Physical and Socio Economic Affordability Elements that Regulate formal low cost housing tenure in Bauchi Metropolis

Abstract

Purpose: The current practice housing policies of Nigeria did not highlight on the affordability of formal low cost houses. Low income earners don’t have sufficient income to buy a calorie of foods and meet basic necessities like clothing, rent, fuel, utilities, transport, communications, medical expenses, education, and on a broader sense, housing. Objectives of this study were (i) to investigate the current practices of housing policies in Bauchi Nigeria; (ii) to evaluate the affordability elements in Bauchi Nigeria, (iii) to study the relationship among the FLCH affordability elements in Bauchi Nigeria. Methodology employed includes descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation.

Findings: The study found that there are no laws, sections or guidelines regulating the affairs of formal low cost housing. The design does not reflect user need; it did not conform to their culture, family background and size. No provision for public participation in the policy documents. Formal low cost houses are located at the peripheries of the town outside trekking distances which repel beneficiaries because of the awkward location. Residents have higher number of defendants, lower income and lower qualification. This study found that design, location, participation, highlight on affordability and family issues have prominent impact on affordability and hence be incorporated in policy document. It can therefore be clinch that formal low cost houses in Bauchi, are not affordable. Conclusively, these affordability elements should be upheld to ensure sustainable formal low cost housing affordability policy for the low income groups. The physical and socio-economic elements are the catalyst in the housing provision aspect. These elements can bridge the wide fissure being the basic features, essentials and the fundamentals of a good policy.

Keywords: Affordability elements, formal low cost housing, housing policy issues, house ownership