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Fall in residents’ satisfaction with flats, neighbourhood: HDB survey

SINGAPORE — Fewer residents are satisfied with their Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and neighbourhood, although satisfaction remained at above 90 per cent, a HDB survey of close to 8,000 households showed.

HDB housing at Bishan. TODAY file photo.

HDB housing at Bishan. TODAY file photo.

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SINGAPORE — Fewer residents are satisfied with their Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and neighbourhood, although satisfaction remained at above 90 per cent, a HDB survey of close to 8,000 households showed.

Compared to 96.4 per cent in 2008, more than 91 per cent of HDB households surveyed in the Sample Household Survey last year said they were satisfied. The concerns of dissatisfied residents were generally about the conditions of their ageing flat.

To improve the conditions of flats, the HDB cited measures such as the Home Improvement Programme and Goodwill Repair Assistance.

In the area of satisfaction with their neighbourhood, 92 per cent expressed satisfaction, dipping below than the 95.1 per cent in 2008. Dissatisfied residents cited inconsiderate neighbours as the main reason.

Still, the survey also found a higher proportion of residents indicating their engagement with their neighbours through an exchange of greetings, up from 97.1 per cent in 2008 to 98.6 per cent last year. The proportion of residents who interacted with neighbours of other ethnic groups and/or nationalities increased from 77 per cent in 2008 to 85.7 per cent last year.

Satisfaction levels towards the provision of estate facilities also rose from 94.4 per cent in 2008 to 96.1 per cent last year.

When it comes to elderly residents, the majority indicated their desire to age-in-place. The survey showed that 85 per cent of elderly households had no intention to move within the next five years, while the proportion of the elderly who intended to move declined from 7.3 per cent in 2008 to 4.2 per cent in last year.

About 81 per cent also wanted to age in their existing flat, citing emotional attachment, comfort and wish for their children to inherit the flat.

Noting the “strong desire” among the elderly to age-in-place, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said today: “We will work harder to cater to such needs. We will also have to do more to familiarise them with the various monetisation options, such as the Lease Buyback Scheme and Silver Housing Bonus.”

Writing in a blog post, Mr Khaw added that the survey results “enable us to better understand our customers’ changing needs and expectations”. “They provide useful information for our policy reviews and subsequent improvements to town design,” he said.

The survey also found that more married children are living near or with their parents, up from 35.5 per cent in 2008 to 36.7 per cent last year. The frequency of visits between children and parents stood at more than 90 per cent for younger married residents and their parents.

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