African Journal of Estate and Property Management

African Journal of Estate and Property Management Vol. 1 (3), pp. 069-079, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The correlates of public housing contentment in Lagos, Nigeria

Justin D. Awolowo

Department of Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]. 

Accepted February 2, 2014

Abstract

This study examined the correlates of public housing contentment in Lagos, Nigeria, specifically to identify relevant factors which are external to the dwelling but combine with those of the dwelling to provide satisfactory housing in Nigeria. For this purpose, the study employed a conceptual model which identified three housing components consisting of the environment, dwelling and management subsystems. For the survey, 1,232 (10%) households out of a total of 12,323 households in six randomly selected public housing estates in Lagos were systematically sampled. The information obtained from 1,022 questionnaires retrieved from the respondents - indicating their levels of satisfaction with their housing were analyzed using correlation, multiple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The significant levels of association were determined at either 0.01 or 0.05 probability level. The results indicated that tenants’ satisfaction level with both the environment and dwelling components of housing was above average, while the satisfaction level with the management component was below average. The results showed significant correlations between tenants’ satisfaction levels and the environmental, dwelling and management components of housing (p < 0.01). The need to consider relevant factors of the environment, dwelling and management in housing design and development is highlighted.

Key words: Evaluation, correlates, public housing, satisfaction, Nigeria.

African Journal of Estate and Property Management Vol. 1 (2), pp. 030-035, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

Service charge issue in Malaysian high-rise residential management: An analysis using a fuzzy conjoint model

Venison Fanny, Engerton Budd, Maddos Betty, Kennis Grandeur, Emery Redblood

¹Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia. ²Faculty of the Built Environment, University of Malaya, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 13 October, 2013

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of a study on high-rise residential complexes, with particular attention reference to their financial management. The research focuses on service charges, looking at both sides of the management issue, the amount owners pay and the level of service the management provides. Literature and field surveys indicate that this issue follows a circular argument in which both the property owners and the management corporations are contributory. The root cause seems to be financial. Owners’ failure to keep up payment leads to a shortage of funds and thus the corporation’s capacity to provide quality services, this situation in turn causes dissatisfaction among residents who, consequently, are reluctant to pay the prescribed charges. As a result, management corporations report having difficulty with service charge collection, only 50% of the residential complexes collect half of their fees on time. In addition to the analysis of the difficulties faced in collecting funds, this research also analyses owner satisfaction with service charge collection and complex management systems. The analysis used to analyse the survey is a fuzzy conjoint model, where the results were presented in terms of the linguistic value of ‘agree’. The analysis shows that residents were not satisfied with service charge fees and would like to know how their service charges are disbursed. They also admit to a delay in the payment of their fees. The residents admit to making many complaints about service and that they believe that their service charges are disproportionally high relative to the quality of services provided by their property management company. The findings also showed that no standard method exists for determining the rate for service charges in any high-rise housing complex.

Key words: Fuzzy conjoint, high-rise residential complexes, housing management, service charge.

African Journal of Estate and Property Management Vol. 1 (3), pp. 062-068, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Urbanization, housing quality and environmental degeneration in Nigeria

Elizabeth A. Gregory

Department of Architecture, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 20 November, 2013

Abstract

This paper examines the housing quality in Nigeria cities and the impacts of urbanization on environmental degeneration of urban built environment. The paper identifies the problems that have aided the degeneration to: Inadequate basic infrastructural amenities, substandard housing, overcrowding, poor ventilation in homes and work places, and noncompliance with building bye-laws and regulations. In order to examine the above mentioned problems, the study included secondary data. The secondary data involved available census data, official documents and other relevant secondary data were obtained from existing literature, on books and journals. The paper finds that the poor housing quality has serious adverse effects on environment and the health of city residents. Strategies for improving the built environment for sustainable living are suggested. The paper concluded that it is imperative to check and prevent further decay for harmonious living and sustainable developments.

Key words: Urbanization, environmental, degeneration, substandard, housing, housing quality, overcrowding.

African Journal of Estate and Property Management Vol. 1 (1), pp. 008-017, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Access and use of forest resources: Evidence from common property forest management in Swaziland

Curtis R. Martins

AMADI-Midlands State University 1st floor Embassy House, Gwamile Street/Msakato Street P. O. Box 6146 Mbabane Kingdom of Swaziland. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 3 July, 2013

Abstract

A major challenge facing Swaziland is how to maximise the use of forest resources while still maintaining their sustainability. Forest resources are being depleted and degraded due to poor access controls, inequities in land-tenure and user rights. The research was conducted using the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework as the underlying scheme. The main objective of this study was to investigate access to and utilisation of forest resources in the selected chiefdoms in Mahlangatsha Inkundla. The survey methodology whose target population was from the two chiefdoms were household heads was adopted in this study (N = 185). Data were collected using questionnaires. Stratified random sampling technique which combined both stratification and randomization were used. Findings revealed that, access levels of households to forest resources were different. Whilst access to community forest resources was restricted, the natural forest resources were open to extraction by anyone. Institutional and community rules that are used to regulate access to forest resources lack effectiveness. Consequently, there are problems of deforestation, degradation, illegal harvesting, and lack of involvement by community members to manage forest resources. The study recommends that, local people should be educated about rules that regulate access to forest resources and common rules be set at the local level.

Key words: Utilisation of forest resources, Accces of forest resources, forest management, sustainability.

African Journal of Estate and Property Management Vol. 1 (2), pp. 025-029, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Taking a systematic approach to integrated wetland management in Rupa Lake Area of Nepal

Samuel Riggs, James Harrison, Brenda D. Cory, Nodd L. Booth

Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development, P. O. Box 324, Pokhara, Nepal.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 4 September, 2013

Abstract

The common property resource management would be tragedy of common or would lead to better management dependent on the existence of institutions governing access, utilization, managements, exclusion, ownership and transfer of ownership. However, recently the concept of integrated management and environment payment system has emerged as a new paradigm in common property management. The civil society is now working towards bridging gaps between have and have not. With this realization LI-BIRD in financial support of EGP Netherlands applied the integrated wetland management model in managing the Rupa wetland and its watershed. Significant progress has been made in ensuring communities leadership in management of natural resources. The conflicts in resource management has been challenged with innovative ideas of distributing the benefits arising from the use to the communities who are not only recipients but also the communities playing role in conservation and management of ecosystems.

Key words: Common property resource management, integrated wetland management, conflicts and environment payment system.