Housing inequalities: definitions, understandings and approaches

Housing inequalities are a key focus for housing research, yet how inequalities are defined and understood is rarely discussed. Recognising the potential for weak abstractions to limit the framing and restrict the imagination of research, this article subjects the concept of housing inequalities to analysis, critique and refinement. Through a narrative review, the fundamental assumptions common to different orientations towards housing inequalities are exposed and drawn together into a working definition. Differences and distinctions are also exposed and opportunities for bridging between different perspectives are explored. The outcome is a more robust conceptual platform upon which to base analysis of the causes and consequences of housing inequalities, the evaluation of policy and practice responses and development of housing alternatives. Attention focuses upon prevailing perspectives within housing research in western Europe, with a specific focus on the UK. Further work to analyse and learn from other perspectives is required, helping to further cross-national and cross-cultural understandings of housing inequalities.