Minimizing Patent Defects in Low-Cost Housing

Quality performance issues persist within the construction industry despite much research focus. Within the housing subsector, poor quality negatively impacts households and in low-cost housing, this is evident in health and well-being outcomes. This study investigates patent defects, which are flaws, dangerous conditions, or other deficiencies that are reasonably apparent to ordinary prudent persons. The aim is to explore avenues for minimizing this category of defects in low-cost housing projects. Data for the study were obtained from 110 housing stakeholders through an administered questionnaire to purposively sampled respondents. The study found that cracks, leaks, and plumbing problems were the most dominant patent defects within the low-cost housing sector. Major reasons for the defects recorded at the practical completion stage of low-cost housing projects include lack of proper supervision, poor workmanship, use of substandard building materials, and lack of sector-specific training for the people tasked with house inspections. The paper concludes by recommending improvements in the approaches for executing, monitoring, and remedying patent defects in housing projects. Specific practice recommendations were made for constructors to minimize the occurrence of patent defects in low-cost housing projects.