Justin Kadi publishes in Housing, Theory and Society

Dr Justin Kadi, University Assistant Professor in Planning and Housing at the Department of Land Economy, has just published an article in the journal Housing, Theory and Society.

The article, entitled 'Layers of Commodification in the City of Decommodification: The Transformation of Regulated Private Renting in Vienna', looks at the commodification of Vienna's housing system over the last three decades.

The abstract reads as follows:

Among housing observers, Vienna is typically treated as a posterchild of decommodification, showcasing the power of politics to tame the profit motive in housing. We argue that this view requires nuance. In the regulated private rental market, which accounts for one-fifth of all housing units in the city, commodification has become a trait of Vienna’s housing system over the last three decades. Based on policy analysis and transaction data we trace the state promoted intensification of commodification and the rise of corporate owners. We show how, together, they substantially transformed regulated private renting by opening and exploiting regulatory loopholes to maximize returns. We then demonstrate, based on survey data, how this was accompanied by improved housing quality in the sector, yet also by rising rents, affordability burdens, and housing insecurity. The paper balances existing accounts of Vienna’s housing system, while also speaking to debates around the revival of private renting.