Development of an index model for assessing homeowners’ preferences in ageing residential building renovation in China

Homeowners are crucial stakeholders who play essential roles in the successful execution of renovations for aging residential buildings. However, limited research has explored decision-making processes that incorporate homeowners' preferences. Through a systematic literature review, followed by expert interviews and a questionnaire survey, this study identified 24 key performance indicators reflecting homeowners' concerns in renovating their aging dwellings. Among these, “building lifespan”, “seismic resistance capability” and “gas pipeline quality” emerged as the three most critical indicators. Utilizing factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation, the 24 indicators were categorized into six clusters: (1) safety and health, (2) indoor comfort, (3) facility and infrastructure, (4) environmental protection and living environment, (5) structure and planning, and (6) social and sustainability. An index model was developed, with the weightings of indicators and clusters, membership functions, and criticality indices determined. This study provides valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and practitioners in the decision-making of residential building renovation with concerns on homeowners’ perceptions. The index model and methodology used in this study can serve as a foundation for future research.