Public Housing in Singapore: Residents’ Prole, Housing Satisfaction and Preferences HDB Sample Household Survey 2013 Published by Housing & Development Board HDB Hub 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh Singapore 310480 Research Team Goh Li Ping (Team Leader) William Lim Teong Wee Tan Hui Fang Wu Juan Juan Tan Tze Hui Clara Wong Lee Hua Lim E-Farn Fiona Lee Yiling Esther Chua Jia Ping Sangeetha d/o Panearselvan Amy Wong Jin Ying Phay Huai Yu Nur Asykin Ramli Wendy Li Xin Yvonne Tan Ci En Choo Kit Hoong Advisor: Dr Chong Fook Loong Raymond Toh Chun Parng Research Advisory Panel: Professor Aline Wong Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser Dr Lai Ah Eng Dr Kang Soon Hock Associate Professor Pow Choon Piew Dr Kevin Tan Siah Yeow Assistant Professor Chang Jiat Hwee Published Dec 2014 All information is correct at the time of printing. © 2014 Housing & Development Board. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. Produced by HDB Research and Planning Group ISBN 978-981-09-3827-7 Printed by Oxford Graphic Printers Pte Ltd 11 Kaki Bukit Road 1 #02-06/07/08 Eunos Technolink Singapore 415939 Tel: 6748 3898 Fax: 6747 5668 www.oxfordgraphic.com.sg PUBLIC HOUSING IN SINGAPORE: Residents’ Profile, Housing Satisfaction and Preferences HDB Sample Household Survey 2013 FOREWORD HDB homes have evolved over the years, from basic flats catering to simple, everyday needs, to homes that meet higher aspirational desires for quality living. Over the last 54 years, since its formation, HDB has made the transformation of public housing its key focus. In the process, the changes have impacted on the physical and social landscape of Singapore. More importantly, they have shaped the way residents live, work and play. In our endeavour to positively impact the lives of our residents, we carry out surveys to find out what HDB residents like, or do not like, so that we can make changes and improvements, and plan our future designs and policies around them. The large-scale Sample Household Surveys (SHSs) conducted every five years are an important platform for HDB to gather residents’ views and feedback. HDB has completed ten SHSs, with the first survey carried out in 1968, and the latest in 2013. This latest survey covered 7,800 households living in all 23 HDB towns and three estates. High-rise, high-density living in Singapore is liveable and a way of life. Findings from SHS 2013 survey show that residents are satisfied with their flat and the convenient access to estate facilities within their neighbourhood. Findings also show that family ties remained strong with frequent visits and strong familial support between parents and married children. Residents feel a greater sense of belonging and are proud to be part of their communities. These are just some of the interesting insights from the survey. The salient findings are published in the following two monographs: i) Public Housing in Singapore: Residents' Profile, Housing Satisfaction and Preferences; and ii) Public Housing in Singapore: Social Well-Being of HDB Communities. We deeply appreciate the cooperation, time and feedback given by residents. Their responses, observations and comments will go a long way in helping HDB provide better homes and towns for all. Dr. Cheong Koon Hean Chief Executive Officer Housing & Development Board i ii Contents Page FOREWORD i CONTENTS iii LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF CHARTS ix KEY INDICATORS xii GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS xix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Objectives 4 1.3 Sampling Design 4 1.4 Outline of Monograph 5 PART 1 PROFILE OF HDB POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLDS 9 Chapter 2 Profile of HDB Population 2.1 Demographic Characteristics of Resident Population 13 2.2 Economic Characteristics of Resident Population 25 2.3 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population 35 2.4 Summary of Findings 50 Chapter 3 Profile of HDB Households 3.1 Households Living in HDB Towns/Estates 53 3.2 Household Compostition 57 3.3 Economic Characteristics of Households 68 3.4 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Households 72 3.5 Summary of Findings 76 PART 1 CONCLUSION 79 iii Contents Page PART 2 HOUSING SATISFACTION AND PREFERENCES 83 Chapter 4 Satisfaction with Physical Living Environment 4.1 Satisfaction with Flat and Neighbourhood 89 4.2 Likes and Dislikes about HDB Living Environment 92 4.3 Perception of Lift Reliability 94 4.4 Value for Money and Sense of Pride towards Flat 95 4.5 Summary of Findings 102 Chapter 5 Satisfaction and Usage of Estate Facilities 5.1 Satisfaction with Estate Facilities 105 5.2 Facilities at Mid-Level Deck 110 5.3 Usage of Estate Facilities 112 5.4 Places in Estate where Residents Usually Spent their Time 119 5.5 Summary of Findings 121 Chapter 6 Residential Mobility and Housing Aspirations 6.1 Past Residential Mobility 125 6.2 Intention to Move within Next Five Years 131 6.3 Housing Aspirations 135 6.4 Ageing-in-Place 138 6.5 Summary of Findings 139 PART 2 CONCLUSION 143 iv List of Tables Page Table 2.1 Role and Relationship of HDB Resident Population ........................... 14 with Head of Household by Sex Table 2.2 HDB Resident Population by Tenure and Year ....................................... 15 Table 2.3 HDB Resident Population by Flat Type and Year ................................. 15 Table 2.4 HDB Resident Population by Town/Estate and Year ......................... 16 Table 2.5 HDB Resident Population by Age Group and Year .............................. 17 Table 2.6 HDB Resident Population by Age Group and Sex ................................ 18 Table 2.7 HDB Resident Population by Age Group and Ethnic Group ........ 18 Table 2.8 HDB Resident Population by Age Group and Flat Type .................. 19 Table 2.9 HDB Resident Population by Age Group and Town/Estate .......... 20 Table 2.10 Age Dependency Ratio of HDB Resident Population by Year ..... 21 Table 2.11 HDB Resident Population by Sex and Year ............................................... 22 Table 2.12 HDB Resident Population by Ethnic Group and Year ......................... 22 Table 2.13 HDB Resident Population by Tenure, Ethnic Group and Year .... 23 Table 2.14 HDB Resident Population by Flat Type, Ethnic Group ...................... 23 and Year Table 2.15 HDB Resident Population by Marital Status and Year ...................... 24 Table 2.16 HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years and Above ....................... 25 by Marital Status and Age Group Table 2.17 HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years and Above ....................... 25 by Marital Status and Sex Table 2.18 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 30 and Above by Education Level and Year Table 2.19 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 31 and Above by Education Level and Sex Table 2.20 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 31 and Above by Education Level and Age Group Table 2.21 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 32 and Above by Occupation and Year Table 2.22 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 33 and Above by Occupation and Age Group Table 2.23 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 34 by Occupation, Sex and Year Table 2.24 Employed HDB Resident Population Aged 15 Years ......................... 35 and Above by Place of Work and Year Table 2.25 Role and Relationship with Head of Household .................................... 37 of HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population Table 2.26 Average and Median Age of HDB Elderly and Future Elderly .... 38 Resident Population by Year v List of Tables Page Table 2.27 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 38 by Age Group and Sex Table 2.28 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 39 by Town/Estate and Year Table 2.29 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 41 by Tenure and Year Table 2.30 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 41 by Flat Type and Year Table 2.31 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population by Sex ..... 42 Table 2.32 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 43 by Ethnic Group and Year Table 2.33 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 43 by Marital Status, Sex and Year Table 2.34 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 44 by Ambulant Status and Year Table 2.35 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 45 by Economic Status and Year Table 2.36 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident Population ........................ 46 by Economic Status, Sex and Year Table 2.37 Employed HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident ........................ 47 Population by Education Level Table 2.38 Employed HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident ......................... 49 Population by Occupation and Year Table 2.39 Employed HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Resident ......................... 49 Population by Place of Work and Year Table 3.1 HDB Resident Population and Households by Year ........................... 53 Table 3.2 HDB Households by Flat Type, Tenure and Year ................................. 54 Table 3.3 HDB Households by Tenure, Ethnic Group of .......................................... 55 Head of Household and Year Table 3.4 HDB Households by Flat Type, Ethnic Group of ...................................