| dc.description.abstract | The main purpose of this study is to find out
housing consumer's choices and preferences in the City
of Nairobi (CON) . The main features include all those
characteristics that influence residential location
choice. A total sample of 300 was used which covered
200 households from low income, 50 households from
middle income and 50 households from the high income
group in six Nairobi estates. Heads of individual
households were interviewed using a questionnaire. 200
was sampled from the low income group; the largest
proportion because low, income earners are the
majority, not only at the urban population level but
also at the national level. Consequently, 50
households were drawn from middle income group and 50
'..
too from the high income areas. Heads of households
were considered most appropriate to respond to the
questionnaire.
Housing institutions and agencies and one
transport company were interviewed to find the major
consideration for making a decision on the most
preferred residential location choice. The purpose of
the study was:-
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determine those factors accounting for residential
location preference by CON residents; find out whether
households are satisfied with the arrangement of
residential location's house types and neighbourhood
being offered on the market; establish whether the
planning process has directed the growth of residential
areas and whether they conform to the classical models
of Alonso (1964) and Muth (1969) on residential
location preferences.
The hypotheses of the study are that socioeconomic
status plays an important role in people's
choice of residential location; public transport
significantly influences the growth of new estates and
consequently the people's choice for that location;
that only economic factors i.e land price, income and
transport costs could be used to predict the
determinants of a household's residential location.
The study· used descriptive analysis to give the
general characteristics of housing provision by housing
agents and housing choices and preferences by housing
consumers. Factor analysis was used to get the factors
that determine residential location choice. Regression
analysis was used to determine the relationship between
house size and family size.
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It was revealed that the factors of household
income ethnic status, household employments status, and
neighbourhood status play a significant role in
households' choice for a residence. Investigation on
housing provision reveals that such provision depends
mostly on the availability of land. Thus the ultimate
arrangement of neighbourhoods and house types. Finally
the study observe that there is little/no relationship
between family size and house size, while the economic
status of households is paramount in determining
residential location.
The study recommended that in order to achieve the
objectives of housing policies and programmes other
related fields need further study, for example house
affordability by majority of the population who fall in
the low income bracket is one important issue. Sources
of finance for developing housing for all the sectors
of society. other related resources for housing
provision i.e land, personnel and technology should be
carefully studied to see their linkages. Lastly,
housing developers should strive to aesthetically build
houses/neighbourhoods in conformity to people's
expected choices/preferences and not provide houses
"en-mass" with little appeal, both in their physical
plan, structure and neighbourhood. | en |
