XN000022-1976-11-27 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1976

SURVEY ON HOME OWNERSHIP

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A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED RECENTLY BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT'S WORKING PARTY ON HOME OWNERSHIP.

ITS PURPOSE WAS TO ENQUIRE INTO ATTITUDES TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY AMONGST THOSE HOUSEHOLDS WHO DECLARED THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ON NORMAL MARKET TERMS. SOME 2,000 HOUSEHOLDS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING WERE INTERVIEWED.

THE RESPONSE WAS ENCOURAGING. ABOUT HALF OF THOSE INTERVIEWED EXPRESSED AN AMBITION TO OWN A HOME OF THEIR OWN. THE MAIN ADVANTAGE THEY SAW FROM THIS WAS THE AVOIDANCE OF RENT INCREASES- PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP AND THE PROSPECT OF HAVING A HOME TO ADAPT TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL TASTES AND REQUIREMENTS WERE ALSO IMPORTANT POINTS.

THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE WAS FELT TO ARISE FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE- AND THIS REINFORCES THE WORKING PARTY'S INTENTION THAT MAINTENANCE SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR FLATS WHICH IT WILL BUILD UNDER THIS SCHEME.

THE SURVEY GATHERED A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INTERVIEWED. OWING TO THE NATURE OF THE SURVEY, HOWEVER, AND THE METHOD OF SELECTING HOUSEHOLDS, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRAW FIRM QUANTITATIVE CONCLUSIONS AS TO JUST HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS WILL CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN WHATEVER SCHEME IS FINALLY DRAWN UP.

THIS WILL ANYWAY DEPEND ON THE DETAILS OF SUCH A SCHEME BUT THE SURVEY WILL BE OF CONSIDERABLE HELP FOR THE WORKING PARTY IN FRAMING THESE DETAILS.

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