Housing supply shortages and the deterioration in the quality of the housing stock have become serious problems that need to be addressed in peripheral area of cities. The non-consideration of relevant socio–economical parameters by organizations responsible for housing provision has been identified as one of the major reasons for the housing inadequacies and poor quality in most urban fringes of developing countries – Lafia inclusive. On this position, the paper examines the influence of socio-economic factors in the determination of housing quality in the peripheral area of Lafia. This study identifies the peripheral area in Lafia, Nasarawa state, Nigeria. The paper examines the causes and characteristics of the peripheral area in the assessment of housing quality. The paper identifies the critical factors causing the formation of urban fringe to: (i) poverty; (ii) rapid urbanization and influx of people into urban areas;(iii) growth of informal sector, (iv) war, natural disasters and earthquakes leading to massive movement of people to places of opportunity and safety; (v) Ineffective Housing Policies; (vi) housing shortage; (vii) inefficient public administration, inappropriate planning and inadequate land administration tools. The paper asserts that the peripheral area have serious adverse effects on the people’s health, their built environment and housing quality. The secondary data was obtained from books, journals and seminar papers while the primary data relating to housing quality were obtained by means of structured questionnaire. The study revealed a gap in quality between the low- and medium-income resident. This paper suggests the implementation of policies and planning, physical infrastructural development, social-economic improvement, environment and health improvement. Government, private and communities interventions on the peripheral areas are required in order to check and prevent further decay for sustainable development. Therefore, government is encouraged to see peripheral areas as a solution to new city planning rather than problem to the urban areas.
Keywords: Housing Affordability, Housing Quality, Informal Sectors, Peripheral Areas
