Improving household satisfaction with government-provided houses in the city of Durban

Abstract

The South African government provides low-cost houses to households whose combined average monthly income is below R3 500. This is done to promote an integrated society by developing sustainable human settlements and quality housing within a subsidy system for different income groups. Nevertheless, occupants frequently express dissatisfaction with their homes, often citing common complaints about the subpar quality of these houses. The government spends a lot of money on constructing these houses, and occupants ought to derive maximum satisfaction. This study sought to establish possible ways to improve household satisfaction with the low-cost houses provided by the government. The study adopted a descriptive crosssectional design, collecting quantitative data from 375 occupants of governmentprovided low-cost houses across the city of Durban. The principal component analysis and probit regression models were then used to estimate the key determinants of household satisfaction with government-provided houses. The results from the study are essential for informing public policy on the planning and construction of low-cost houses. More precisely, the results inform public policy on human settlements.