Residents’ Perception of Housing Quality in an Informal Settlement

Opoko, Pearl Akunnaya and Oluwatayo, A. A. and Ezema, I. C. and Opoko, C. A. (2016) Residents’ Perception of Housing Quality in an Informal Settlement. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, 11 (4). pp. 2525-2535. ISSN 0973-4562 (In Press)

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Abstract

Housing quality assessments have formed the basis of housing improvements aimed at enhancing residents’ quality of life. However, assessments often exclude inputs from residents thereby resulting in solutions that do not reflect the peculiar needs of residents. This paper investigated housing quality in an informal settlement from residents’ perspectives, specifically addressing two main issues: identification of criteria by which residents evaluate quality of their housing and any correlations between these criteria and residents’ socio-economic characteristics. Focus on informal settlements is because previous expert housing quality assessments often consider them substandard and unfit for human existence. Data were drawn from Ayobo, a representative informal settlement in Lagos, Nigeria. Quantitative data were obtained through structured questionnaires which elicited information on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics and perception of quality of their houses. Data were subjected to principal components analysis (PCA). Results revealed ten factors of housing quality from residents’ perspective in the study area. These include dwelling occupancy type, environmental quality and public social amenities (services); Indoor environmental quality; condition of building elements; adequacy of facilities for children and shopping; neighbourhood infrastructure; neighbourhood environmental quality; dwelling units’ attributes and communal facilities; shared facilities, noise and dwelling satisfaction; indoor environmental quality; and type of repairs. Only four variables (current household size, initial household size, occupation and number of children below 18 years) correlated negatively and significantly with dwelling occupancy type and public social amenities (services). Thus these factors must be critically considered in addressing housing quality issues in informal settlements.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Civil Engineering and the Environment
Depositing User:	Adedapo Oluwatayo
Date Deposited:	29 Feb 2016 10:34
Last Modified:	29 Feb 2016 10:34
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/6249

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