Illegal construction

Illegal building can be the consequence of a combination of urbanization, overpopulation, homelessness and poverty in which case expanding slums, Shanty towns or similar will result. On the other hand, illegal building activity may be due to profitable speculation with and exploitation of valuable real property. Demand for mass tourism accommodation (hotels, etc.) as well as its counterpart, individualistic luxury retreats for the very rich are visible drivers of such speculation. Similar motivation may come from incentives connected with the illegal construction of great shopping malls or similar on greenfield land.

Even construction works with apparently valid permits can be a result of bribery.

In some cases it can be observed that legal or tolerated settlements are later declared illegal by governmental institutions in order to make room for more lucrative investments or simply for political demonstration purposes (see e.g. Operation Murambatsvina) sometimes under the pretext of beautification.

Notable examples

An infamous example of organized illegal construction can be found in the so-called Sack of Palermo.

On the western edge of the Ilola district in Vantaa, Finland, there is an illegal village called Simosenkylä, where the houses are mainly dilapidated, some completely abandoned.