Commercialization of Housing in Upgraded Squatter Areas: The Case of George, Lusaka, Zambia

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Periodical article

Title:	Commercialization of Housing in Upgraded Squatter Areas: The Case of George, Lusaka, Zambia
Author:	Schlyter, Ann
Year:	1987
Periodical:	African Urban Quarterly
Volume:	2
Issue:	3
Period:	August
Pages:	287-297
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zambia
Subjects:	real property rental housing dwellings Urbanization and Migration
Abstract:	George is a former squatter settlement in Lusaka, which was legalized and upgraded in the late 1970s. Home ownership and self-help are cornerstones in the upgrading policy. In this paper, the development in the area since the upgrading is discussed with respect to builder-owner occupancy, changes in ownership, house prices, absentee landlordism and subletting, in order to assess the degree of commercialization. It is found that market relations are developing slowly and unevenly. About half of the houses are occupied by builder-owners. The number of houses sold on the market each year is relatively low. There is, however, an increasing number of absentee owners, and a growing part of the population are tenants in subletted rooms. The important role of rental submarkets in home ownership schemes must be given great consideration in the formulation of housing policies. Ref.