What White and Second Generation Asian British Women Want in a Home

The focus in housing policy on increasing housing supply, improving existing neighbourhoods, managing community relations, and offering more consumer choice make it important to understand how people make decisions about where they live. This research explored the housing aspirations of second generation south Asian and white British women. It questioned whether provision and services established to cater for first generation migrants remain relevant for second generation south Asian women.

Key points

• Second generation south Asian women had similar housing aspirations to white British women. South Asian women's aspirations differed from their mother's generation largely due to greater physical and social mobility.
• South Asian women's housing aspirations were not determined by cultural, ethnic and religious factors, although for many their choice of neighbourhood was influenced by a desire to break away from 'traditional' norms and ethnically concentrated areas.
• Women from both ethnic groups were in favour of ethnically mixed neighbourhoods, and these preferences were driving housing aspirations and choices. The women felt that mix generated respect for different cultures, particularly for children.
• A sense of (non-ethnic) community was important to women but was hard to attain. Women wanted neighbourhoods that had the feel of a village but were located close to city centres. As parents, they chose safer suburban but 'soulless' neighbourhoods lacking in amenities, rather than deprived neighbourhoods with a strong sense of community.
• Although not all housing aspirations can be achieved in one place, owner occupation (not shared ownership) was seen to be the most viable means to achieve aspirations when compared against other tenures. Social housing was not an aspirational tenure and was perceived to take away choice, whilst the cheap private rented sector was thought to be only suitable short-term.
• Both south Asian and white British women accessed owner occupation via a number of similar routes, including borrowing money from families and by-passing estate agents where possible.

The full report is available here.