Using theory or making theory: Can there be theories of housing?

Abstract

This paper seeks to establish legitimacy for the creation of housing theory. It begins by creating a distinction between dwelling and housing policy. I argue that the latter is the staple focus of most housing research, but that this presents only a partial picture of housing phenomena and artificially restricts the field of housing studies. By introducing the concept of dwelling the field of housing studies is widened to consider the ordinary use of housing, and this opens up a number of possibilities for theory creation. Having done this, in the second part of the paper I consider the nature of housing theory and the main arguments against theory creation. I seek to provide a coherent and substantial counterargument to these objections. In the final section of the paper I present a brief outline of how we might create housing theory using the example of the concept of accommodation. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.