City Know-hows
Extreme weather is not only a climate problem but also a housing problem. In Johannesburg’s low-income communities, where and how people live strongly shape who is affected when storms, floods, or heatwaves strike. This study shows why housing quality must be central to city climate planning.
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Target audience
We are writing for municipal housing and human settlements officials, urban climate resilience and disaster risk planners, and community development organisations working in informal and low-income settlements, particularly in cities facing growing climate stress.
The problem
Many low-income urban communities are increasingly exposed to extreme weather such as flooding, heavy storms, and heat. However, city responses often focus on emergency relief rather than on the housing conditions that make people vulnerable in the first place. Informal dwellings, overcrowded plots, and poorly constructed structures are common in rapidly urbanising areas. Without understanding how housing design and quality shape climate risk, cities struggle to protect the most vulnerable households.
What we did and why
We analysed household data from more than forty-six thousand households in low-income communities in Johannesburg. We focused on simple, practical housing features that city officials and planners already work with; whether homes are formal or informal, whether buildings have one or more floors, and whether households have one or multiple structures on a plot. We did this to identify which housing conditions increase or reduce exposure to extreme weather.
Our study’s contribution
This study shows clearly that housing quality matters for climate resilience. We found that:
• Households in informal dwellings are about three times more likely to be affected by extreme weather.
• Plots with multiple structures face higher risk, likely due to overcrowding and poor drainage.
• Multi-floor buildings are less affected, suggesting protective design features.
These findings provide practical evidence that cities can act on immediately.
Impacts for city policy and practice
We argue that climate adaptation in cities must go beyond emergency response and include housing improvement. City action should focus on:
• Upgrading informal dwellings using climate-resilient materials.
• Reducing overcrowding on residential plots.
• Promoting safer building designs, including vertical development where appropriate.
Investing in housing quality is not only a social issue but a cost-effective climate adaptation strategy.
Further information
Full research article:
[OPEN ACCESS] Housing conditions and extreme weather exposure in low-income communities in Gauteng Province, South Africa by Phoka C. Rathebe, Masilu D. Masekameni, Khuthatshelo Vincent Mphaga, Tintswalo Mercy Hlungwani and Themba Titus Sigudu.
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