Fortunately, many tenants can afford tolerate accommodation and research shows that they select their shelter carefully. Neighbourhoods with good transport links or that are close to centres of employment tend to be popular with tenants. Serviced settlements are chosen before those on the un-serviced periphery.
Many owners also live in rudimentary accommodation, particularly in newly formed self-help settlements. Such settlements lack services and initially the quality of the shelter is unsatisfactory. Frequently, owner households suffer from overcrowding as poorer relations claim help and move in. This is very common in parts of West Africa and in many cities suffering from economic recession