Functional Changes and Satisfaction Evaluation of Rural Housing in China

Abstract

China implemented a rural revitalization strategy in 2018 to promote the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The modernization of rural dwellings is of great significance for rural modernization; however, only few studies have been conducted in the context of the modernization of rural housing in China due to the difficulties of obtaining data. Consquently, little attention has been paid to the current state of rural housing and perceptions of rural residents. This study was conducted to understand the current basic situation of rural housing in China and the satisfaction of rural residents with it and to analyze the factors that influence satisfaction. Using data from 2021, this study discussed the changes in rural housing in China and the current satisfaction of rural residents with their houses. We selected seven categories to measure the functional facilities of rural housing: electricity, pipe water, flush toilets, shower facilities, kitchens, gas, and the Internet. We analyzed modern changes in rural housing from the aspects of structure and function and residents' housing satisfaction. Furthermore, this study used an ordered probit model to analyze the relationship between these functions and rural residents' housing satisfaction. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The current rural houses have been transformed from traditional to modern, and the housing conditions of rural housing have been improved. However, internal facilities are still relatively backward, especially in toilets and shower facilities. 2) Rural houses in different regions differ in their features and facilities. The building area of a single rural house shows spatial characteristics of high in the south and low in the north. The construction of the house was new in the west and old in the east. Flush toilets and shower facilities were the two facilities with the most regional differences, which were high in the south and low in the north. Kitchen and piped gas were high in the south and east and low in the north and west. 3) Rural residents' satisfaction with their rural housing was 3.7. The facilities of rural housing significantly affect rural residents' satisfaction, and personal characteristics, such as gender, age, and household income, are also important factors affecting satisfaction. Rural residents' perceptions of rural housing are shifting from a focus on newness and size to a focus on function and quality, which are mainly reflected in the demand for various facilities inside the house. Based on the findings of this study, we make the following suggestions: 1) For rural houses in poor condition, in addition to completing the identification and maintenance of housing safety, increased attention should be paid to functional facilities, especially for the improvement of flush toilets and shower facilities. 2) The government can provide assistance for the construction of rural houses, such as monitoring the qualifications of design and construction agents, providing specific guidelines and requirements for the construction of internal facilities of rural houses, and providing samples for reference. In the future, we should consider how to coordinate the construction of rural housing with infrastructure, such as water supply, drainage, and sewerage, and the construction of rural housing and villages should be closely integrated.

Keywords

• modernization of rural housing
• rural housing change
• rural housing construction
• housing satisfaction
• china