Informal Rental

Housing
Informal Rental Housing Typologies and Experiences of Low-
income Migrant Renters in Gurgaon, India by Mukta Naik

Assessing Housing Preferences and Living Conditions of Migrant Workers in

the Fringe Areas of Bengaluru City, India by Jayprakash Chadchan , Nabil
Hossiney , Praveen Kumar Tamil Selvan and AnaghaVijayan
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

What is
Informal Rental Housing ?
It's housing that isn't officially registered or built to strict rules, often rented out by
individuals or small landlords.

It refers to living arrangements where a significant proportion of the working poor,

particularly low-income migrants, reside in the informal sector. These are often found in
unplanned, poorly serviced parts of cities, such as urban villages and unauthorized
colonies.

Why it exists:
Rapid urbanization often surpasses the ability of cities to provide adequate housing
infrastructure to meet the growing demand. So, informal housing steps in to fill this
gap
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Its Relevance in Indian Context

Big Problem, Big Scale: A huge number of low-income renters in India live in informal
housing – about 1 in 4 rental homes are informal. An estimated 60-90% of low-income
rentals in Asia are in the informal sector.
Part of City Growth: Informality in India's cities is not just caused by a failure of
planning, but is a "key feature of the idiom of urbanization in India"*.
(*“the idiom of urbanization in India by Ananya roy" is simply the story of how India's
cities uniquely adapt, grow, and sometimes struggle, as millions of people make them their
home.)
Who Lives Here?
Cities like Bengaluru serve as preferred host cities for migrant workers due to their fast-
growing economies and industrial sectors. These migrants play a key role in the city's
economic growth and spatial expansion.
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Its Development Over The Years

In Early 2000s Gurgaon began rapid transformation into a global city. Local
villagers converted homes into rental rooms for migrants .
By Mid 2000s-2010s Gurgaon began rise of urban villages and unauthorized
colonies. Landlords evolved from subsistence to petty capitalists. informal housing
diversified: single rooms, tenements, family spaces.
By time 2015 to 2020s Informal renting became semi-structured, tied to local
governance and kinship networks. Migrants continued to rent informally due to
flexibility and location advantages. Still no formal recognition in housing policy.
At present situation Migrants face poor conditions but value affordability and
flexibility.
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Objectives of the Research

Understanding the Migrant Housing Landscape:
To study the diverse types and characteristics of informal rental housing in cities
like Gurgaon.
To understand how low-income migrant workers occupy, utilize, and navigate these
housing options.
To investigate the housing preferences and their impact on living conditions for
industrial migrant workers in rapidly urbanizing areas like Bengaluru's fringe
zones.
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Preferences
What Do Migrant Workers Look For?
Top Priority: Close to Work! "Proximity to workplace" was overwhelmingly the most
important criterion for migrant workers in Bengaluru, with a priority weight of
43.36%. This is because it minimizes commuting costs and time.
Second Priority: Affordable Rent: "Affordability" ranked second in Bengaluru with a
priority weight of 12.47%. The majority of respondents in Gurgaon paid well below
30% of their household income towards rent. Migrants, who typically earn low wages,
are driven to seek cheaper housing options.
Safety Matters: "Safety and security" came in third in Bengaluru with a weight of
12.26%. Migrant workers often come from other states and regions, making safety a
major consideration, especially in unfamiliar areas. Informal housing structures often
lack reliable security measures.
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Findings
Different Kinds of Informal Homes
1. Simple Shacks (Jhuggis)
Clusters ranging from 10 to 100 huts, usually built of bamboo frames with
temporary materials like old saris, plastic, thermocol, thatch sheets,
tarpaulin, aluminum, and tin sheets used for walls and roofing.
Rental prices range from 700-1500 rs
2. Multi-story Buildings (Tenements)
Two to five-story buildings, ranging in size from 8 to over 25 rooms per
floor. They are typically brick and RCC constructions.
rental prices range from 1800-2200 rs
3. Courtyard-Style Rooms
Rooms typically arranged around a courtyard or wide passage, built to
accommodate families. Usually two-floor high brick and RCC constructions.
Rental prices range from 1500-3000 rs for shared toilet and for separate toilet
it ranges from 3000-6500 rs
JHUGGIS

COURTYARD STYLE

TENEMENTS
 JHUGGIS TENEMENTS

COURTYARD STYLE
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Findings
Living Conditions & Health
Severe Overcrowding: Over half of the 45 migrant worker households interviewed in
Gurgaon lived in conditions of overcrowding, with up to five family members sharing
spaces as small as 8-10 sq. m (less than 3.4 sq. m per person). In Bengaluru, workers
typically share rooms with at least three people per 100 sq. ft.

Poor Sanitation: Field observations in Bengaluru reveal a "severe lack of sanitation and
waste management," with open sewage and waste accumulation near worker
accommodations.
Health Risks: Overcrowded households are linked to higher rates of communicable
diseases, with a significant correlation between decreased per capita floor area and
increased episodes of respiratory and infectious diseases. Substandard housing
conditions are linked to increased stress and anxiety.
Affordability of Informal Rentals Crowding(per sq. m)

Access to Toilets
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Terminology
Landlordism: The practice of renting out property. The papers describe different types:
Subsistence Landlords: Small landlords who subdivide very small lots and use the rent to
supplement essential consumption.
Petty-Bourgeoisie Landlords: Landlords who are not forced to rent but choose to do so
to supplement income and improve their housing.
Petty-Capitalist Landlords: Landlords who view renting as a business proposition and
invest in additional lots to accumulate capital.
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): A multi-criteria decision-making framework used in the
Bengaluru study to analyze key factors influencing housing choices by comparing them in
pairs.
Urban Villages: compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that blend residential, commercial,
and public spaces within a walkable, transit-friendly environment. They aim to foster
community interaction, reduce car dependency, and support sustainable urban living.
 About |Context in India | Growth | Objective | Findings | Terminologies

Terminology
de facto occupation: A form of land or property usage without formal legal ownership
or authorization, but with social recognition or practical control.

Neoliberal citymaking refers to how urban development is shaped by market-driven

ideologies and policies, often favoring private capital, deregulation, and elite interests
at the expense of the urban poor.
Thank You