Owner-occupiers' attitude to and perceptions of disrepair: a study within the Cynon Valley

Abstract

Recent surveys have indicated that high levels of unfitness and disrepair exist in the Cynon Valley, a district in Mid-Glamorgan, Wales. In order to determine the reasons for these conditions the historical development of national housing policy with regard to the owner-occupied sector was examined. The effect of the implementation of national housing policy in Wales, and more specifically the Cynon Valley is discussed. Due to the significant number of owner-occupied houses known to be in disrepair in the Cynon Valley, a review was also carried out of surveys and literature examining occupants' attitudes towards the maintenance and repair their housing. It was concluded that many owner-occupiers are unable to identify that their dwellings are in disrepair, and that this research should examine the perceptions of owner-occupiers with respect to the repair of their dwellings. This research determines whether owner-occupiers can identify whether items of the external fabric of their dwelling are in disrepair, and what other factors may determine whether repairs are carried out. In order to obtain the information necessary for this research a survey was carried out which included both a social survey and house condition survey. The results of the survey demonstrate that there are a large number of owner-occupiers who are unable to identify disrepair and that the extent of disrepair of the properties surveyed was not significantly related to any particular variable considered in this research. From the results of this survey, conclusions and recommendations were made which were considered to provide further assistance to owner-occupiers in the maintenance of their properties. The implications of these recommendations at both national and local levels are also discussed.