Sustainable rural housing – a review of current knowledge on housing access and social dynamics

In this project we want to review and analyse the current body of knowledge with a focus on housing access, inequalities and social dynamics in rural areas in Sweden.There is a growing geographical divide and differentiation with regard to the housing situation. In some areas, there is overheating, and vulnerable group and young households have limited access to housing.

In other areas there is a surplus of vacant housing, sometimes resulting in demolishing or sale of previously municipally owned properties. In this study we take a systematic approach to review the literature about socially (un)sustainable rural housing.

A comprehensive review will map out and describe the themes and topics of existing research and will provide a basis for further studies and identification of knowledge gaps.

Two workshops contribute to transferring of knowledge, among researchers and stakeholders.Sustainability in rural housing could be conceptualized as a balanced development where neither the ‘hot-spots’ with over-heated markets connected to for example seasonal tourism or economic booms, nor the ‘cold-spots’ with a shrinking population and related processes of unsustainable rural housing, dominate.

It is of importance to identify the mechanisms and processes that shape and reproduce housing imbalances in rural areas.

The state of knowledge with regard to access to housing in rural areas, is fragmented rather than comprehensive, which this project will contribute to counteract.