Self-help housing policies for second generation inheritance and succession of “The House that Mum & Dad Built”

Abstract

This paper explores how 30 years after their formation as squatter and irregular settlements self-built consolidated dwellings in Latin America are being passed from the original first generation low income home builders to their children and grandchildren. Today these original peripheral settlements are located in the intermediate ring of cities and these self-built homes have significant exchange values often in excess of $30,000, but they also continue to have use value for second generation adult children, many of whom continue to live on the lots with their parents. Always in part conceived as an eventual “patrimony for the children”, these homes are now being inherited by the children and grandchildren as the original owner-parents die. Therefore national and local processes of inheritance and succession become central to the transfer of title and property across generations. However, few people have wills and most die intestate, creating new forms of irregularity and “clouded” land titles. Drawing primarily upon Mexican inheritance and succession law examples, this paper evaluates housing policies that will expedite inheritance and title transfers at low cost thereby providing title security to second and third generation households. This is essential for ongoing housing improvements and housing rehab in what have often evolved into high density and heavily deteriorated settlements.