Challenges Facing Housing Problem in Iran
Misunderstandings regarding the roots of the housing problem in Iran have rendered the efforts aimed at formulating and implementing a comprehensive strategy towards this issue futile. While housing is primarily a socio-economic problem, it is mainly addressed by the engineering community in Iran, while other aspects of the issue are discussed within the framework of engineering principles.
The consensus among policy planners and housing analysts is that some 70% of existing housing stock in the urban areas and some 30% of the rural fabric are dilapidated, requiring urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction. Considering the current growth rate and the increasing demand for housing among young families, especially among the migrants from rural areas and the small towns, and taking into account the fact that the current shortage of housing units amounts to 5 million at the present time. Moreover, taking into consideration the high rate of increase in population and rural-to-urban migration, the figure for housing need across the country will increase by nearly one million a year. The actual investment in housing construction does not even come close to matching the ever-increasing gap between need and supply. It is therefore obvious that any structurally profound solution offered by any governmental entity or engineering community is nothing but wishful thinking.
One must differentiate between "need" and "supply" in dealing with housing economics, even though these two categories are often confused. By "demand" referring to the translation of "need" -- an absolute term, including preparedness of a family or individual to obtain a home. This occurs when the potential home-buyer succeeds in acquiring sufficient resources needed for buying or renting a housing unit of the desired quality, at the desired location, and at an affordable price. There are two important reasons behind the shortage of suitable housing in Iran: why and how to find housing that is available at a reasonable price and at the required location, simply because of the economic well-being of the buyers.
The Housing Crisis in Iran
Planning institutions and policy-making centers have long recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to the housing problem. The housing sector currently absorbs a significant portion of household income, yet fails to deliver quality living spaces for the majority of the population. The rapid urbanization of Iranian cities, combined with speculative land markets and inadequate infrastructure investment, has created a persistent housing affordability crisis.
Solutions to the Problem
In the end, the article recommends an overall social planning approach to housing, one that avoids the current practice of sector planning in which the responsibility of various non-housing sectors are not considered. The interconnected nature of housing, transportation, employment, and urban services demands an integrated policy framework that addresses the structural causes of the housing shortage rather than treating symptoms through piecemeal engineering interventions.