Rowland started his career in the Department of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow in 1997 after completing his doctoral research on gentrification and displacement in London.
From there he moved to Australia in 2005 to direct the Housing and Community Research Unit at the University of Tasmania to 2008.
In particular his research has examined changing urban and built landscapes as a result of wealth inequalities.
He has been critical of policies that benefit the middle-income and wealthy groups at the expense of low income earners.
Following work on social housing, segregation, urban violence and gentrification his research has focused increasingly on the impact of the super-rich on cities.