Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-55).

The issue of “subdivided units” has aroused the attention of general public in recent times. It commonly refers to individual living apartments being subdivided into two or more smaller flats for rental purpose. These subdivided housing are often existed in old buildings with crowded living condition, poor hygiene standards and lack of fire safety facilities, which have therefore posed health and safety hazards to thousands of their residents who have no alternatives but to endure this poor living environment due to the financial limitations. In view of the growing public concern towards the issue of subdivided units due to the happening of several tragic cases in recent years involving subdivision of apartments, the government has announced the proposal of a licensing scheme or landlord registration system in early September, 2013 for regulating the safety and hygiene situations of subdivided flats. By examining the current condition of the subdivision of housing units in Hong Kong, the goal of this study is to explore the underlying causes of the subdivision of flats and the implications of this housing issue to the community of Hong Kong. In order to do so, the study first explains the development of subdivided housing in Hong Kong, including the brief history of urban development and housing policy of Hong Kong resulting to subdivision of units, and the development of subdivided housing in the global context is also covered. The environment of subdivided flats is also studied in details, including their building structures, fire safety facilities and environmental hygiene conditions. Then the conceptual framework of the study is going to be discussed, which is to investigate the reasons contributing to the emergence of subdivided units in Hong Kong, in which this study is focused on examining the relationship of “market failure” of housing market and the emergence of subdivided units in Hong Kong. Questionnaire survey is done on the tenants living in subdivided units, which both legal and illegal subdivided units are covered in the survey, whereas an in-depth interview is conducted on the landlord operating the rental business of subdivided dwellings. The next chapter describes and analyses the findings of the survey and in-depth interview. The perspectives of the stakeholders including tenants and landlord of subdivided flats are revealed on their reasons of living in and operating the business of subdivided housing, their evaluation of the living conditions and safety of subdivided flats, their feedbacks towards the Licensing Scheme of subdivided units proposed by government as well as their recommendations for resolving the problem of subdivided flats. The conceptual framework – the relationship of “market failure” phenomenon of housing market and the emergence of subdivided units in Hong Kong will also be discussed based on the analyzed data. Finally, this study ends with the implication that the emergence of subdivided housing is contributing to multi-factors, such as lack of public rental housing units, geographical proximity and astronomically high housing prices. However, among these factors, market failure is considered as the dominant factor of driving the residents, especially lower class to select residing in subdivided dwellings. In view of the analysis result, recommendations are made for assisting policy makers to resolve the subdivided housing problem in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Environmental degradation from problems of the 'Brown Agenda' is an everyday reality in Kenya's rapidly growing urban centres; and it is the low-income majority who are most affected. Deficient water supply and sanitation, inadequate solid waste disposal, and poor drainage are among the foremost problems that characterize informal settlements in which indigent urbanites are compelled to live. Analysis of environmental problems at settlement and household level can provide vital information about the appraisive environmental perceptions and cognitions of inhabitants of informal settlements, as well as their satisfaction with the infrastructural services to which they have access and their housing conditions, in general. Such information is essential to the formulation of apposite strategies for sustainable improvement of environmental conditions in informal settlements. Based largely on a comprehensive review of theoretical perspectives on the urban housing question in the South, international policy responses and experiences with settlement upgrading, this thesis seeks a better understanding of the socioeconomic and physio-environmental dynamics of urban low-income informal settlements and the formulation and implementation of upgrading policies. A comparative analysis of two majengos in Kenya-one of which has been upgraded while the other has not-serves to contextualize the study. The central thesis in the present study is that settlement upgrading is the most rational approach to improving the residential circumstances of the urban poor majority in Kenya. Applying a fundamentally liberal approach, the development of pragmatic opportunities is discussed, and pursuable policies and programmes, which are realistic and implementable, for effective environmental planning and management of urban low-income informal settlements in Kenya are proposed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2004. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 277-297).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 263-268). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M Architecture (Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2009. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 215 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Hous. M.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-84).

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2009. / "Spring 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-47).

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Detroit Mercy, 2004. / "23 April 2004". Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-109).