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Introduction
Housing is one of the essential needs of man, often ranked as the most important after food and clothing. The need for a place against inclement weather is as old as man itself, not minding whether such dwelling unit is shanty. However, housing is not only about the dwelling itself. It is about the housing area, part of the city, safety and security, services, access to facilities, employment and career opportunities. A dwelling must be sound, safe and large enough for a given household. Even a poor household must have a permanent home with a good standard (Karamujic, 2015). There is an emerging trend in housing research that recognizes the need to consider the economic, social and ecological consequences of urbanization. The UN-HABITAT (2015) concluded that cities are growing fragmented, unequal and dysfunctional with the current models of housing production and consumption at the core of these processes. Therefore, this study points out the need to develop affordable housing for all in central locations, ensure proximity to livelihoods, and minimize urban sprawl and growing inequalities. To meet the diverse needs of housing, the importance of rental housing cannot be left out.
Rental housing provides affordable housing to families around the globe (UN-HABITAT, 2011). Rental homes are the most financially realistic option with varying classifications such as duplexes, flats, rooming houses and mini flats (self-contained) (Olowu et al., 2019). However, people rent houses not only because they do not have the wherewithal to own their home but also because of some peculiarities surrounding their lifestyle, which may be proximity to work, worship, school and other facilities (Lawal, 2002). The demand for each category of rental housing is determined by socioeconomic attributes of the renters, such as income, marital and educational status, among others. Against this background, this study examines the characteristics and quality of rental housing in the cradle of Yorubaland. Since rental housing is an alternative shelter, evaluating its quality will improve the quality of designs, standard living of renters, new dimension to policy guiding rental housing and enhance the values of rental houses.
Conceptual issues on housing quality
Good quality housing means more than a roof over one's head; It is adequate privacy, space and security; physical accessibility; security of tenure; structural...