The Impact of Affordable Sustainable Housing Neighborhoods on Housing Cost Efficiency

Abstract

The effect of global economic crises has greatly impacted housing market, in particularly affordable housing which suffered dramatically. Poor environmental quality, higher resident’s health complications, and larger maintenance and operation bill have all been noticed as major common outcomes of such an impact. As a result, the idea of Affordable Sustainable Housing Neighborhoods (ASHN) was reformed to consider healthier lifestyle, better environmental surrounding, and higher cost efficiency. In this work research, an assessment of cost efficiency will be performed on these neighborhoods, in terms of shelter, utility, and transportation for better understanding and recommendations. This study will be based on both supply-side stakeholders and demand-side feedbacks. As a result of this study work, a salient discrepancy was found between supply-side and demand-side stakeholders in term of ASHN’s efficiency. That is, ASHN’s efficiency did not meet resident's expectations and therefore, a comprehensive assessment methodology is necessary to involve third party for cross validation purposes and facilitate interpretation of research results

Perspective of Construction Team Towards Causes of Defects in Public Housing Projects

“…Clients and low-income end-users argue that their housing does not meet their needs and is not built to meet their demands (Abdellatif & Othman, 2006). Providing good quality housing units should promote more equal social, educational, and economic opportunities and help create more equitable environments for all (Abed et al, 2013). The most commonly occurring defects in affordable housing are dampness to concrete walls, leaking pipes, cracking in concrete walls, total failure of water supply systems, and faulty doorknobs (Hamzah et al, 2012).…”

Problems and Issues of High Rise Low Cost Housing in Malaysia

“…Nowadays, there is a crisis in affordable housing where prices have risen steadily and construction does not meet standards that guarantee good quality over the life of a project [10]. Qualitatively the type of low cost housing in Malaysia has not been satisfactory to the family housing needs, comfort, social, cultural and religious needs [11].…”

“…This is much concerned with the compliance of development plan and standard guidelines provided for planning approval where at some point, developers refuse to comply with the provision as there is lack of enforcement carried out by the authority [14]. Providing good quality housing units should promote more equal social, educational, and economic opportunities and help create more equitable environment for all [10].…”