Murwirapachena, GeniusIfeacho, Christopher I.Ndlovu, Rachel Nokuphila2025-11-072025-11-072025https://hdl.handle.net/10321/6288Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Management Sciences Specialising in Public Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.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.124 penHuman settlementLow-cost housesPublic policyRDP housesPublic housing--South Africa--DurbanLow-income housing--South Africa--DurbanHousing policy--South AfricaHuman settlementsQuality of life--South AfricaThesishttps://doi.org/10.51415/10321/6288