Affordable housing model development based on people’s demand in Selangor

The issue of oversupply, overhang, and rejected offers in the affordable housing sector presents a significant challenge in Selangor. Although various affordable housing initiatives have been implemented, the persistent mismatch between affordable housing supply and actual public demand raises concerns about how affordable housing is defined, what criteria are most relevant to people's needs, and what might an effective, demand-driven affordable housing model look like. Many units remain vacant not necessarily due to financial constraints alone, but due to a lack of alignment with the criteria that genuinely reflect the needs and expectations of the people. Existing literature has predominantly focused on conventional housing and frequently utilising quantitative methodologies that limit contextual richness. Moreover, most studies have largely prioritised buyer perspectives, with limited consideration given to the insights of other key stakeholders, including developers and policymakers. This narrow focus has led to an incomplete understanding of the actual demand for affordable housing. To address this gap, this study adopts a qualitative approach that captures the diverse perspectives of stakeholders involved in the affordable housing landscape in Selangor. Specifically, this study aims: (i) to understand the definition of affordable housing in Selangor, (ii) to examine the criteria of affordable housing based on people’s demand in Selangor, and (iii) to develop an affordable housing model based on people’s demand in Selangor. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key informants, including homebuyers, local academics, representatives from the Housing Buyers Association, officials from the Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS), and affordable housing developers.