Purpose of the Tenure and Occupancy Module
This module explains the principal residential tenure and occupancy forms relevant to interpreting residential data in Johannesburg. Its purpose is to clarify how different tenure categories shape legal recognition, management practices, and visibility within formal datasets, without addressing rights, obligations, or operational arrangements.
Tenure as a Structural Classification
Residential tenure defines the legal and functional relationship between occupants and residential property. These classifications determine how housing is recorded, transferred, and managed within formal systems. Tenure form is therefore a key structural variable influencing whether and how residential units appear in listing-based observation.
Owner-Occupied Residential Forms
Owner-occupied residences are typically characterized by long-term occupancy and limited interaction with formal listing platforms. As a result, such properties generate visibility primarily at points of transfer or temporary vacancy. Listing-based datasets therefore capture only episodic visibility for owner-occupied housing rather than continuous representation.
Rental and Managed Occupancy Forms
Rental housing and managed occupancy formats tend to interact more regularly with listing platforms due to turnover, standardized marketing, and intermediary involvement. These tenure forms are more likely to produce recurring visibility events. This does not imply greater residential prevalence, but reflects alignment with publication mechanisms.
Informal and Non-Standard Occupancy
Informal or non-standard occupancy arrangements often fall outside recognized tenure categories or operate without standardized documentation. These forms are structurally excluded from formal listing systems and therefore remain largely unobservable within residential datasets, despite their role in the city’s housing landscape.
Interpretation Limits Linked to Tenure
Observed tenure-related visibility should not be interpreted as a measure of residential composition or dominance. Differences in visibility arise from how tenure forms interact with formal systems rather than from their relative presence. This module establishes a boundary against inferring residential structure from tenure-based listing patterns.