affordable housing
Housing that is reasonably priced in relation to average incomes, so that people on moderate or low earnings can afford it.
writing-task-2readingspeakingformal-phrasesUrban developmentGovernment and society
IELTS use
Use this phrase to discuss urban planning, housing shortages, social inequality, and government policies in Writing Task 2 and Speaking. It is also common in IELTS reading texts on city development.
Examples
- Many young professionals are forced to leave the city centre because of a lack of affordable housing.
- The government has pledged to build more affordable housing to address the needs of low-income families.
- Investment in affordable housing can reduce homelessness and improve public health.
- Local authorities should collaborate with private developers to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Collocations
- affordable housing shortage
- The affordable housing shortage has become a major political issue in many cities.
- provide affordable housing
- The council plans to provide affordable housing for key workers such as nurses and teachers.
- affordable housing policy
- A well-designed affordable housing policy can ease pressure on the rental market.
- access to affordable housing
- Limited access to affordable housing forces many families to live in overcrowded conditions.
- affordable housing projects
- Public funding is essential for affordable housing projects to succeed.
Paraphrases
- housing that people can afford: A simple, clear explanation of the meaning, useful for defining the term in an essay.
- low-cost housing: Similar focus on price, but may imply lower quality and is less precise for academic writing.
- reasonably priced homes: A good paraphrase when discussing the private housing market.
- housing within financial reach: A more formal paraphrase that fits well in policy discussions.
Common mistakes
- cheap housing to affordable housing. 'Cheap' often implies poor quality, while 'affordable' focuses on reasonable price relative to income.
- affordable housings to affordable housing. 'Housing' is uncountable when referring to accommodation in general, so it has no plural form.
- affordable house to affordable housing. Use 'housing' as the general term for homes in a policy or societal context, not a single building.
- low-income housing to affordable housing. 'Low-income housing' refers specifically to subsidised housing for the very poor, so it is narrower than 'affordable housing'.