Low-cost housing is a new concept that deals with effective budgeting and following techniques that help in reducing the cost of construction through the use of locally available materials along with improved skills and technology without sacrificing the strength, performance, and life of the structure. There is a huge misconception that low-cost housing is suitable for only substandard works and they are constructed by utilizing cheap building materials of low quality. The fact is that Low-cost housing is done by proper management of resources. Economy is also achieved by postponing finishing works or implementing them in phases.
Low-cost housing as a concept is very generic and could have different meanings for different people based on differences in income levels. Affordable housing refers to any housing that meets some form of affordability criterion. Different countries have defined affordable housing to present the economic potential of an individual buying a house. In the United States and Canada, a commonly accepted guideline for affordable housing is that the cost of housing should not be more than 30 percent of a household’s gross vary with regions and income levels. Another point to note is that the definition of affordable housing is not just restricted to the three categories mentioned above, but applies to people across the country. Affordable housing can be defined using three key parameters viz. income level, size of dwelling unit, and affordability. While the first two parameters are independent of each other, the third parameter is correlated income. Housing costs here include taxes insurance for owners, and utility costs. If the monthly carrying costs of a home exceed 30–35 percent of household income, the housing is considered unaffordable for that household. Defining affordable housing in India is a difficult task given that at every square kilometer of the country, the dynamics of the market are different.
The rising demands for affordable housing in INDIA and the increasing interest of developers to invest in affordable housing projects mandate a clearer understanding and appreciation of the lifestyles and cultural values of the local society. Dealing with affordable housing as products or commodities only results in less than appealing and depressing environments that do not meet basic needs or satisfy the preferences of potential users.
The economic crisis shadowing India is leading to a rise in interest rates and credit unavailability. Real estate developers in such circumstances have difficulties finding buyers for premium apartments. This has inspired as well as impelled developers towards cost effective housing.
This paper studies cost-effective and eco-friendly construction using pre-engineered buildings for the affordable housing project of Amuthasurabhi, Self Help Group Federation for rural women, at Avuai Agam (VKNARDEP). This study encompasses the salient features of these cost-effective technologies. The materials and the technology utilized are analyzed in this paper. Some of these include Aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly Ferrocement doors, Ferro-cement roofing channels, Pr-engineered Ferrocement Toilets, and Different types of filler Slabs. The objective of the paper is to study the feasibility of using this model for affordable and eco-friendly housing projects.
Low-cost housing is a new concept that deals with effective budgeting and following techniques that help in reducing the cost of construction through the use of locally available materials along with improved skills and technology without sacrificing the strength, performance, and life of the structure. There is a huge misconception that low-cost housing is suitable for only substandard works and they are constructed by utilizing cheap building materials of low quality . The fact is that Low-cost housing is done by proper management of resources. Economy is also achieved by postponing finishing works or implementing them in phases.