Post by adams51 on Aug 22, 2011 4:31:46 GMT -5
If we go entirely by comparing the cost of housing in the formal sector and the annual income of the households in Kerala, one would have expected a lower proportion of households owning a house – especially in the decade 1971-81. During the period 1961-81, however, a total of 2,91,774 households in urban Kerala – 65.85 percent of the new households – acquired ownership housing. The proportion of households living in their own houses increased from 41.54 percent in 1971 to 51.19 percent in 1981.
A significant part of the increase in owner-occupation can be explained by an increase in the number of households living in informal settlements. During the period 1961-81, the number of houses in authorized colonies increased from 31,562 to 191,960 – an increase of around 508 percent. The low cost of land, and non-conformity to building byelaws (in terms of space to be covered, etc.) made this housing affordable for larger sections of population.
The group of people who could not afford even this type of housing opted for squatter settlements. Over the period 1961-81 the number of squatter families increased from 42,815 to 284,556 – an increase of 564.62 percent. During 1971-81 their number increased by 84 percent – a rate of growth higher than that of total migrants (49%) in the city or that of the total population (53%) of the city. These settlements have facilitated access to ownership housing to large segments of population in Kerala.
Even in the formal housing market, despite the high cost of acquiring a house, ownership housing in Kerala remained a preferred tenure option. A combination of market and institutional variables made it so. In recent times in Kerala Real Estate values have gone up significantly. Even in such a situation people sell off their properties in prime locations to buy large tracts of land at cheaper prices in distant parts of the city to build a house.
A significant part of the increase in owner-occupation can be explained by an increase in the number of households living in informal settlements. During the period 1961-81, the number of houses in authorized colonies increased from 31,562 to 191,960 – an increase of around 508 percent. The low cost of land, and non-conformity to building byelaws (in terms of space to be covered, etc.) made this housing affordable for larger sections of population.
The group of people who could not afford even this type of housing opted for squatter settlements. Over the period 1961-81 the number of squatter families increased from 42,815 to 284,556 – an increase of 564.62 percent. During 1971-81 their number increased by 84 percent – a rate of growth higher than that of total migrants (49%) in the city or that of the total population (53%) of the city. These settlements have facilitated access to ownership housing to large segments of population in Kerala.
Even in the formal housing market, despite the high cost of acquiring a house, ownership housing in Kerala remained a preferred tenure option. A combination of market and institutional variables made it so. In recent times in Kerala Real Estate values have gone up significantly. Even in such a situation people sell off their properties in prime locations to buy large tracts of land at cheaper prices in distant parts of the city to build a house.