Enabling the Social Rental Housing Market in the Global South Accessible, adequate and affordable housing for all.

Several emerging economies worldwide lifted all forms of rental control policies throughout the past 30 years with the aim of freeing the housing market, however, this was rarely replaced with any form of comprehensive and affordable housing policies. It is estimated that by 2030, around 40% of the global population will need access to adequate housing, reflecting a need for 96,000 new affordable housing units every day (UN-Habitat). To address such demand, many countries in the global south have focused on housing policies that target increasing home ownership as the primary shelter option. However, with the growing demands for affordable housing, it became evident that the homeownership policies on their own are not able to solve the housing crisis, highlighting the need to bring social rental housing to the forefront of the social housing agenda again.
This session will bring together different experts, local authorities, funding agencies and other stakeholders in the social housing sector of the global south to engage in a moderated discussion around the opportunities, challenges, best practices and ongoing efforts that support advancing the social housing rental markets and increasing access to affordable housing for all.
The session asks how can governments, funding agencies, NGO’s and the private sector work hand in hand to push for a social rental housing agenda. Through discussing the most vital problems that are particular to the social rental sector such as institutionalization, regulatory challenges, local capacities, forms of intervention, tenant/owner rights, maintenance and financial feasibility. The session discusses solutions from similar contexts such as rental vouchers and social rental agencies. The session also asks how can actors play a role in challenging social norms and traditions that favor ownership and how they can enhance the image of rental housing as a viable housing option.
The session opens the door for a needed conversation on the wide challenges and opportunities of the social rental housing market. The session concludes by asking what efforts and partnerships are needed to put social rental housing on the forefront of the housing agenda and how it can be utilized to tackle the affordable housing gap and meet the market demands by enabling the growth of an attractive, formal, well-maintained, and affordable rental housing sector.