Housing Affordability Problems Among Younger Working Households

Problems relating to housing affordability are closely linked to economic and social factors. Faced with rising rural urban migration, increasing house price, low income growth and high cost of living, the younger working households (YWH) struggle to own a house especially in the private housing market in urban area. Current housing policies do little to help YWH afford a house. Using an institutional framework, this study argued that the state is responsible for providing adequate housing to all income group particularly low and middle income household. When market conditions fail, the state should be held responsible in maximizing housing welfare. The discussion of identifying housing affordability problems among YWH led to two important factors to consider. Firstly, the structural pathways in housing policy and schemes have disappointed YWH because of the difficulties to compete in the open housing market and the gap of affordable housing is yet to be filled by the state. Secondly, the capability of YWH in doing things and not their intention in doing it is influenced by the formal structure.

Zafirah Zyed holds a Bachelor in Estate Management (Hons with distinction) and a PhD in Housing Studies from the Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya.