ABSTRACT
Homeownership is generally perceived to be the secure choice, offering both tenure security and an asset that may be relied on in times of need. However, investing in housing also exposes households to new risks, whether fluctuations in house prices and interest rates or reduced labour market flexibility. The impact of homeownership on economic security is thus far from obvious. This chapter explores how housing affects households’ economic security by examining the link between investments in housing wealth and household finances more broadly. Rather than focusing just on homeowners, the chapter evaluates the saving, investment and debt behaviour of households in the owner-occupied and private-rented sectors. Data for the UK is used to compare the non-housing wealth trajectories of owners and renters across different stages of the life-course and household types.
