Defining housing quality and environment: disability, standards and social factors

Abstract

This paper considers quality standards and meanings of housing environments while discussing disability and housing. It challenges assumptions about the importance of physical housing quality, and suggests caution about the benefits of raising physical standards. After a brief introduction, comments are made on contemporary issues concerning standards, past difficulties arising from professional power and political priorities, and problems in proving causation. There is then a discussion of the approach appropriate when drawing on the social model of disability, and the multi‐dimensional nature of the home environment. This is followed by observations on housing quality. A classification is offered of factors potentially influencing consumer perceptions, indicating social dimensions of a good quality home and residential environment.

Keywords:

• disability
• environment
• quality standards