Backyarding - Understanding rental markets better: A synthesis of research findings in eight neighbourhoods in Cape Town

This paper synthesises key findings from primary research conducted in eight Cape Town neighbourhoods (Eerste River, Freedom Park, Ilitha Park, Kensington, Lost City, Lotus Park, Maitland Garden Village and Manenberg) aimed at understanding the informal backyard housing sector better (PDF, 932 KB). The research was conducted as part of the Backyard Matters Project, a partnership initiative between the Development Action Group (DAG), Isandla Institute and Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU), funded by Comic Relief.

A key finding of the fieldwork is that the informal backyard rental market is highly contextual and that social factors can be very important aspects of its functioning – in fact, in some instances, social factors are primary drivers of this market. This certainly differs across neighbourhoods, but it offers an important critique of a more conventional perspective on the backyard rental market as operating purely on a financial logic.

While context matters a great deal in understanding the informal backyard rental sector, this is not to suggest that there are no common themes and opportunities for intervention – be it from the state, the finance sector or other stakeholders. The paper distils ten key take-away points from the primary data, including some common themes. The paper concludes that interventions and policy considerations aimed at the informal backyard rental market need to be nuanced in responding to relevant contextual factors and opportunities.