ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to not only shed light on rental practices in Indian cities, but also to examine the impact of urban and housing policy at various scales on these practices, and more generally on the shelter strategies of the residents of informal settlements. The analysis draws on empirical evidence from two informal settlements in Hyderabad – Jahangir Nagar located in the old city and Aditya Nagar located in the periphery. Findings indicate fairly vibrant rental markets with family connections and social networks as the predominant means of access to housing in these settlements. The impact of on-going globalisation processes in Greater Hyderabad has been felt much more strongly in Aditya Nagar than in Jahangir Nagar.
