Living solo in urban Australia: housing choice and constraint across the life-course

The incidence of living alone has increased in Australia since the mid-20th century until recently, such that a quarter of all Australian households now include a solo occupant. Yet, increasing housing costs in both ownership... [ view full abstract ]

The incidence of living alone has increased in Australia since the mid-20^th century until recently, such that a quarter of all Australian households now include a solo occupant. Yet, increasing housing costs in both ownership and rental tenures raise questions about how single persons can afford to live alone, for whom living alone is a comfortable lifestyle choice as well as for whom it is difficult or impossible. Existing Australian evidence suggests that living sole is both diverse, measured by characteristics of solo-livers, and can be dynamic in terms of life-stage drivers and duration. Age, gender, class and life course trajectories affect the living alone experience. Missing from current evidence, however, is a socio-spatial understanding of how housing markets and sub-markets might be reshaping the opportunity and experience of living alone in contemporary Australia. This paper presents findings of research that explores these questions via (i) time series analysis of the Survey of Income and Housing (1986 – 2013/14) and (ii) a spatial analysis of Census data (2011). Using a cohort approach comparing living alone among young-, mid- and later-life adults we examine changes over time in the housing experience (affordability, tenure, dwelling type, mobility) and location (including socio-economic characteristics of local areas) of urban singles, and examine life stage, gender and class differences in housing opportunities over time and place. Findings illuminate disparities between urban singles managing well and those experiencing housing disadvantage, and challenges associated with the socio-spatial ‘fit’ and ‘mismatch’ of solo living in urban housing markets.