Tenure transitions at the edges of ownership: Reinforcing or challenging the status quo?

Rachel Ong ViforJ, William A.V. Clark, Susan J. Smith, Gavin A. Wood, William Lisowski, Khuong Truong and Melek Cigdem
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William A.V. Clark: Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Susan J. Smith: Department of Geography and Girton College, 2152Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
Gavin A. Wood: School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, 5376RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
William Lisowski: Easton, PA, USA
Melek Cigdem: Centre for Urban Research, 5376RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Environment and Planning A, 2021, vol. 53, issue 8, 1993-2011

Abstract: This paper provides an empirical overview of housing tenure transitions in Australia, the UK and the USA during a period of unprecedented economic instability in 2001–2017. Focusing on the neglected theme of episodic homeownership, we profile those who straddle the tenure divide by moving into and out of renting from time to time. Using panel data we model this ‘churn’ in three jurisdictions, showing that even the dislocation of a global financial crisis does not eclipse the independent impact of life events during rental spells. We find that whatever individuals bring from prior ownership, shocks occurring during a rental spell – unemployment, loss of a partner, additional dependent children – can be sufficient to prevent return. Churning is also health- and age-selective, adding ‘drop-out’ among the old to ‘lock-out’ for the young as a policy concern. Even those who successfully regain owner-occupation increase their credit and investment risks without necessarily improving their housing position. Overall ‘churners’ are a diverse constituency whose life chances are powerfully shaped by episodic ownership: what they share is time spent in an unacknowledged, under-instituted space between tenures where there is latent demand for innovative financial services and untapped potential for radical policy shifts.

Keywords: Homeownership; tenure transitions; Australia; UK; USA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envira:v:53:y:2021:i:8:p:1993-2011

DOI: 10.1177/0308518X211038946

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