A review of sustainable housing preferences and affordability

Abstract

The review examined the potential connections between sustainable housing, and sustainable affordability of such housing while meeting the housing preferences of various households. It is widely known that many lower-income countries are facing a housing crisis, and it is crucial to address this issue by providing affordable housing that meets individual needs while also promoting environmentally friendly living. This review paper Is centered on the research question: How can sustainable housing be made more affordable and accessible to all households while meeting their housing preferences? A qualitative study of 66 publications from 2019 to September 2023 found that sustainable housing offers ecological and energy-efficient benefits, but there are barriers to scaling up these models, including economic, cultural, and legal challenges. Housing preferences are influenced by factors such as cost, location, and amenities, with affordability being a significant concern. While environmental and economic sustainability can positively impact housing prices in turn affect the affordability of such housing, the initial investment costs can be challenging for lower-middle-income households. The review further established that Sustainable housing, housing preference, and affordability are broad topics that have been explored by many researchers. However, there are still some research gaps that need to be addressed. There is a significant gap in how sustainable housing can be made affordable to all households while meeting their housing preference hence the need to explore the intersection between sustainable housing, housing preference, and affordability by carrying out empirical research to identify ways in which sustainable housing can be designed and built to meet the needs and preferences of low-income households while remaining affordable.