Preferences for rental housing in urban Ghana: A discrete choice experiment

With the rising demand for housing across the globe, rental housing has become a major alternative in meeting deficit supply. However, there is a significant gap between what is supplied, vis-à-vis what consumers prefer. Using a discrete choice experimental approach, we examined the most significant factors that influence housing renters' preferences in Koforidua, an urban context in Ghana. The results of the study showed that location outskirts, rent payment modality of two years' advance, electricity availability in the housing unit, good access road, and monthly rent payable had a significant influence on renters' preference. The study further established statistically significant levels of variation in preference across age, gender, vehicle ownership, and employment status of renters. We recommended among others, that access routes within built-up areas be improved since renters’ preference for housing units located within the city was higher. The promotion and adoption of alternative sources of energy among rental households rather than over-reliance on the existing grid electricity supply and improvement in neighbourhood roads among others were further recommended, with implications for sustainable rental housing provision.