HOUSING SATISFACTION IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING SCHEMES: A SOUTH AFRICA PERSPECTIVE

Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) techniques have been developed to provide a means for evaluating occupant responses to changes in an environment and linking this response to physical measures of that environment. POE has been used to systematically evaluate the performance of buildings after they have been built and occupied for some time. This paper present findings on factors (social and physical), which influences housing residential satisfaction of a sample of occupants in four different government Housing Subsidy locations in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Descriptive statistics were carried out on the data obtained through the use of occupant survey. Findings emanating from the survey revealed that the respondents were satisfied with their overall housing situation, but had complaints about certain aspects of the housing unit. However, the respondents felt that most of their housing needs were not being met. Also, a comparison is also made of the perceived factors of dissatisfaction amongst the housing subsidy occupants. It is recommended that a wider systematic coverage of the subject through investigation and diagnostic POE and occupants need assessment should be carried in housing subsidy schemes in South Africa.