The impact of social structure and physical characteristics on housing estate renovation in postsocialist cities: Cases of Vilnius and Budapest

Abstract

The article aims to analyse the renovation of housing estates in postsocialist cities. Two cities with different share of housing estates and public support system, Vilnius and Budapest are in the focus of the analysis. The renovation of housing estates is a new process in both of them; it started only in the 2000s and its outcome is far from spectacular. The most important and most common type of renovation activities is the insulation of blocks of flats because it significantly decreases the utility costs. The article investigates whether and how the social and physical characteristics of housing estates influence their renovation. The size, age, type, spatial location all have some impact on the renovation level. The authors point out that the necessity of renovation and its costs depend on the physical characteristics of the buildings but the opportunity for renovation derives from the ability to finance it. Consequently, the social status of the inhabitants and the availability of state support are of crucial importance. The findings of the analysis indicate that different combinations of state support and social status result in very different renovation activities in the two cities.

(Post-)Socialist Housing and Aging in Neoliberal Riga

“…However, the most important improvements must be made in common areas with common staircases, door sizes, and elevators in blockhouses. Studies have shown the significance of the residents' social status and the availability of state support, as exemplified in a recent analysis of housing renovation in Budapest and Vilnius (Szabó & Burneika, 2020). The reality in Riga is that renovated flats become affordable only for the economically wealthy minority.…”

Old housing estates in the housing market of a post-socialist city: The case of Budapest

“…They were mainly financed from EUsupport for refurbishment. Their results were spectacular in some LHEs (Kuusk & Kurniski, 2019;Szabó & Burneika, 2020), especially in the ones where the majority of buildings were renovated (Kovács & Herpai, 2011). However, the LHE renovation projects were not likely to result in social upgrading, population change or gentrification.…”