diff --git a/src/mudlib/housing.py b/src/mudlib/housing.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55f84cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mudlib/housing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+"""Player housing — personal zones."""
+
+import logging
+import tomllib
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from mudlib.zone import Zone
+from mudlib.zones import get_zone, register_zone
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Default home zone dimensions
+HOME_WIDTH = 9
+HOME_HEIGHT = 9
+HOME_SPAWN_X = 4
+HOME_SPAWN_Y = 4
+
+# Where player zone files live
+_zones_dir: Path | None = None
+
+
+def init_housing(zones_dir: Path) -> None:
+    """Set the directory for player zone files."""
+    global _zones_dir
+    _zones_dir = zones_dir
+    _zones_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+
+def _home_zone_name(player_name: str) -> str:
+    """Return the zone registry name for a player's home."""
+    return f"home:{player_name.lower()}"
+
+
+def _zone_path(player_name: str) -> Path:
+    """Return the TOML file path for a player's home zone."""
+    if _zones_dir is None:
+        raise RuntimeError("Call init_housing() first")
+    return _zones_dir / f"{player_name.lower()}.toml"
+
+
+def create_home_zone(player_name: str) -> Zone:
+    """Create a default home zone for a player.
+
+    Creates the zone, registers it, and saves it to disk.
+
+    Args:
+        player_name: The player's name
+
+    Returns:
+        The newly created Zone
+    """
+    zone_name = _home_zone_name(player_name)
+
+    # Build terrain — simple grass field with a border
+    terrain = []
+    for y in range(HOME_HEIGHT):
+        row = []
+        for x in range(HOME_WIDTH):
+            if x == 0 or x == HOME_WIDTH - 1 or y == 0 or y == HOME_HEIGHT - 1:
+                row.append("#")  # wall border
+            else:
+                row.append(".")  # open grass
+        terrain.append(row)
+
+    zone = Zone(
+        name=zone_name,
+        description=f"{player_name}'s home",
+        width=HOME_WIDTH,
+        height=HOME_HEIGHT,
+        toroidal=False,
+        terrain=terrain,
+        impassable={"#", "^", "~"},
+        spawn_x=HOME_SPAWN_X,
+        spawn_y=HOME_SPAWN_Y,
+        safe=True,
+    )
+
+    register_zone(zone_name, zone)
+    save_home_zone(player_name, zone)
+
+    return zone
+
+
+def save_home_zone(player_name: str, zone: Zone) -> None:
+    """Save a player's home zone to TOML.
+
+    Args:
+        player_name: The player's name
+        zone: The zone to save
+    """
+    path = _zone_path(player_name)
+
+    # Build TOML content
+    lines = []
+    escaped_name = zone.name.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"')
+    escaped_desc = zone.description.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"')
+    lines.append(f'name = "{escaped_name}"')
+    lines.append(f'description = "{escaped_desc}"')
+    lines.append(f"width = {zone.width}")
+    lines.append(f"height = {zone.height}")
+    lines.append(f"toroidal = {'true' if zone.toroidal else 'false'}")
+    lines.append(f"spawn_x = {zone.spawn_x}")
+    lines.append(f"spawn_y = {zone.spawn_y}")
+    lines.append(f"safe = {'true' if zone.safe else 'false'}")
+    lines.append("")
+    lines.append("[terrain]")
+    lines.append("rows = [")
+    for row in zone.terrain:
+        lines.append(f'    "{"".join(row)}",')
+    lines.append("]")
+    lines.append("")
+    lines.append("[terrain.impassable]")
+    tiles = ", ".join(f'"{t}"' for t in sorted(zone.impassable))
+    lines.append(f"tiles = [{tiles}]")
+    lines.append("")
+
+    path.write_text("\n".join(lines))
+
+
+def load_home_zone(player_name: str) -> Zone | None:
+    """Load a player's home zone from disk if it exists.
+
+    Also registers it in the zone registry.
+
+    Args:
+        player_name: The player's name
+
+    Returns:
+        The Zone if it exists on disk, None otherwise
+    """
+    path = _zone_path(player_name)
+    if not path.exists():
+        return None
+
+    with open(path, "rb") as f:
+        data = tomllib.load(f)
+
+    terrain = [list(row) for row in data.get("terrain", {}).get("rows", [])]
+    impassable_list = data.get("terrain", {}).get("impassable", {}).get("tiles", [])
+    impassable = set(impassable_list) if impassable_list else {"#", "^", "~"}
+
+    zone = Zone(
+        name=data["name"],
+        description=data.get("description", ""),
+        width=data["width"],
+        height=data["height"],
+        toroidal=data.get("toroidal", False),
+        terrain=terrain,
+        impassable=impassable,
+        spawn_x=data.get("spawn_x", 0),
+        spawn_y=data.get("spawn_y", 0),
+        safe=data.get("safe", True),
+    )
+
+    register_zone(zone.name, zone)
+    return zone
+
+
+def get_or_create_home(player_name: str) -> Zone:
+    """Get the player's home zone, creating it if it doesn't exist.
+
+    Args:
+        player_name: The player's name
+
+    Returns:
+        The player's home Zone
+    """
+    zone_name = _home_zone_name(player_name)
+
+    # Check registry first
+    zone = get_zone(zone_name)
+    if zone is not None:
+        return zone
+
+    # Try loading from disk
+    zone = load_home_zone(player_name)
+    if zone is not None:
+        return zone
+
+    # Create new
+    return create_home_zone(player_name)
diff --git a/tests/test_housing.py b/tests/test_housing.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af2247b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_housing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+"""Tests for player housing system."""
+
+import tomllib
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.housing import (
+    HOME_HEIGHT,
+    HOME_SPAWN_X,
+    HOME_SPAWN_Y,
+    HOME_WIDTH,
+    _home_zone_name,
+    create_home_zone,
+    get_or_create_home,
+    init_housing,
+    load_home_zone,
+    save_home_zone,
+)
+from mudlib.zones import get_zone, zone_registry
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _clean_zone_registry():
+    """Clear zone registry between tests."""
+    saved = dict(zone_registry)
+    zone_registry.clear()
+    yield
+    zone_registry.clear()
+    zone_registry.update(saved)
+
+
+def test_init_housing_creates_directory(tmp_path):
+    """init_housing() creates the zones directory."""
+    zones_dir = tmp_path / "zones"
+    assert not zones_dir.exists()
+
+    init_housing(zones_dir)
+
+    assert zones_dir.exists()
+    assert zones_dir.is_dir()
+
+
+def test_home_zone_name():
+    """_home_zone_name() returns correct format."""
+    assert _home_zone_name("Alice") == "home:alice"
+    assert _home_zone_name("bob") == "home:bob"
+    assert _home_zone_name("Charlie") == "home:charlie"
+
+
+def test_create_home_zone(tmp_path):
+    """create_home_zone() creates a zone with correct properties."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    zone = create_home_zone("Alice")
+
+    # Check basic properties
+    assert zone.name == "home:alice"
+    assert zone.description == "Alice's home"
+    assert zone.width == HOME_WIDTH
+    assert zone.height == HOME_HEIGHT
+    assert zone.toroidal is False
+    assert zone.spawn_x == HOME_SPAWN_X
+    assert zone.spawn_y == HOME_SPAWN_Y
+    assert zone.safe is True
+    assert zone.impassable == {"#", "^", "~"}
+
+    # Check terrain dimensions
+    assert len(zone.terrain) == HOME_HEIGHT
+    assert all(len(row) == HOME_WIDTH for row in zone.terrain)
+
+    # Check border is walls
+    for x in range(HOME_WIDTH):
+        assert zone.terrain[0][x] == "#"  # top
+        assert zone.terrain[HOME_HEIGHT - 1][x] == "#"  # bottom
+    for y in range(HOME_HEIGHT):
+        assert zone.terrain[y][0] == "#"  # left
+        assert zone.terrain[y][HOME_WIDTH - 1] == "#"  # right
+
+    # Check interior is grass
+    for y in range(1, HOME_HEIGHT - 1):
+        for x in range(1, HOME_WIDTH - 1):
+            assert zone.terrain[y][x] == "."
+
+    # Check spawn point is passable
+    assert zone.terrain[HOME_SPAWN_Y][HOME_SPAWN_X] == "."
+
+
+def test_create_registers_zone(tmp_path):
+    """create_home_zone() registers the zone."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    zone = create_home_zone("Bob")
+
+    registered = get_zone("home:bob")
+    assert registered is zone
+
+
+def test_save_home_zone(tmp_path):
+    """save_home_zone() writes a valid TOML file."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    create_home_zone("Charlie")
+    zone_file = tmp_path / "charlie.toml"
+
+    assert zone_file.exists()
+
+    # Verify TOML is valid and contains expected data
+    with open(zone_file, "rb") as f:
+        data = tomllib.load(f)
+
+    assert data["name"] == "home:charlie"
+    assert data["description"] == "Charlie's home"
+    assert data["width"] == HOME_WIDTH
+    assert data["height"] == HOME_HEIGHT
+    assert data["toroidal"] is False
+    assert data["spawn_x"] == HOME_SPAWN_X
+    assert data["spawn_y"] == HOME_SPAWN_Y
+    assert data["safe"] is True
+
+    # Check terrain
+    rows = data["terrain"]["rows"]
+    assert len(rows) == HOME_HEIGHT
+    assert all(len(row) == HOME_WIDTH for row in rows)
+
+    # Check impassable
+    assert set(data["terrain"]["impassable"]["tiles"]) == {"#", "^", "~"}
+
+
+def test_load_home_zone(tmp_path):
+    """load_home_zone() reads a zone from disk."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    # Create and save a zone
+    _ = create_home_zone("Dave")
+
+    # Clear registry
+    zone_registry.clear()
+
+    # Load it back
+    loaded = load_home_zone("Dave")
+
+    assert loaded is not None
+    assert loaded.name == "home:dave"
+    assert loaded.description == "Dave's home"
+    assert loaded.width == HOME_WIDTH
+    assert loaded.height == HOME_HEIGHT
+    assert loaded.toroidal is False
+    assert loaded.spawn_x == HOME_SPAWN_X
+    assert loaded.spawn_y == HOME_SPAWN_Y
+    assert loaded.safe is True
+    assert loaded.impassable == {"#", "^", "~"}
+
+
+def test_load_registers_zone(tmp_path):
+    """load_home_zone() registers the zone."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    create_home_zone("Eve")
+    zone_registry.clear()
+
+    loaded = load_home_zone("Eve")
+
+    registered = get_zone("home:eve")
+    assert registered is loaded
+
+
+def test_load_nonexistent_returns_none(tmp_path):
+    """load_home_zone() returns None if file doesn't exist."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    result = load_home_zone("Nobody")
+
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_round_trip(tmp_path):
+    """Create -> save -> load produces equivalent zone."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    original = create_home_zone("Frank")
+    zone_registry.clear()
+
+    loaded = load_home_zone("Frank")
+    assert loaded is not None
+
+    # Compare all fields
+    assert loaded.name == original.name
+    assert loaded.description == original.description
+    assert loaded.width == original.width
+    assert loaded.height == original.height
+    assert loaded.toroidal == original.toroidal
+    assert loaded.spawn_x == original.spawn_x
+    assert loaded.spawn_y == original.spawn_y
+    assert loaded.safe == original.safe
+    assert loaded.impassable == original.impassable
+
+    # Compare terrain
+    assert len(loaded.terrain) == len(original.terrain)
+    for loaded_row, orig_row in zip(loaded.terrain, original.terrain, strict=True):
+        assert loaded_row == orig_row
+
+
+def test_get_or_create_home_creates_new(tmp_path):
+    """get_or_create_home() creates a zone on first call."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    zone = get_or_create_home("Grace")
+
+    assert zone.name == "home:grace"
+    assert zone.description == "Grace's home"
+
+
+def test_get_or_create_home_returns_existing_from_registry(tmp_path):
+    """get_or_create_home() returns existing zone from registry."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    first = get_or_create_home("Hank")
+    second = get_or_create_home("Hank")
+
+    assert second is first
+
+
+def test_get_or_create_home_loads_from_disk(tmp_path):
+    """get_or_create_home() loads from disk if not in registry."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    create_home_zone("Iris")
+    zone_registry.clear()
+
+    loaded = get_or_create_home("Iris")
+
+    assert loaded.name == "home:iris"
+
+
+def test_case_insensitive_zone_names(tmp_path):
+    """Zone names are lowercased consistently."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    zone1 = create_home_zone("JACK")
+    zone2 = create_home_zone("Jack")
+    zone3 = create_home_zone("jack")
+
+    # All should reference the same zone name
+    assert zone1.name == "home:jack"
+    assert zone2.name == "home:jack"
+    assert zone3.name == "home:jack"
+
+
+def test_save_preserves_modifications(tmp_path):
+    """save_home_zone() preserves modifications to terrain."""
+    init_housing(tmp_path)
+
+    zone = create_home_zone("Kate")
+
+    # Modify terrain
+    zone.terrain[2][2] = "~"  # add water
+    zone.terrain[3][3] = "^"  # add mountain
+
+    # Save modifications
+    save_home_zone("Kate", zone)
+
+    # Load and verify
+    zone_registry.clear()
+    loaded = load_home_zone("Kate")
+    assert loaded is not None
+
+    assert loaded.terrain[2][2] == "~"
+    assert loaded.terrain[3][3] == "^"