Unplanned Urbanisation

Unplanned urbanisation occurs when urban growth outpaces coordinated provision of land, housing, infrastructure and public services. It produces unsafe rental housing when concentrated demand, high costs and weak regulation push tenants into overcrowded, poorly constructed or hazard-prone accommodation. University neighbourhoods are especially vulnerable where student demand exceeds campus and planned rental capacity.

Pressure on rental housing

Universities generate concentrated demand for affordable accommodation near campuses. If hostels and planned rentals do not expand correspondingly, students and other low-income tenants are pushed towards informal rentals, paying-guest accommodation, subdivided dwellings and unserviced peripheral areas.

• High rents, deposits and commuting costs restrict access to formal housing near universities and employment.
• Undocumented tenancies and weak tenure increase exposure to arbitrary eviction, exploitation and frequent displacement.
• Dependence on uncertain incomes makes regular rent payments and long-term tenancy difficult for low-income migrants and students.

How rental accommodation becomes unsafe

High density becomes dangerous when buildings and services are not planned for the number of occupants. Houses converted or extended for rental use may lack adequate structural safety, ventilation, sanitation and emergency exits.

• Overcrowding, unsafe electrical connections, combustible materials and narrow lanes increase fire risk and obstruct emergency access.
• Additional floors, partitions or alterations that violate building standards can overload structures and reduce ventilation and safe exits.
• Inadequate water, sanitation, drainage and waste removal increase disease, waterlogging and environmental health risks.
• Low-lying sites, areas near drains and unstable slopes face greater exposure to floods, fires and structural failure.
• Peripheral accommodation raises transport costs and separates tenants from campuses, jobs, health services and other amenities.

Planning for safe and affordable rentals

Policy should combine affordable rental housing, campus accommodation, settlement improvement and risk-sensitive urban planning rather than treat students and migrants as temporary populations.

• Land-use plans should anticipate institutional growth and reserve well-located, serviced land for hostels and affordable housing.
• Transparent written rental arrangements can clarify rights, reduce eviction risk and support accountability for maintenance.
• In-situ upgrading should improve water, sanitation, drainage, fire access and structural safety without unnecessary displacement.
• Housing should be integrated with public transport, campuses and livelihood locations to prevent peripheral exclusion.
• Hazard mapping and enforcement of building and land-use norms should prevent unsafe construction and settlement in high-risk areas.