So I am the last person to run into this problem, as such I have it completely figured out and have the perfect solution!(sarcasm) I haven't done the research to find out if this has been suggested before so forgive me as I go off halfcocked. I propose that the owner must refresh their own house at an interval that is to be decided later. If this lapses the house goes to auction with the owner serving as the beneficiary. All items in the house could be inventoried as part of the sale. The end result is a steady stream of unused houses and rares back into the market and fair market value provided to the owner in gold which has very little negative effect from being taken out of the economy. Like I said, last guy to know about this problem, if this has been suggested before throw this one on the scrap heap with the others. Just wanted to throw this out into the ether. I post this full well knowing it will go absolutely nowhere. I have just never been one to shy away from running into brick walls.
Search is broken, a google search shows this though: http://uorforum.com/threads/depressing-housing-situation.15201/ 4 years ago.
My suggestion, in addition to condemned housing - Real Estate Control Slots. Each account gets 5, so each player could have 15. Small House uses 1 slot Marble Shop, Stone Shop, Small Houses, Small Tower, Etc Medium House uses 2 slots Sandstone, Log Cabin, Villa Large House uses 3 slots Tower, Large Marble Patio, 2 Story House, Large patio, Large Brick Massive House uses 4 slots Fortress, Castle, Small Keep, Large Keep So no restriction on the number of houses you can own, they just can't all be the popular big ones. I don't expect it to ever be a thing but I like the idea.
I wasn't quite here on UOR then, but I may well have read your post then stored it for three years before it popped back up as my idea.
I think the condemned idea is much more Felucca solution than what I was suggesting and as such is more appropriate for this server. I like the solution One quoted with no alternatives, for the record.
This is the way to go. Adding this along with owner only refreshing of houses, so friends can't refresh houses while the owner is long gone and left UO for WoW. I would love LOVE LOVE to see resources (ingots, boards, cloth, etc) deleted instantly once the houses fall (all other items can stay). I really like this idea but it seems too staff resource heavy to automate?
Yea, agreed. I am a designer by trade so it is in my job description to hand wave and call upon *DEV MAGICK*