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‘Generation rent’ and the ability to ‘settle down’: Economic and geographical variation in young people’s housing transitions
Hoolachan,Jennifer McKee,Kim Moore,Tom Soaita,A.M.
Hoolachan,Jennifer
McKee,Kim
Moore,Tom
Soaita,A.M.
Abstract
The term ‘Generation Rent’ denotes young people who are increasingly living in the private rented sector for longer periods of their lives because they are unable to access homeownership or social housing. Drawing on qualitative data from two studies with young people and key-actors, this paper considers the phenomenon of ‘Generation Rent’ from the perspective of youth transitions and the concept of ‘home’. These frameworks posit that young people leaving the parental home traverse housing and labour markets until they reach a point of ‘settling down’. However, our data indicate that many young people face difficulties in this ‘settling’ process as they have to contend with insecure housing, unstable employment and welfare cuts which often force them to be flexible and mobile. This leaves many feeling frustrated as they struggle to remain fixed in place in order to ‘settle down’ and benefit from the positive qualities of home. Taking a Scottish focus, this paper further highlights the geographical dimension to these challenges and argues that those living in expensive and/or rural areas may find it particularly difficult to settle down.
Description
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
Youth, Housing, private rental sector, transition, SDG 1 - No Poverty, SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Citation
Hoolachan, J, McKee, K, Moore, T & Soaita, A M 2017, '‘Generation rent’ and the ability to ‘settle down’ : Economic and geographical variation in young people’s housing transitions', Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 20, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2016.1184241