Informal housing practices

In this introduction to the first of two special issues on ‘Informal housing practices’ we set out foundations for a research agenda ‘informality’ within scholarship, and propose initial implications policy practice. doing so draw from rich conceptual work by urban geographers political economists who situate informality wider processes neoliberalism, globalisation deregulation, as well small but emerging body scholars see informal both symptom of, potential solution to, unmet need. Our jumping off point was an interest in dimensions manifesting expensive cities regions global north, where veneer ‘formal’ development markets render practices largely invisible. Grounded context, papers issue illuminate different practice; physical transformation dwellings through ways which individuals navigate shared domestic space; or how makers seek expand low cost rental legitimising secondary micro-apartments. Drawing literature role state producing/resolving need; argue that warrant further attention, particularly with respect north.