The invisible and the familiar: how social ties shape social cohesion in public rental housing in Beijing, China

Social cohesion is a central goal of inclusionary housing policy. Classical urban theories highlight the role of social ties in fostering cohesion, yet evidence from public housing indicates more complex underlying mechanisms. This study distinguishes between two types of neighbourhood ties: familiar ties, formed through affective interactions such as friendships, and invisible ties, emerging from routine encounters with familiar strangers. Using a mixed-methods design that combines a survey of 628 tenants with 21 in-depth interviews in 14 public rental housing (PRH) neighbourhoods in Beijing, we examine how different ties shape perceptions of neighbourhood cohesion. The findings show that familiar ties significantly enhance cohesion, whereas invisible ties remain socially inert, offering recognition without translating into meaningful solidarity. Situated in the context of urban China, the study underscores the central role of friendship-based ties in strengthening PRH neighbourhoods. The results suggest that housing policy and neighbourhood planning should prioritise creating conditions for repeated and meaningful interactions that can transform casual encounters into durable relationships and help cultivate more cohesive public housing neighbourhoods.