Home Use and Experience during COVID-19 in London: Problems of Housing Quality and Design

Sam Jacoby and Lucia Alonso
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Sam Jacoby: School of Architecture, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK
Lucia Alonso: School of Architecture, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: COVID-19 lockdowns led to a reassessment of housing conditions and created greater awareness of their impact on wellbeing and inequalities. Changes in home use and lived experience during the pandemic were studied through a survey of London residents (n = 1250) in 2021, focusing on issues of housing design, perceptions of housing quality, and future housing expectations. The survey found that a quarter of all dwellings and at least one room in a third of homes were deemed too small and failing to meet the needs of occupants. Renters with a shortage of space and poorly maintained or designed homes suffered most. A total of 37.9% of respondents reported that their wellbeing was affected by housing conditions. While for well-designed homes aspects of dwelling size were considered the highest priority, dwelling layout, usability, adaptability, and flexibility were equally key concerns. However, how problems of housing design, quality, and size are understood often depends on highly individual experiences and expectations. By highlighting the importance of lived experience, the pandemic shows the limitations of current, normative design standards. Future space standards need greater flexibility in the distribution of floor areas and should consider a wider range of home uses to ensure more equitable and long-term housing provision.

Keywords: COVID-19; home use; housing design; housing quality; housing expectations; London (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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