Reasoning & Evidence
Tenure security, also referred to as housing stability, is vital to ensure that residents are able to remain in their communities and build long lasting ties and social connections with their neighbors. Without this security, there can be a constant fear of displacement, which discourages neighbors from bonding with one another and enforces social isolation. Tenure security provides protection from eviction, and it is complemented by rent control policies that limit a landlord’s ability to raise rent prices that subsequently drive residents out of their homes.(39) Residents will make less of an effort to engage in their communities if they’re constantly worried about having to relocate because of rising rental prices. This isolating fear of displacement is felt most acutely by older residents, especially those who have lived in a neighborhood for a long time and built a strong sense of community belonging.(40) Tenure security is particularly important for low-income residents, especially those with families, as these residents are more likely to work increased and longer hours if they are constantly trying to pay higher rent prices, which reduces their time and energy that could be spent forming connections with their neighbors and contributes to school turnover.
In addition to supporting aging in place, tenure security is associated with increased social connections and social ties. Tenure security can also be applied within a community or neighborhood, as opposed to a single dwelling. Combined with diverse housing options, this enables residents to remain in their communities through changing life phases, like adding children to their families or downsizing.(11) Security can be reinforced through policies and programs, as well as physical design elements. Policy opportunities explore options like retaining and improving (or ‘retrofitting’) affordable rental stock, rather than building new units that have higher costs to cover building expenses. Boosting affordable housing funding and protecting publicly owned land for affordable housing purposes can also be effective to maintain and increase secure, affordable units.(11) When developing housing with security in mind, planners should include diverse housing forms (houses, apartments, etc.) with a range of bedrooms to accommodate changing family sizes.(41)
Examples of Community Implementation
Burnaby, Canada: An example of a policy that supports tenure security is the Tenant Assistance Policy enacted by the City of Burnaby, which enables residents to receive financial compensation if they are displaced from their homes due to renovations and rebuilding projects. This helps to bridge the rent gap between their new and old units and assists with moving costs, as well as provides the right to return to the renovated unit at the previous rental rate.
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