Rethinking the Role of Local Governments in Housing Policy: Focused on Public Rental Housing

Abstract

Since housing is a location-fixed property, the causes and solutions for housing problems in each region are inevitably different. Accordingly, since the 1990s, when the local autonomy system began, there has been continued discussions on the necessity of localizing housing policies. However, the central government still plays a leading role in the planning and implementation of housing policies, and the local governments play a supportive role. While focusing on the public rental housing policies, this paper aims to identify the obstacles deterring the localization of housing policies and to suggest practical implications for expanding the role of local governments in public housing policies. Through in-depth interviews with major stakeholders such as local governments and local public enterprises, this paper argues that the local government’s comprehensive housing plan should be strengthened in terms of its status and role. In the proposed new system, local governments establish public rental housing policies in consideration of individual local conditions. The central government should present budget allocation standards so that local governments can reduce the financial burden of the supply and management of public rental housing.