Work

Understanding Housing Justice in Shared Housing

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article conceptually explores housing justice through the worked example of shared housing in the private rental sector (PRS), where people live with non-family. Drawing on interviews with 25 shared housing tenants in Melbourne, Australia, this article asks how the experiences of shared housing tenants can inform an understanding of housing justice. Analysis finds there are three sites of relationality where injustice can occur within shared housing: the built form of the dwelling; relationships with housemates; and the policy and regulatory context, including relationships with property managers. Across these three sites, tenants discussed strategies to manage injustices, including using legal mechanisms, confrontation/negotiation, leaving the dwelling, and acquiescing. Housing justice for shared housing tenants is multi-dimensional, going beyond the landlord–tenant relationship. The article concludes with a discussion on expanding the conceptualization of housing justice more broadly to include nuances of relationality experienced by and within households.

Source: Housing Theory and Society

DOI: 10.1080/14036096.2025.2562110

Authors: Zoë Goodall, Wendy Stone, Kay Cook, Deb Batterham

Institution: Swinburne University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Collaborative and Sustainable Housing Initiatives

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Australian Government, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute