Assessment of residential satisfaction in newly designed public low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis paper provides an assessment of residential satisfaction of newly designed public low-cost housing dwellers of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with forty-five variables grouped into five components -dwelling unit features, dwelling unit support services, public facilities, social environment and neighbourhood facilities. Findings from the study indicate that the residents are moderately satisfied with dwelling unit support services, followed by public and neighbourhood facilities than dwelling unit features and social environment, which have higher percentage of respondents with low level of satisfaction. Residential satisfaction index has high positive correlations with dwelling unit features, social environment, support services and public facilities, and low positive correlation with neighbourhood facilities. Socio-economic attributes of the residents such as age, family size, working wives, previous residence are negatively correlated with residential satisfaction, whereas residents' race, employment type, floor level and length of residency are positively correlated with residential satisfaction. A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model has been estimated for the study and the model provides 76% explanations to determine residential satisfaction with ten predictor variables. The high beta coefficients of the model suggest that residential satisfaction of public low-cost housing can be enhanced through improving the management of security control, perimeter roads, cleanliness of garbage house and garbage collection, by the Local authority (KLCH). Moderate beta coefficient values of the model suggest that improvement of housing design is necessary to enhance residents' satisfaction with the predictor variables such as dry area, bedroom-1, dinning space, socket points and bedroom-3. From socio-economic analysis, it was found that the size of existing low-cost unit does not satisfy the needs of 29.4% inhabitants with large (6þ) families and high bedroom occupancy rates (2.5). Furthermore, the location of future low-cost housing estates should also consider their closeness to the shopping centres. Public agencies for low-cost housing should pay proper attention to the management of support and public facilities to enhance residential satisfaction of the inhabitants and also adopt a policy to build different sizes of units to cater the needs of residents with large families in order to enhance quality of life of the low-income urban community in the country.

Optimal Cost–Quality Trade-Off Model for Differentiating Presale Housing Quality Strategies

“…Therefore, benefits can be maximized if HQ and satisfaction are improved at the planning and design stages by incorporating participation strategies and considering homebuyers' HQ opinions. The result is consistent with some studies that revealed that housing providers should regulate their housing activities and design accuracy at the original design stage in order to suit households' needs and wants by examining factors that account for housing satisfaction or dissatisfaction [2][3][4]. …”

“…Quality positioning and facilities planning are confirmed once the construction project is complete, leaving little room for improving quality items. A number of studies have indicated that project quality and contractor satisfaction can be greatly enhanced if HQ can be improved during the planning stage of a construction project [2,23]. The presale housing system is a popular system in Asia.…”

“…Developers' failure to take into account the characteristics and needs of future occupants often leads to unfavorable usage and satisfaction of quality items and facilities once occupants move in [2][3][4]. In other words, housing quality (HQ) depends on the developers, while homebuyers only have a passive choice of whether to accept housing with such quality.…”

Tessellation Planning: Relationships between the physical environment and the neighbourhood

“…This, along some other scarce international articles has indicated that the study of the topic is still elusive but universal. It is prudent that local context scenario is sufficiently addressed, as in a study conducted by (Mohit, Ibrahim, & Rashid, 2010) with the satisfaction of residents in public low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur. In that particular study, forty-five variables have been identified and clustered into components.…”

“…Early literature of these discussions includes Jane Jacobs"s, "Life and Death of Great American Cities" in 1961 and Mayo"s, "Effects of Street Forms on Suburban Neighboring Behavior" in 1979. The studies of Mohit, Ibrahim & Rashid (2010), Zakaria and Yang (2004), Nurizan (1993) are among the few Malaysian researchers examining neighbourhoods (lowcost housing) and quality of life. Such academic debates are rather limited in Malaysian literature of the built environment.…”