Determinants of Occupant Satisfaction in Malaysian Affordable Housing: Evaluating the “Rumah Selangorku” Initiative

Abstract

Housing is a fundamental determinant of national welfare, serving as a primary indicator of a population's perceived standard of living. For homebuyers, overall satisfaction is a multifaceted construct influenced by critical variables such as price, location, amenities, construction quality, and project delivery timelines. This research evaluates occupant satisfaction within the Rumah Selangorku affordable housing initiative, focusing specifically on the Harmoni 1, Elmina Apartment in Bukit Raja, Selangor. Developed by Sime Darby Property, this 1,700-unit project was launched in 2015 and reached full occupancy by 2017. The primary objectives of this study were to identify prevalent issues within affordable housing, assess the level of homebuyer satisfaction across key determinants, and rank these factors based on occupant feedback. Data were gathered via a questionnaire survey administered to 313 residents of Harmoni 1. The collected primary data underwent quantitative analysis to measure and rank satisfaction levels regarding housing affordability criteria. The findings indicate that the identified determinants—specifically price, quality, location, facilities, and development timing—demonstrate high reliability as measures of occupant satisfaction. These results provide significant insights for developers and policymakers aiming to enhance the quality of future affordable housing projects in Malaysia.