The psychological aspect of dwellers living in affordable housing: the criteria of housing in Malaysia.

Abstract

Housing is a major concern for all people in every corner of the world as the wellbeing of any society is reflected in their housing characteristics and living standard. The Malaysian housing policy has developed since its independence from the British in 1957 with some colonial influence, however, the emphasis has changed in the 60s and 70s from merely providing access to housing to increasing affordability and better quality housing. These policies pledged to improve housing quality for all citizens, despite the ambitious nature of these commitments, public policies have paid little attention to how to bridge the gap between livable and affordable housing. This research aims to investigate the characteristics of the livable affordable home that meet the needs of Malaysian society and to facilitate the way to understand the livable affordable home standard that suits the needs of all citizens. Data were gathered from three hundred and ninety (390) respondents, using Measurement of “Affordable Livable Housing 2014”. The accumulated data were then analyzed; descriptive statistics were used to interpret the outcomes. The findings signified that although the government has shown great improvements in the housing environment, educational choice, economic development, community and neighborhood, and public amenities, the main affordable livable housing gaps are housing price, safety and security, and transportation cost that have an impact on the psychological wellbeing of middle-income in Malaysia. Thus, the outcomes of this paper can help researchers, planners, architects, policymakers, and others in formulating a guideline for housing quality so that they will include these features in any new housing projects.