Proposed Alternative Delivery System to Current Governmental Housing Program in Kuwait

Optimum house delivery decision model from the Government's and recipients' point‐of‐view

“…The situation was that the Government carried out the full responsibility studying the changes made to the governmental housing units depends on the analysis of two field surveys of those changes. One survey was made in 1996 (Al‐Khaiat, 1998) and an extension for this survey was carried out in 1998 (Al‐Khaiat et al , 2005). Also, a questionnaire was designed to record the opinions of Kuwaiti citizens of the land plot and loan system.…”

“…Also, a questionnaire was designed to record the opinions of Kuwaiti citizens of the land plot and loan system. The details of these surveys are described by Al‐Khaiat et al (2005). These surveys revealed that citizens carried out significant changes on different parts of their houses, as indicated in the Appendix.…”

“…The major changes made by the owners include:changing the external walls due to the small size of the building: partially removed −39 percent; totally removed – 10 percent;removing the internal walls totally to reorganize the house (18 percent);changing the electrical works because of the changes made in the external and internal walls (about 58 percent);altering the plumbing system in the bathroom and kitchen (25 percent) and adding new plumbing work (12 percent); andremoving the fence (33 percent) or partially removing it to install additional outside doors (20 percent).The survey conducted on 319 of the middle‐income houses which represent 8.4 percent of the total middle‐income housing units (3,790 units), reveals that the major changes made by the owners include:constructing an outside annex (62 percent);adding partial outside walls (66 percent);changing the electrical connections (56 percent);removing the internal walls for reorganization (13 percent); andremoving (partially or totally) the fence (25 percent).Those who selected the land plot and loan system were questioned after completing the construction of their houses about their selection. Only 48 percent of them would select the land plot and loan system again, 10 percent would select the completed house, while 42 percent would choose the partially constructed housing system if it was available (Al‐Khaiat et al , 2005). The option of a partially constructed housing system proposes that the NAHC share the construction responsibilities with the citizens, with differing degrees of involvement as demonstrated in the following section.…”

“…There has been an increase in both the demand of government houses and the waiting period before applicants are allotted houses. The National Authority for Housing Care (NAHC) presently provides Kuwaiti families with two housing options (Al‐Khaiat et al, 2005): to receive either a standard, NAHC – built house or a Land plot and loan to build the house by themselves.…”

“…The third major option that was introduced to solve the rebuilding problem and shortening the waiting period for houses is the use of a “Partially Constructed Houses System”, (Al‐Khaiat et al , 2005). Under this option, the NAHC provides incomplete buildings to the recipients and they subsequentally carry‐out “finish” according to their personal preferences.…”