Exploring housing renewal through residential satisfaction: insights from the Istanbul case

Purpose This paper aims to reveal to what extent, and through which factors, housing renewals and the year of building construction affect residential satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Residents' subjective evaluations and satisfaction concerning their dwellings and residential environments are examined, with a specific reference to housing renewal implementations and the year of construction. The study is based on a survey conducted through social media using an online questionnaire, targeting residents of Istanbul's housing areas undergoing rapid urban transformation through single-building renewals. Findings The results indicate that residents living in buildings constructed more than 30 years ago have negative evaluations regarding the structural quality and earthquake resiliency of their dwellings. However, despite high levels of residential satisfaction in newer buildings, evaluations of functional and facade properties remain negative. These results indicate that the residential buildings built in the last 10 years and within the national renewal program are far from meeting the residents’ expectations regarding the interior quality of the dwellings. Originality/value This paper discusses the housing renewal issue from the residents’ perspective. The findings reveal suggestions for the implementation of housing renewals in order to increase residential satisfaction.