Owning a home is a dream shared by many. But the right to a home is more than just an ambition; for those of us who long to purchase a property, access to quality housing is actually a recognised human right.
We’re pretty lucky in Malaysia. We’ve got a developing economy and a broad commitment to social equality, which offers a good foundation to this journey. That’s something we’re definitely going to explore in this article!
The reality is, while it might be more difficult for some people in Malaysia than others, owning a property is an achievable goal for many. However, that’s not true everywhere in the world.
The Human Right To Adequate Housing
The right to adequate housing is a commitment enshrined in international law, and championed by the United Nations (UN).
When we think about human rights, we’re often drawn to things like freedom from slavery/oppression/violence, or the right to access a fair trial, liberty, and security.
It seems clear that those things are set down as an agreed standard for a quality human life, and it’s certainly something that we Malaysians can agree to!
Access to adequate housing is an important part of this journey however. A safe, secure, and healthy place to live is essential to human dignity, as well as to our physical and mental health.
A rundown property which lacks running water, has no protection from the weather, and doesn’t provide security is definitely NO way to live.
The sad reality is that an estimated one billion people globally live in inadequate housing, and more than 100 million people live in conditions classified as homelessness.
In Malaysia, there were approximately 1,500 people registered as homeless according to statistics from 2015.
It’s not just enough to have a roof over your head. Billions of people around the world, and many here in Malaysia, lack access to adequate water supplies, which means no place to keep clean, or use sanitary toilet facilities.
Housing is a crossroads that provides a pathway to other rights. Without a home, it’s often impossible to access key public services that support the most vulnerable in society.
Without a secure place to call your own, individuals are more exposed to things like violence and discrimination. More than just our security however, housing is directly linked to health outcomes.
The World Health Organisation has declared that housing is the single most important environmental factor associated with exposure to disease, and leading to higher burden of sickness and death. It’s easy to see why that’s true, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It might sometimes seem like the property industry is built on aspirations, but at the very basic level, it is trying to ensure that as many people as possible can avoid living in such conditions.
That’s why for every luxury condo we have in Malaysia, we need to reflect on the need for safe, affordable housing that everyone can afford. This is particularly true as the pace of urbanisation continues to grow.
Malaysia’s Housing Landscape
There are currently over seven million properties in Malaysia, from luxury bungalows to affordable flats that offer individuals a home, with an additional 462,000 units already planned for the future.
That commitment to continuously adding properties is important in any country…. Especially when the population keeps growing!
Malaysia’s population is expected to expand from around 32 million at the end of 2020, to about 41.5 million by 2040. That’s a lot of people who want to own a house!
The truth is that supply and demand is the biggest pressure on the property industry. We need to keep building homes, if we’re going to keep up with that population growth.
If we don’t, the prices of homes skyrocket, and less people can afford to access the basic human right of a quality place to live.
This pressure is particularly noticeable in cities and towns. The urban share of Malaysia’s population is expected to rise from 71% in 2010, to 88% by 2050.
The good news is poverty continues to fall in Malaysia, as economic development drives growth. Just 2.7% of the population lived in poverty, relative to the nation’s middle-income status, as of 2015.
While that’s 2.7 percentage points higher than any of us want, it still offers a relatively encouraging picture.
A working property market isn’t just about economics though. It doesn’t matter if you can afford a house, if there aren’t frameworks in place to protect your property and ensure fair and equal treatment.
Did you know: Malaysia actually has some of Asia’s most comprehensive property market protections, according to the International Property Index?
This is a report which assesses the protections available to both intellectual and physical property in nations around the world.
This independent ranking places Malaysia second in the Southeast Asia region after Singapore, and just seventh in the ENTIRE Asia Pacific for the strength of its property rights (see below).
Malaysia performs particularly well in protection of physical property rights — which includes housing, and ease of access to loans — both of which are fundamental parts of property ownership.
That’s important, you know. If you buy a property, you’d want to know that your ownership of it is safe, and that the property is kept safe too!
Affordable Housing Is Key
The truth is that there are still parts of Malaysia’s population who don’t have adequate places to live. Malaysia’s affordable housing schemes are an important part of tackling that, but the industry and government both agree there’s still more work to be done.
Despite what some of us locals might think, 90% of Malaysia’s homeless community are Malaysian citizens who have fallen on hard times.
Issues such as unemployment, low income, or domestic violence are the primary causes of homelessness.
While laws such as the Destitute Persons Act 1977 are designed to resolve homelessness in Malaysia, the reality is this is a far more complex picture.
Social circumstances, income, and access to housing all creating a challenge for ongoing provision of housing to those who are really in need.
We can’t just sit and say things are done, until every person has an adequate home. That’s why affordable housing is such an important part of the solution.
Malaysia is lucky to boast a range of affordable housing initiatives across the country to help with this goal, just check out the handy infographic below:
Access to housing isn’t just a privilege, it’s a fundamental human right. That’s why Malaysia’s property industry, and the range of stakeholders from state authorities, government agencies, and committed volunteers, are all working towards that goal!
Related Guides:
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Exploring Urbanisation And Affordable Homes In Malaysia
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Home Ownership In Malaysia Vs Other Countries
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What Analysing 20 Years Of Malaysian Property Market Data Reveals
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Younger Malaysians Aspire To Purchase Property Post-COVID
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