Housing transformations in most Third World towns have been unsuccessful and misdirected, resulting
in poor control on building and construction by local authorities. The urban poor have modified their homes to
accommodate business as a survival strategy. Such modifications are unregulated and affect urban development.
Forceful evictions from unregulated business sites have hardly been the panacea, especially where adequate provisions
have not been made to accommodate the displaced population. This has been the approach pursued by the local
administration in the large cities of Cameroon like Douala, Yaounde and Bamenda. This paper investigates the
recurrence of illegal housing structures along most commercial streets. Data were obtained through interviews with
planning officials, house owners and tenants. Urban refurbishment and regeneration can pay off through a progressive
reconstruction rather than the spontaneous demolition of outmoded and dilapidating structures which is often
pursued. Housing modifications need to be integrated into the development plan of local planning authorities and
should be concomitant with regeneration so as to avoid social stress and non-conformity of residents to housing
standards.