TYPES OF HOUSING

TYPES OF HOUSING

Housing in different parts of the world or within a given economy differs in many respects. The differences are often accounted for by variability in locational setting such as climate, (weather and topography), economic and socio-cultural background. Based on these criteria, the different types of housing include:

1. i) Housing type based on location or setting
2. ii) Housing types based on ownership structure

iii)              Housing types based on structure, design or layout

1. iv) Housing types based on rented structure
2. v) Housing types based on building materials
3. vi) Other types of housing.

1. I) Housing Types Based on Location

There are two basic types of housing based on the location of the unit. They include rural and urban housing.

–         Rural Housing: – They are located in the rural areas and they are usually characterized by simplicity of design, structure and use of local building materials such as mud, raffia, palm, bamboo and wood. There are also characterized by absence or inadequacy of basic services such as internal pipe borne water and sanitary facilities.

–         Urban Housing: They are located in urban areas. They are characterized by modern design and the use of modern building materials. Urban houses are often serviced by infrastructure and services such as roads, pipe-borne water, electricity etc.

1. II) Housing Types Based on Ownership Structure

–         Privates housing: They are owned and managed by private individuals in the society. They are characterized by great variability in structural design and the ancillary services provided within and outside the house depending on the taste.

–         Public housing: They are constructed and owned by public outfits such as the government and its agencies. They are characterized by uniformity of design and ancillary services such as different government residential estates and official quarters located in towns and cities

–         Co-operative housing: They are owned and managed by cooperative societies. They are products of private cooperative effort.

–         Community housing: They are owned and managed by community. Such houses include community town halls and quest inns. Such housing may be constructed through community effort or built by community based organizations (CBOs) such as town unions.

–         Condominium housing: Is a complex of dwelling units in which the individual actually owns and holds title to his apartment and accepts sole financial responsibility for the house.

III)           Housing Types Based on Structure, Design or Layout

–         Single detached housing: These are houses, which are completely independent of any other structure. The garage may be located within the house or in a separate structure. Detached houses are generally owner-occupied and may be one or two-storey building, such as three bedroom and duplex. Such as houses found in Gwarinpa housing estate in Abuja, Nigeria.

–         Semi – detached housing: These are one or two family houses, with a common wall between houses for economy. They are characterized by separate and independent entrances. They are similar to the detached ones but are located on a smaller lot. Construction cost in semi-detached houses is cheaper than in single detached house but it has less privacy.

–         Multiple row housing: These are room apartments found in many cities and rural settlements in Nigeria. According to Chiara and Koppleman (1978), common walls are used to both side of row houses for economy. They are narrow in shape to maximize number of units in a row and are cheaper to build. Found in Minna, Gidan Kwana area Niger state.

1. IV) Housing Types Based on Internal Composition or Height

These types of houses could be recognized

–         Bungalow housing: This is a type of house, which is all on one level (Longman Dictionary, 1978). It is characterised by low-lying structure on the ground without upper floor(s). It could be detached, semi-detached, or a row housing and it is most common type of residential house found in most towns and cities of developing countries.

–         Low-rise housing: These are single flow (e.g. duplexes) or two to three storey buildings, which may be detached, semi-detached or roomy apartments.

–         High-rise housing: These are normally constructed in built-up areas of urban centres e.g. the central business districts due to land shortage and cost. They ranges from 5-40 stories with coverage less than the low-rise apartment.

1. V) Housing type based on Rental Structure

Houses are categorized based on the nature of rent paid by the occupants. They include:

–         Market rate or below market rate rental housing: The market rate rental housing refers to units where the rents are set by the landlords based on the value of the houses and the prevailing market situation.

–         Income-based rental housing: This applies to houses where tenants pay rent based on their income. That is, the lower the income, the lower the rent. Found in United State of America where the tenants are asked to pay 30% of their income for rent under the housing choice voucher arrangement of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

–         Subsidized housing: This term applies to houses where the rent is paid for, in part by the local, state, or the federal government. Subsidized housing allows tenants to pay rents that are less than the market rate. Examples of these houses are the various official residential quarters occupied by employees of both public and private establishment.

1. VI) Housing based on Building Materials

Houses could also be categorized according to the preponderant building materials used. Hence, houses built mainly of wood may be referred to as wooden house, while those built critically of mud are referred to as mud houses. Also, the term brick house refers to a house with brick walls while ‘block houses’ refers to those built with blocks.

VII)       Other Types of Housing

Aside from the above broad based housing categories or types, Clois and Joan (1996) used a combination of functional, ownership structure and mode of production criteria to arrive at other types of housing, include.

–         Tract houses: These are houses built by a developer who subdivides a large piece of land into lots. The houses are build using few basic plans that is limited number of different designs to reduce costs. This types of houses is cheap but have the demerit of being monotonous with little individuality. Examples are the Shagari low-cost housing units in Nigeria.

–         Custom Houses: They are designed and built to meet the needs of a specific household. It is often costlier than tract house but is most functional for whom it is designed. Examples of custom houses are the houses for the elderly and the handicaps with special facilities to take care of their peculiar needs.

–         Manufactured houses: These are houses produced and marketed by manufacturing companies. They are factory-built housing constructed and transported in whole or in sections to a home site.

–         Mobile Homes: These are houses constructed on frames that have wheels attached to them for the purpose of towing. Mobile homes are movable. They may be placed on temporary or permanent foundation.

–         Transitional housing: These are houses that provide temporary stay for people who are trying to live on their own, but do not currently have the ability to do so. This housing type is similar to halfway houses or shelters that provide housing and supportive services for released prisoners, the mentally ill, war, veterans, the homeless, victims of disasters and domestic violence etc.

Functions of Good Housing

There essential attributes show that every house, irrespective of its type, performs certain basic function. Generally, a functional and good house performs the following function:

–         Provision of shelter, which protect man from harsh weather elements or condition.

–         Provision of security against external attack

–         Provision of comfort and convenience for the inhabitants

–         Promotion of good health and decent living.