Global insights into sustainability in housing policies: a scientometric review

Purpose This study aims to examine the global research landscape regarding sustainability in housing policies through a scientometric review. It situates the identified research themes and trends within the Urban Sustainability Transitions (UST) frameworks, connecting them to wider urban sustainability transition processes. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative, scientometric analysis with quantitative insights of 203 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database published between 2000 and February 2025, focusing on top-cited journals, country-specific outputs and author keyword co-occurrence. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) screening workflow was used to perform VOSviewer-based author keyword co-occurrence, co-citation and temporal overlay analyses. These were then discussed through the UST frameworks for policy recommendations. Findings Eight thematic clusters emerged covering affordability, urbanization, climate risk and self-help housing, affordability within sustainable transitions, social sustainability, informal settlements, home ownership and social housing. The temporal overlay reveals that since 2015, the focus has shifted from technology/efficiency to equity and displacement risks, regime lock-ins in finance and planning and capability/implementation concerns. Global North knowledge remains heavily concentrated alongside sparse Global South-anchored practice debates. Originality/value This study provides a clear, cluster-linked policy portfolio with measurable policy metrics to connect housing, environmental and economic goals in housing policy development and monitoring.