Housing attributes affecting buyers in India: Analysis of perceptions in the context of EWS/LIG consumers view

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide affordable housing to low- and middle-income groups. The gravity of India’s housing affordability problem has led us to study and analyse the attributes hindering affordable housing for economically weaker section (EWS) and low-income group (LIG). The attributes such as viable parameters, economic parameters, location and communication, regulatory, source of finance, construction, services and infrastructure parameters affect the supply and demand of affordable housing in Indian urban areas for EWS and LIG with an annual household income below 2 lakhs.Design/methodology/approachThe judgement sampling is used amongst housing and planning professionals working in five different sectors, including local authorities, housing developers, housing sectors, town planning and property/affordable housing consultant. The Analytical hierarchy process method of multi-criteria decision-making was used to analyse the data collected.FindingsA detailed analysis of the data collected reveals that a viable parameter is the most governing attribute in the supply and demand process of developing affordable housing. Major reforms can be implemented at various levels of housing development in the urban area that can help in reducing the affordability gap for EWS/LIG. The suggested approach will be helpful for developers, urban planners and decision makers while designing an affordable housing project.Originality/valueThe model being proposed in this paper seeks for a proficient allotment of policies and assets, to some extent, by remedying the current market distortions and different inconsistencies that negatively influence the incentive structure of the affordable housing section in India. This paper offers a plan for a housing procedure that is applicable to all measurements of housing poverty and the groups that sustain it. In this way, the current study is, to a greater extent, a facilitator, and not an immediate solution of affordable housing.