‘Generation rent’ and the ability to ‘settle down’: economic and geographical variation in young people’s housing transitions

Hoolachan, J., McKee, K., Moore, T. and 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, 20(1), pp. 63-78. (doi: 10.1080/13676261.2016.1184241)

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland Small Grant [31920] and the Leverhulme Trust under Grant [RP20 II-IJ-024].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Soaita, Dr Adriana Mihaela
• Authors: Hoolachan, J., McKee, K., Moore, T., and Soaita, A. M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Journal of Youth Studies
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1367-6261
• ISSN (Online): 1469-9680
• Published Online: 10 May 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
• First Published: First published in Journal of Youth Studies 20(1): 63-78
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy