An Assessment of Housing maintenance and Management in Federal Housing Estates in Abuja, Nigeria.

Abstract

This research examined the management and maintenance of federal housing estates in Abuja with a view to establishing the extent of housing management in ensuring sustainable housing. It focused on selected federal housing estates to access how well the existing housing stocks were managed. A sample size of 400 housing units was adopted in each of the sampled estates from a total population of 3415 and 3494 using stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire were administered on households that fell within the sample group, which centred on the condition of buildings, management responsibility, frequency of maintenance, availability and access to neighbourhood facilities & services and general management approach amongst others. A response rate of 92.75% and 91% was recorded in both estates. Surveys were also carried out to assess the conditions of access roads, drainages, street lights, and other neighbourhood facilities. Collected data were analysed using frequency distribution and percentages. The study revealed that housing unitsand infrastructure presents varying conditions ranging from very good, good, fair, bad, and very bad. It also revealed the extent of housing management and maintenance which is responsible for the present outlook of the estates. The study recommended that minimum maintenance standards be set for residents to ensure that houses are maintained in good and decorative states of repair, while also emphasizing the need for residents to adopt good maintenance culture.