Residential satisfaction in large housing estates of Budapest: Is age really just a number?

Abstract

With the surge in urban regeneration programs in housing estates in Hungary, there is a need for residents? perceptions of these programs to be understood. This is the first study to be conducted in Hungary and across Central and Eastern Europe to compare residential satisfaction between different age groups within the same city. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether residential satisfaction differs between the different age groups in the regenerated housing estates in Budapest. The study collected quantitative data from 217 residents living in housing estates that had undergone urban regeneration in Budapest, Hungary. Residential satisfaction was found to differ between age groups within the regenerated housing estates in Budapest. Both the 36-55 and 56+ age group models illustrated that the dwelling unit, housing condition, and housing support satisfaction indices were significant predictors of residential satisfaction. The first age group, 18-35, did not show the dwelling unit satisfaction index to be a predictor, whereas the other two indices were significant in predicting residential satisfaction in Budapest. Further analysis found no correlation between the indices with regard to gender, marital status, or length of residence. Thus, the study adds to the growing corpus of literature on residential satisfaction, especially since most of the extant research has been, up to now, conducted in Western Europe, Africa, and Asia. Furthermore, this study can provide valuable insights for urban planners, urban policymakers, and investors in amending current housing policies and contributing to future housing-led regeneration programs within Hungary.