In South La and Osu (Accra), residents often adapt vacant urban areas to meet everyday needs. This qualitative study uses a sense-of-place lens to understand these practices and their implications for the temporary use of vacant urban areas. By researching residents’ sense of place and attitudes towards vacant urban areas, the contexts and conditions for temporary use were explored. The data revealed that the contexts and activities that take place in both areas were influenced by their respective attitudes and sense of place. The sense of place also gave insights into potential future temporary uses. However, the data was inadequate to provide an assessment of the overall potential, lacking data on the actors and their influence. Future research on these actors and their power relations is suggested. Research into resolving the mismatch between customary practices and state laws is also suggested, as this mismatch facilitates the occurrence of vacant urban areas.