The Housing Experiences and Future Aspirations of Polish Migrants in the UK

Abstract

Polish migrants were the most visible and abundant newcomers of the post-2004 Eastern European migrations to the UK, but little research has been done on the housing experiences, settlement practices or long-term aspirations of these individuals. This research seeks to provide greater insight into the housing experiences, settlement practices and future aspirations of Polish migrants in the UK. It also seeks to provide a holistic view of perceptions and experiences in both the migration destination and the country of origin, by situating the lived experiences of the Polish participants in this research within the context of wider economic, social, and political structural influences in the UK and in Poland. This study provides an increased understanding of the views and experiences of Polish migrants before and after the decision for Brexit and examines their propensity for movement following the EU referendum result. A total of 59 semi-structured interviews were carried out with 35 Polish migrants and 14 housing experts in the UK case study localities of Luton and Peterborough, and interviews were also carried out with 10 Polish nationals across four localities in Poland. The interview narratives were then examined using a combination of content analysis and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to reveal the lived experiences and future aspirations of a selection of Polish individuals in the UK and in Poland. The results suggest that migratory movements from Poland to the UK were mostly influenced by desires for self-improvement, travel or an improved quality of life and that short-term migration plans frequently evolve into long-term or permanent settlement. The results also indicate that social ties strongly influence Polish settlement location choices within the UK and that social capital provides important support to newly arrived migrants, including assistance finding housing. Although most participants found their accommodation easily, and aspirations for homeownership were high, the results suggest that changing housing market conditions are negatively affecting migrant access to housing; and although Polish migrant housing experiences in Luton and Peterborough do appear to improve over time, issues of insecurity, dissatisfaction and substandard housing conditions frequently arise within Polish migrant housing pathways - particularly in Luton. Additionally, there was a low propensity for the Polish participants in Poland to migrate to the UK, as most indicated that they were content with their lives in Poland and had little desire for change. Similarly, most of the Polish participants in the UK intended to remain in the UK despite the unsettling prospect of Brexit, as most were embedded in UK society with strong social networks and stronger aspirations to remain in the UK rather than to return to Poland or migrate elsewhere. However, multiple Polish participants in Luton and Peterborough were concerned about the potential impacts of Brexit on their rights to remain within the UK and on their rights to housing and homeownership within the UK.