Evaluation of Residents’ Satisfaction with Building Features in Some Public Housing Estates in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Residential and neighbourhood satisfaction are important indicators of housing quality and conditions which affect individual’s quality of life. This study which was conducted in 2018 evaluated the level of satisfaction in terms building features in six completed and occupied housing estates in Benin city, namely the federal owned estate at Ikpoba hill, and state owned housing estates located at Ugbowo, Oregbeni, Oluku, Evboriaria and Iyekogba. Data were collected from 1000 heads of households and analysed using descriptive statistical tools, categorical regression and factor analyses. The findings showed that the building features significantly affect the level of resident’s satisfaction. The RSI scores for the relatively old estates; EDPA, Ikpoba hill and Oregbeni and are on the dissatisfied region (RSI: 1.1-2.00) while for the relatively newer ones; Andrew Wilson and Oluku, the RSI scores are on the satisfied level (RSI=. 3.1-4.00) with building features features. The study recommends that the design for future low cost housing should consider the family sizes of average Nigerian family, kitchen design that make use of cooking gas, kerosene and outdoor kitchen possible. The paper concludes that the buildings should maintain an acceptable quality standard in terms of functional spaces, structural stability and aesthetics as this will result to resident's housing satisfaction.