Revealing invisible rules in slums: The nexus between perceived tenure security and housing investment

Abstract

This paper examines the link between the tenure security of slum dwellers and their housing investment behaviors in Pune, India. This study endeavors to disentangle the interplay of legal, de facto, and perceived tenure security by shedding light on the role of perceived property rights. The statistical analysis of original survey data reveals that slum residents' beliefs about the right to build well-structured housing reasonably reflect the level of tenure security. This research further delves into the relationship between slum residents and local political actors through a case study of a slum settlement in Pune. The analysis suggests that political interventions have profoundly influenced the formation of perceived property rights among slum dwellers and their housing activities, though the underlying legal and political systems have motivated, enabled, and limited such informal arrangements.