Gentrification in Deteriorated Urban Areas and Its Relationship with the Index of Vulnerable Homes (IVH)

Abstract

Gentrification is produced as a consequence of transformation processes that occur in certain neighbourhoods. Families who had an almost vulnerable situation cannot face the rental and lifestyle increase that improvements in buildings and the area generate. In this study, the influence that energy rehabilitation processes aimed at solving energy poverty problems have on the possibility of provoking a gentrification process is explored. To that end, a case study is evaluated through the three main indicators comprised of the Index of Vulnerable Homes (IVH) developed by the authors. Finally, it is evidenced how certain families incur in a situation of vulnerability and energy poverty when the quality improvement derived from an energy rehabilitation of the building triggers an increase in rental prices.