people and opportunities will be developed, and the project will be invited to the Hus & Hem fair in Kristianstad in April.

Each property has its own unique history and challenges. With collaboration, knowledge and the Leader method as a foundation, concrete steps are taken towards a more vibrant, sustainable and attractive countryside.

The board's assessment

Decision date: 2025-04-29 

Total selection criteria: 770 points

The board's justification: The project is well-written and has great potential for impact. The aim is to work actively to reuse abandoned houses and create good conditions for a vibrant countryside while creating new housing opportunities with low climate footprints – without having to exploit valuable arable land. The project aims to highlight the resources that exist in and around an unused property, house and/or building.