The key issue I think is a misunderstanding of FFXIV housing system and the wards in general. The idea was to have them as a player village but SE really hasn't focused on that aspect much. It's just plots right now and nothing really for the community. The player driven Inns would be a first step to help the problems we face. I would also like to see an expansion of things though.

Two main complaints I've seen are chocobo stables and gardening, basically that only personal housing owners can use these services:
1. Have gardening lots placed around the wards that player can rent and grow crops.
2. Have a chocobo ranch with stables that players can rent.

As for housing decay, SE needs to have something and should have added it from the start. An open housing system like we have eats resources and you need something to clear out abandoned homes. I've seen a few FC houses that I know the FC has disbanded, some how those need to be cleared out so other can use it. I've seen player who haven't played in over a year come back for Heavens Ward only to vanish two months later. It just not fair to actively subbed players to not grant them the option to own a house on the off shoot chance that non subbed player might return from a eight month "break". Nothing is ever going to be perfect and SE is stuck with the "damned if they do and damned if they don't" decision.