ACCOMMODATION PREFERENCES AND RENTAL CHALLENGES IN URBAN DHAKA: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/7ekmjk60Keywords:
Urban housing, Rental satisfaction, Accommodation preferences, Public housing, Private housing, DhakaAbstract
This study examines the accommodation preferences and challenges of Dhaka’s urban residents, focusing on both public and private rental housing contexts. The city’s rapid expansion, driven by high in-migration and territorial development, has led to a severe housing shortage. Since the 1970s, multi-storied apartments have emerged as a key response to this shortage; however, significant challenges persist. As part of a mixed-methods approach, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were combined with a structured survey of 180 respondents from key public and private rental clusters. The findings reveal that residents’ perceptions of various factors, including rental price, proximity to workplaces, utility and security services, structural integrity, availability of open space, and payment methods, differ significantly. While affordability and structural safety emerged as crucial baseline (hygiene) factors, security and payment flexibility were identified as key motivators influencing tenants’ decisions to stay or move. Despite the rise in high-rise apartment construction and increased private-sector investment, substantial gaps remain in providing safe, affordable, and equitable housing. The study further identifies systemic problems that exacerbate residents’ dissatisfaction, such as uneven rent regulation, poor utility management, and weak enforcement of building codes. These findings inform recommendations for integrated policy measures that balance the supply of public and private rental housing, improve infrastructure and service quality, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and align housing allocation with socioeconomic realities. By offering empirical evidence on tenant perspectives and decision-making processes, this study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable urban housing. It also provides policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders with practical recommendations for enhancing living conditions in rapidly urbanizing cities like Dhaka.
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