In Chile, social condominiums are a significant part of the affordable owner-occupied housing stock. However, after decades of occupancy, this housing stock shows rapid signs of deterioration and devaluation due to neglected maintenance. This situation has evidenced a twofold challenge for low-income homeownership in Chile. On the one hand, it includes the financial and social restrictions faced by co-owners that diminish their collective capacity to take care of building maintenance. On the other hand, it includes institutional limitations with regard to housing management in terms of regulations, institutions and actors.
This research explores the intermediary role of the third sector in providing support, skills and building capacity among communities to improve the maintenance and administration of their properties. Based on international and local case study analyses, the research proposes a set of management approaches and strategies for Chilean third sector intermediaries to support low-income homeowners in condominium management. Findings show the relevance of multidimensional approaches and strategies, so as to tackle the interrelated challenges by contributing to enhance the community’s capacities and level the built environment conditions. Findings also show the need of partnerships between third sector organisations and municipalities to face complex areas, and the relevance of fostering collaboration and specialisation among third sector organisations.

In Ghana, public housing which is provided mainly for government employees plays an important role in socio-economic development. For instance, civil servants are more likely to accept transfers to areas where their services are most needed. Unfortunately, attention to public housing in Ghana has diminished over the years largely due to shift in policy focus towards the enablement approach. That is, private-sector-led housing production. The result is that, public housing conditions and quality continuous to deteriorate due largely to lack of maintenance. This is evident in many research and news publications, and the visible signs of deterioration such as leaking roofs, rotten ceilings, cracked walls, faded paint, and dysfunctional electrical and plumbing systems. Therefore, this thesis proposes an approach to management by local authorities that may bring about maintenance and lead to better conditions/quality of public housing. The approach proposes a defined structure with roles, responsibilities and relationships for the district assembly, the district coordinating director, the housing unit of the local authority, the works department, and tenants. It outlines a defined protocol for addressing repairs and maintenance including mechanisms to receive and respond to everyday repairs from tenants. Furthermore, it proposes that district assemblies should be fully responsible for determining and collecting rents so as to ensure reliable and secure finance for maintenance. It recommends the participation of tenants in management through mechanisms such as regular meetings or tenant representatives. Finally, it recommends mechanisms such as planning, budgeting, and submission of annual accounts to monitor and ensure that rents are spent on maintenance.