International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention
Abstract
The desire to remodel houses in line with changing needs of occupants is on the increase, but there is
a lack of understanding of the processes involved in housing transformation by residents in public housing
estates in a developing country like Nigeria. This study investigated housing transformation in two low-cost
public residential estates in Lagos, Nigeria, with a view to understanding the socio-economic characteristics of
those engaged in housing transformation and how their undertake this. The data were derived through a cross
sectional survey of 614 household heads in the estates using questionnaire and interview guide, and analysed
using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis The result shows that most of those involved in housing
transformation were male low-income household heads with large families living in owner-occupied houses for
over 15 years. It was also found that a significant correlation exist between housing transformation and the
socio-economic characteristics of the residents except age. Although housing transformation involved
substantial amount of money, yet it was undertaken using direct labour and self-help approach without building
plans and authorisations. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for appropriate actions to check the
current spate of transformation activities by residents in public housing estates in the study area.
Keywords: Housing transformation, low-cost housing; government residential estate, survey, Lagos
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