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1. The Residential Environment

1.1 Introduction Housing is meant to address basic human needs for shelter and security

by providing protection against climatic condition (excessive heat and

cold) and unwanted intrusions from insects, rodents, and environmental

nuisances, including noise, which may be harmful for health and well-

being.

Houses are a potential source of physical hazard; for example, injury from

fire scalds sharp edges, and structural collapse of the building. Houses

can also provoke climate hazard (notably too cool or too hot ambient

indoor temperature). The houses can also harbor biological hazards (from

molds and pest species), as well as chemical hazard (indoors smoke from

cooking fire or tobacco).

In addition, houses can be the locus of infectious disease hazards

(stemming from inadequate food storage and exposure to vector

organisms like mosquito). To basic human activities, defecation and

cooking produce potentially health-endangering waste products. When

human excreta are not completely remove from the household

environment and isolated from drinking water supplies, a high risk of

diarrhea and other waterborne diseases ensues.

Housing provision is probably the most contentious issue which the local

plan has to address. On the one hand there is the requirement to meet the

future housing needs of the local population. On the other hand, there is

widespread concern over the use of “fresh” land for building, the loss of

open spaces and so call “town cramming”. Housing also plays a special

role in the social and political dialogue in most societies. It is a major

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component in creating stable and healthy communities and is often the

largest single household expense.

When providing for new housing the council has to have full regard to

national, regional and structure plan guidance. However, in arriving at the

pattern of development, the council has also had regard to many other

factors including local demographic trends, the performance of the local

housing market and the likely contribution from other housing provider in

additional to private companies building for sale.

1.2 Social-psychological and physical requirements for health, welfare and comfort.

The internal housing environment, which consists of thermal comfort,

lighting, ventilation, plumbing and so forth, effects the physical, emotional

and mental states of the occupants. An individual needs to be protected

against the element of heat, cold, disease, insects and harmful chemical.

People need to know that when they arrive home they can leave the

pressure of society behind them, can relax in safety an comfort, and than

can face the challengers of society again.

1.2.1 Thermal comfort The CDC housing code states that the temperature should be at least

200C at a distance of 18 inches above the floor level. If person need

the higher temperature, because of age or physical condition, 240C is

required.

What is Thermal Comfort Creating a thermally comfortable environment is one of the most

important parameters to be considered when designing buildings.

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Thermal Comfort is defined as: "That condition of mind which

expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment".

Thermal environments are considered together with other factors

such as air quality, light and noise level, when we evaluate our

working environment. If we do not feel the everyday working

environment satisfactory, our working performance will inevitably

suffer, as thermal comfort has an impact on our work efficiency.

Parameters influencing Thermal Comfort

The Thermal Comfort Equation derived by P.O.Fanger combines

the effect of 6 parameters:

Metabolism [MET]

Clothing level [Clo]

Air Temperature

Mean Radiant Temperature

Air Velocity

Humidity

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The four physical parameters, the Air Temperature and Mean

Radiant Temperature can be combined into the Operative

Temperature or the Air Temperature, the Mean Radiant

Temperature and the Air Velocity can be combined into the

Equivalent Temperature.

Metabolic rate estimationThe metabolism is the energy released in by oxidation processes in

the human body which depends on the muscular activity. Normally,

all muscle activity is converted to heat in the body, but during hard

physical work this ration may drop to 75%. For instance when

walking up-hill, where the energy is stored in the body at potential

energy.

Traditionally, metabolism is measured in Met (1MET=58 W/m² of

body surface). A normal adult has a surface of 1.7 m², and a person

in thermal comfort with an activity level of 1 Met will thus have a

heat loss of approximately 100 W. When evaluating the metabolic

rate, it is important it is important to use an average of the activity

the person has performed within the last hour.

Clothing level estimationClothing reduces the body's heat loss. Therefore, clothing is

classified according to its insulation value. The unit normally used

for measuring clothing's insulation is the Clo unit. The more

technical unit is m²°C/W is also used frequently (1 Clo = 0.155

m²°C/W).

The Clo scale is designed so that a naked person has a Clo value

of 0.0 and someone wearing a typical business suit has a Clo value

of 1.0. Some normal Clo values are shown in the figure. The Clo

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value can be calculated if the persons dress and the Clo values for

the individual garments are known, by simply adding the Clo values

together. Appendix D contains a list of clothing items and their

corresponding Clo values.

Obtaining the Clo value through calculation normally gives a

sufficient accuracy. If exact values are required, it is better to

measure the Clo value using a heated mannequin dummy. When

calculating Clo values, it is important to remember that upholstered

seats, car seats and beds reduce the heat loss from the body too,

and therefore, these must be included in the overall calculation.

Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT)

Mean radiant temperature, which has the same importance as air

temperature in thermal comfort is defined as the uniform surface

temperature of an imaginary black enclosure in which an occupant

would exchange the same amount of radiant heat as in the actual

non-uniform space.

(ASHRAE STANDARD, 1995:4) The depiction above points up that

in an actual room, the temperature of every surface usually is

slightly different compared with an imaginary room where each

surface has exactly the same temperature. It is worth noting that

mean radiant temperature is the temperature when the radiation

transfer for “an occupant” not for the other entities in actual room

equals the one in an imaginary enclosure. MRT can be ascertained

basically in two ways:

By calculation which is dependent on surface temperatures of

all areas in a space and the location of a person.

Directly measured by GT (globe temperature). 

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The mean radiant temperature is the area-weighted average of all

the surface temperatures in a room, and is affected by the position

of the person in relation to the various surfaces. The larger the

surface area and the closer to the person, so it will have more

influence to an occupant’s MRT. Furthermore for different positions

in a space, the value of MRT will be changed, and there will be a

corresponding air temperature for the requirement of thermal

comfort. This depends on several other factors but in general for

every 1 degree F that the MRT drops, the air temperature must be

raised about 1.4 degrees F to achieve comfort conditions.  In

addition, comfort can be affected by radiant asymmetry, and people

are especially sensitive to warm ceilings (10 °C radiant asymmetry

from a warm ceiling can give rise to 20% comfort dissatisfaction).

Values to be measuredWhen measuring the thermal indoor climate, it is important to

remember that man does not feel the room temperature, he feels

the heat loss from the body. The parameters that must be

measured are those which affect the energy loss, namely: Air

Temperature, Mean Radiant Temperature, Air Velocity and

Humidity. The influence of these parameters on energy loss is not

equal and it is not sufficient to measure only one of them.

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One of these parameters, the Mean Radiant Temperature, requires

a more detailed explanation. The Mean Radiant Temperature of an

environment is defined as that uniform temperature of an imaginary

black enclosure which would result in the same heat loss by

radiation from the person as the actual non-uniform enclosure.

Measuring the temperature of all surfaces in the room is very time

consuming, and even more time consuming is the calculation of the

corresponding angle factors. That is why the use of the Mean

Radiant Temperature is avoided and the Operative Temperature or

Equivalent Temperature is used instead.

1.2.2 LightingAccording The Uniform Building By Law, every habitable rooms must

have window and fix opening facing outdoors and the window area

must be at least 10% of the total floor area of the room. For the fix

opening, total opening area must be at least 5% of the total area of the

room.

1.2.3 PlumbingIn the house, the piping of water service should be as short as

possible, and elbows and bends should be reduced to maintain water

pressure. The water line to the house should be at least 4 feet below

the soil to prevent the contamination. Valves are usually located

outside the building so that the building supply may be turned off when

it is necessary for service the building.

1.2.4 Ventilation The usually minimum requirements for the natural ventilation are 10%

window area. Poor ventilation contributes to both damp and increases

in indoor air pollutant levels from domestic heating and cooking

appliances, furniture and building materials. Poor ventilation also has

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been associated with increased relative humidity, increased levels of

house dust mite, poor lung function and increased respiratory

symptoms.

1.2.5 Space requirementThe space area for the first habitable room must be not less than 11

square metres. The second habitable room must be not less than 9.3

sq metres and all other rooms must be not less 6.5 square metres in

area. Every bathroom and toilet room must comply with housing code

and rules on adequate ventilation.

1.2.6 Water supplyAll housing required the adequate quantities of running water be

provided for a dwelling. This generally means 1gal/min of running

water per each fixture in the house.

1.2.7 Kitchen facilitiesAll kitchen facilities must contain sink, cabinet or shelves, stoves and

refrigerator. The sink must be large enough for the kitchen use and not

a small hand-washing sink. Because the kitchen sink is used in the

preparation of food and the cleaning of dishes, utensils and

equipments. The stoves must be adequately built, install and

maintained to avoid electrical, fire or carbon monoxide accidents.

1.2.8 Fire safety and personal securityAll dwellings should have at least to means of egress leading to safe.

Individuals should not have to exit through someone else’s dwelling

unit. The entrance doors in a multiple dwelling should be equipped with

a device that allows the occupants of the unit to see a person at the

door without fully opening the door.

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1.3 Housing, the environment and health statusThe WHO definition states that health is not merely the absence of

disease and infirmity but a state of optimal physical, mental, and social

wellbeing. This definition is idealistic but has the merit of not focusing on

illness and disease, which have often been considered as either a

temporary or permanent impairment to health or a malfunction of a single

or several constituents of the human body. Given that the WHO definition

of health includes social well-being, then the most common interpretations

of health ought to be enlarged. The WHO also states that the enjoyment of

the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights

of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political,

economic, or social condition.

Health is defined by the author of this special issue as a condition or state

of human beings resulting from the interrelations between humans and

their biological, chemical, economic, physical, and social environment. All

components of the residential environment should be compatible with the

basic needs of the residents and their full functional activity, including

reproduction over a long period. Health is the result of both;

(a) The direct pathological effects of chemicals, several biological

agents, and radiation; and

(b) The influence of physical, psychological, and social dimensions of

daily life, including housing, transport, and other characteristics of

metropolitan areas.

These constituents of the daily lives of individuals are represented in

terms of their health status in Fig. 1. For example, improved access to

medical services is a common characteristic of urban neighborhoods but

is rare in rural areas.

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pertinent for the field of housing and health because the environmental

and social conditions in specific residential environments have an impact

on human relations, induce stress, and can have a positive or negative

impact on the health status of groups and individuals. Given the multiple

factors that influence health shown in Fig. 1, the necessity of using

interdisciplinary approaches to studying the health of a population in

precise residential neighborhoods should be evident.

Fig. 1: The multiple influences of health status

1.3.1 Health and the housing EnvironmentThere are approximately 5.3 million crowed substandard dwelling in

the United State, with 4 million in such poor condition that they cannot

be refurbished without major repairs. There are 92,200 deaths and

million of injuries due to unintentional events each year. The leading

cause of death is motor vehicles, followed by fires, falls, drowning and

poisoning. The cost is over USD500 billion a year.

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In many areas, houses are abandoned because it is chapter to leave

them than to repair them or pay the property taxes. As a result, house

become dilapidated, vandalized, and eventually places where young

children, teenagers and adults get into serious trouble.

Not only are such buildings aesthetically unpleasant, but they also

become dumping places for garbage, trash and other junk, breeding

places for mosquito, roaches, mice and rats. They also become the

meeting place for alcoholics, drug addicts and criminals.

1.3.2 Human illnessEnvironmentally related diseases are more prevalent in poor housing

than in better housing. Congested between the house can lead to the

increased upper respiratory diseases because of close contact with the

contaminated individuals.

Diseases caused by salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus

may be found in the housing environment. Other diseases can be

cause by intestinal roundworms, hookworms, Aspegillus, Blastocystis,

etc.

Ventilation is an important part of stress or the stress reduction factor

within shelter. The use of mechanical may be good or bed, and if fresh

air is added instead of reticulating inside air, than home ventilation may

be good. In reticulated air, as many as 100 identifiable contaminants

have been found. These include pesticides, cleaners, bacterial

contaminants and viral contaminants.

The thermal environment helps reduce or increase stress, depending

on the combination of temperature and relative humidity present and

the velocity of the air. Proper temperature within the home should

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range from 20 to 240C with relative humidity raging from 20 to

60% .Temperatures or relative humidity above these levels tend to

cause discomfort.

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2. URBANIZATION AND URBAN GROWTHUrbanization is a phenomenon characterized by an increasing higher

proportion of urban population compared to the total population. This trend is

influenced by various factors including:

Rural-urban migration

Natural population growth in the urban area

Socio economic status, and

The economic development of the country

In addition to an increase in the proportion of urban population, the

urbanization process is also characterized by change of economic activity

from agriculture non-agriculture, a change of population distribution

characterized by uneven distribution, greater concentration and higher

densities in certain region, and the change from traditional to modern society.

2.1Trend of UrbanizationUrbanization in Malaysia started with the growth of straits settlements of

Penang, Malacca and Singapore and the mining town of Ipoh and Kuala

Lumpur during British Colonial rule. The early growth of towns in

Peninsular of Malaysia was not the result of industrialization as

experienced in western countries, but rather was owing to the growth of an

economic based on the extraction of tin and growth of rubber plantation

during the colonial period.

2.2 Neighborhoods and their effect on housingThe neighborhood is the area comprising all the public facilities and

condition required by the average of family for their comfort and existence.

Residents of a neighborhood share service, recreational facilities, and

generally an elementary school and shopping area.

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Neighborhood community facilities include educational, social, cultural,

and recreational and shopping centre; utilities and services include water,

light, fuel, sewage, waste disposal, fire and polis protection, and road

maintenance.

2.3 Side selection and the neighborhood environmentWhen developing a new neighborhood, it is essential to consider the land-

use trend for the area; the presumed availability of transportation, public

utilities, school and the legal controls place on the area by the local

government body.

Site selection for the neighborhood is extremely important. The existing

neighborhood may have to change, be razed or develop to meet proper

neighborhood and housing standard. The new neighborhood should avoid

the problem of existing neighborhood by locating on proper site.

In site selection, competent professional should determine the geology of

the land, the type of soil, and the type of weather condition. We also

should consider whether disturbing condition such as superhighway,

heavy industry, or animal’s farm is nearby, and whether the site is in a

flood plain.

Water supply and sewage disposal are important key to site selection. It is

also necessary to determine the method of removal and disposal of solid

waste. Telephone service must also be planned for new site.

A site should be selected so that pollution from sewage plant or farms do

not contaminate any bodies of water running through the community.

Adequate public transport, pedestrian and bicycle part should be provided

for proper recreation and access to community facilities out of the area of

the new neighborhood.

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During the actual development of the neighborhood, proper grading

techniques should be employed to ensure adequate surface drainage so

that water does not stand and cause mosquito problem or flow in such a

way to cause erosion.

2.4 Health and housing Impact of pollution:AirThe factors contributing to air pollution are:

rapidly growing energy demand

a fast growing transport sector

increase in number of vehicle

Water Water availability has been decreasing

The productivity of fresh water also decreasing due to looses in the

movement of water.

Water resources under threat due to:

Degradation

soil erosion

deforestation

Land productivity of soil is being lost due to water logged and salinization.

forest has been lost every year

Noise Noise level

working place

housing

afternoon

night

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2.5 WHO and related requirements for healthy housing.

2.5.1 Safe and Healthy HouseEnvironmental scientists consistently prioritize the indoor environment

as the source of significant public health hazards. These include

exposure to lead-contaminated dust and soil, asthma allergen sources

(mold, roaches, rodents, pets), respiratory irritants (combustion gases

and particles from tobacco smoke, heating and cooking), and Toxic

chemicals (pesticides, building materials, consumer products).

Housing is both a health and environmental issue.  Because people

spend 90% of their time in their homes, they can be exposed to many

types of toxic substances, gases, allergens and pests that can cause

illnesses or injury.  Indoor pollutants can build to dangerous levels

since they are confined in a small area.  Both new homes and aging

homes can present challenges to a healthy environment. Young

children and the elderly are especially at risk for housing-related

illnesses

Some common contaminants and health hazards include lead, mold

and moisture, carbon monoxide, pesticides, and hazardous household

products. Other types of safety hazards could lead to physical injuries,

fires, poisonings and death. Individuals can be exposed to several

types of safety hazards in and around the home. 

Unsanitary homes can lead to health issues for the families that live in

those homes as well as the neighbors.  Keeping a clean home is

pertinent to enjoying good personal health.

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2.5.2 Healthy house conceptThe concept of healthy, safe or non-toxic housing which has long been

a requirement for people with health condition such as severe allergies

or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), is beginning to get some

serious recognition in mainstream America.

Along with health concerns, homebuilders are increasingly addressing

concern about environmental impact and energy conservation, and are

developing a body of knowledge about what is feasible. The “green

building” name is often used for this overall movement.

An important part in this movement includes knowledge about what

NOT to use within the living space of home, such as building material,

carpets, or flooring that outgas a wide variety of manufacturing

chemical including benzene, formaldehyde, styrene, toluene and

xylene.

Products best avoided also included wood or manufactured products

that outgas toxic material such as formaldehyde or volatile organic

compounds (VOC’s). Also one definitely should not use combustion

appliances such as gas stoves that outgas into living spaces.

Lumber of outside construction such as patio desks that has been

treated with toxic material such as ammonical copper arsenate (ACA)

or chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Another important consideration

in that toxic substance such as insecticides biocides should not be use

in the construction of interior space. These materials are added to

many consumer products such as paint and sealants, with little or no

notice. Another sneaky source of pesticide is secondhand tobacco

smoke, since tobacco is one of the most heavily pesticides crops in the

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world. Tobacco smoke should not be allowed in or around the healthy

house.

Another healthy house concern is attracting national attention is the

problem of mold. The mold can grow in crawlways, basements,

bathroom walls and other damp places. The serious health hazards

posed by some molds can remain undetected for long period of time,

which the occupants aware only after critical health problems develop.

2.5.3 House related health hazard

i. Carbon Monoxide and other combustion pollutants

Hazard:Carbon monoxide impairs the ability of blood to carry

oxygen. The brain and heart are very sensitive to lack of

oxygen.

Sources: Leaky chimney or furnace or other gas appliance, unvented

space heaters.

TestingCO monitors; signs of problem include foul smells from the

appliance or black soot or condensation on walls and windows.

Exposure pathway/route:

Air, breathing

Health effects:

Exposure to low levels of CO can cause flu-like symptoms, such

as headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness

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fatigue, chest pains, Impaired vision and coordination and

shortness of breath. 

Higher levels can result in unconsciousness or death. Carbon

monoxide impairs the ability of blood to carry oxygen. The brain

and heart are very sensitive to lack of oxygen. People with heart

and lung disease are at higher risk of developing problems from

carbon monoxide, as are children and the elderly.

Controls: Make sure your heating system and all fuel burning appliances

are adequately vented and properly maintained. Make sure your

furnace has an adequate air intake. Don’t use gas stoves or

ovens to heat living areas. Do a furnace check, check all fuel-

burning appliances and do an energy audit each year in the

fall. Install an UL-listed carbon monoxide alarm. A smoke

detector does not alarm when CO is present

Yearly furnace and chimney inspection, no invented heaters, do

not use stoves for heating, stove exhaust fan, do not burn

painted or treated wood.

ii. Asbestos

Hazard:   Asbestos fibers are up to 1,200 times thinner than a human

hair. When inhaled, they become trapped in lung tissue. Medical

research says that up to 30 years after inhalation, asbestos

fibers can cause lung cancer or mesothelioma, a related

terminal cancer of the tissue lining the chest cavity.

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Sources:Asbestos is commonly found in heating systems insulation,

decorative spray-on ceiling treatments, vinyl flooring, cement

shake siding, automobile brake linings and a variety of

additional materials. Look for asbestos markings on the product

or track the product back to its manufacturer or supplier. (E.g.

Furnace, pipe and duct insulation; floor tiles)

Testing:Laboratory test needed to identify; can observe condition

Exposure route/pathway: Breathing dust or fibers

Health effects:Exposure to asbestos can cause health issues such as scarring

of the lungs (asbestosis), inflammation of the lung cavity, and

increased occurrence of lung cancer and other cancers. If you

are involved with remodeling activities of older residential or

commercial properties, you should be aware of the types of

materials that might contain asbestos products.

Controls: Asbestos is only a hazard if it is damaged or disturbed. In some

cases, the best course is to repair or encapsulate the damaged

material, using paint or other appropriate materials. Check with

a hardware or safety supply store to find out which materials

can be used to encapsulate (ACM) asbestos containing

materials.

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Leave it alone; only state-licensed contractor should cover or

remove; never cut sand or drill; use wet cleaning in the area, not

dry dusting or sweeping

iii Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from

the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of radium, which in

itself is a decay product of uranium. Uranium and radium are

both common elements of the soil.

Hazard: Radioactive soil gas

Testing: Use long-term detector during heating season

Sources: The major source of high levels of radon in homes is in soil

surrounding the house that may contain uranium, granite, shale,

phosphate and pitchblende. The radon gas from the soil can

enter a home or building through dirt floors, hollow-block walls,

cracks in the foundation floor and walls, and openings around

floor drains, pipes and sump pumps. 

Radon is often more highly concentrated in basements, ground

floors and first floors of homes. 

Exposure route/pathway: Breathing

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Health effects: It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. As radon

decays and is inhaled into the lungs, its byproducts release

energy that can damage sensitive lung tissue and lead to lung

cancer. No immediate symptoms; increases the long-term risk

of lung cancer. People in basement bedrooms and smokers at

greatest risk

Controls: Test your home for radon using an inexpensive charcoal

canister short term screening kit. Seal entry points, vent, dilute

iv Pesticides

A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances that is

used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any pest.  Common

products containing pesticides include cockroach sprays, rodent

baits, insect repellents flea and tick sprays (including pet

collars), some weed killers and

disinfectant.                                                                      

Hazard: Toxic chemicals

Testing: Expensive; observation and history of past use

Sources: Pesticides used indoors; track-in from outdoors

Exposure route/pathways: Skin contact, dust ingestion, breathing

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Health effects:Eye, nose and throat irritation, nervous system damage,

possible increased risk of cancer

Controls: Minimize use, use carefully; use environmental controls

v Pest Pests, such as, rats, mice, flies, and cockroaches multiply

rapidly and, because they feed on human and animal wastes,

are dangerous sources of disease.

HazardVector for diseases

Health effectsRodents, including rats and mice have been known to carry

diseases such as plague, Salmonella, Hepatitis, Typhoid Fever,

and Dysentery. Today however, because of improvements in

sanitation, effective drugs, and rodent control programs, the

disease threat from rodents is not as significant as it once

was. Even though the threat of disease is small, it must always

be kept in mind.

Control: 1. Prevent entry in to the premises.

Seal off all openings the outside. Pay attention to doors,

windows, garage doors, plumbing and electrical

entrances, etc.

Fill cracks and openings in foundations.

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Keep stored material such as lumber, boxes, firewood,

etc., off the ground and away from walls.

2. Properly maintain the entire premises.

Clean garbage containers with hot water and cleaning

compounds.

Do not provide any type of food shelter, trash, or

rubbish piles.

Cover all refuse containers, including outdoor

dumpsters.

Keep refuse containers inside a garage or other

inaccessible area.

Store refuses containers inside the garage.

3. Use traps and glue boards to trap mice and rats indoors

(check traps regularly every couple days).

4. Do not place rodent bait of any kind in an area accessible

to children or pets.

5. Do not use rodent bait indoors. Rodent bait used indoors

may result in rodents dying inside walls or attics

where they are irremovable, producing pungent odors.

vi Household products, building materials and furnishings

Hazard: Toxic chemicals that get in the air

Testing: Expensive; use source check-list

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Sources: Dry cleaning, mothballs, paints, solvents, composition wood

product, carpets, upholstered furniture etc.

Exposure route/pathway: Breathing/inhale

Health effects: Eye, nose throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination,

nausea, possible damage to liver, kidney, nervous system and

cancer; some people sensitive to formaldehyde.

Controls: Avoid use, follow instructions, use aggressive ventilation, use

out of doors, dispose of little-used containers, store in garage

vii Environmental tobacco smoke

Hazards: Numerous toxic chemicals

Testing: Observation

Source: Cigarette, pipe and cigar smoke

Exposure route/pathway:Breathing contaminated air

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Health effects: Eye, nose and throat irritation; risk of cancer and heart disease;

in addition for children increased asthma, bronchitis, ear

infections, decreased lung function and increased risk of infant

bleeding lung disease

Controls: Do not allow smoking in the house or the car

viii Lead

HazardsPoisoning

Source: Lead can be found in the air, soil, paint, and even food. Listed

below are the most common conditions to look for when

identifying sources of lead that may be a problem in residential

property.

Lead-based paints - Eating cracking, chipping and peeling

lead based paint is a common lead source for young

children. Lead paint was used on the inside and outside of

homes.

Lead Dust - Household dust can contain small pieces of

lead from paint chips or tracked in soil, your house can

look clean and still have lead in it.

Soil - Sometimes lead is in the soil next to buildings with

chipped paint or homes that have been remodeled. Lead

can also be in the soil after a building has been torn down.

Food - Plants usually do not absorb lead unless there is a

large amount of lead in the soil.

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Water - Lead levels in your water are likely to be highest if

your home or water system has lead pipes or copper pipes

with lead solder.

Health effects:

Lead poisoning is a disease that occurs when too much lead

builds up in the body. Symptoms of lead poisoning include lack

of appetite, irritability, constipation, headache, stomach cramps,

drowsiness, fatigue, and trouble sleeping. Symptoms, however,

do not occur until the advanced stages of lead poisoning.

Children run a greater risk of lead poisoning because their

bodies easily absorb lead. Lead can also harm a child’s

growth. For that reason, parents with children ages 6 months

through 6 years old should have their child’s blood tested for

lead once a year. 

Control:Preventative measures can reduce your exposure to lead

poisoning. Testing is available if you are concerned about lead

in your home.

ix Mold 

Molds are microscopic organisms found virtually

everywhere. Molds are necessary for breaking down dead

materials. Mold growths appear in the form of discoloration

ranging from white to orange and from green to brown to black. 

 Source:Mold can be detected in the home visually or by its odor. If you

can see mold or smell and earthy, musty odor, it is safe to

assume that you have a mold problem. Look for previous water

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damage on porous materials or discoloration and leaching from

plaster. Mold often grows behind walls or underneath materials

previously damaged by water. Mold needs moisture to

grow. Common sources of indoor moisture include:

Flooding

Backed up sewer

Leaky roof

Humidifiers

Ice dams

Damp basement

Plumbing leaks

Plants

Moisture not exhausted from combustion appliances

Health effects:Airborne mold spores in the home, when present in large

numbers, can cause allergic reactions, asthma episodes,

infections, and other respiratory problems. Mold can also

indicate conditions that may cause structural damage to your

home. To remove mold:

1. Identify and remove the moisture problem.

2. Throw out mold-infected materials that cannot be cleaned

and disinfected, such as absorbent materials.

3. Where surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected, clean

surfaces using a non-ammonia soap / detergent.

4. Where surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected, use

bleach (1/4 cup bleach per gallon of water). With any

cleaning and disinfectant products, test the surfaces of the

material to be cleaned/sanitized. Some surfaces or

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materials may be damaged by cleaning or disinfectant

products.

5. Dry out the affected area as quickly as possible.

x Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)  Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a situation in which occupants

of a building experience acute health effects that seem to be

linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause

can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a

particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the

building.   Frequently, problems result when a building is

operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its

original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes

indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or

occupant activities.

Health effects:Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute

discomfort. These symptoms include headaches; eye, nose,

and throat irritation; a dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and

nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to

odors.

With SBS, no clinically defined disease or specific chemical or

biological contaminant can be determined as the cause of the

symptoms. Most of the complainants feel relief soon after

leaving the building.  SBS reduces worker productivity and may

also increase absenteeism.

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xi Problems of Excess Moisture and Mold

A number of serious health hazards are

associated with excess moisture in the home,

including mold, dust mites, and cockroaches. 

These hazards can contribute many health

problems. Toxic Mold - "In 1994, a dark fungus

gained notoriety as an apparent cause of a frightening condition

striking a number of Cleveland infants, some of whom died."

Control: Solutions to SBS problems usually include combinations of the

following measures:

Increasing the ventilation rates and air distribution is often a

cost-effective means of reducing indoor pollutant levels. At a

minimum, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)

systems should be designed to meet ventilation standards in

local building codes. Make sure that the system is operated and

maintained to ensure that the design ventilation rates are

attained. If possible, the HVAC system should be operated to

the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-

Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62-1989. If there

are strong pollutant sources, air may need to be vented directly

to the outside. This method is especially recommended to

remove pollutants that accumulate in specific areas such as

restrooms, copy rooms, and printing facilities.

Removal or modification of the pollutant source is the most

effective approach to solving a known source of an indoor air

quality problem when this solution is practicable. Ways to do

this include routine maintenance of HVAC systems; replacing

water-stained ceiling tiles and carpets; banning smoking or

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providing a separately ventilated room; venting contaminant

source emissions to the outdoors; using and storing paints,

solvents, pesticides, and adhesives in closed containers in well-

ventilated areas; using those

2.6 Healthier habitat in the homeSeven Steps to a Healthier Habitat in the Home are:-

2.6.1 Keep It Dry

The moisture it takes to support significant mold

growth Mold has become the nemesis of many

houses. In addition to damaging a house's

structure, mold can be a trigger for those

suffering from asthma. Mold can occur in

basement, unattended leaks from plumbing fixtures or roofs, and baths

or kitchens, or those are not in regular use.

Clearing gutters and downspouts can help reduce moisture entering a

house through its foundation. Keeping anything made out of wood,

paper or cardboard away from potentially damp surfaces can also

reduce the chance of mold growth.

2.6.2 Keep It CleanCarpeting is a depository for all kinds of things

tracked in from the outside. Studies show that

lead dust is commonly found in carpets in

inner-city neighborhoods, and residue from

pesticides and herbicides is found in carpets in

suburbia.

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To prevent tracking in pollutants from the outside, remember to remove

shoes at the door or use “walk-off mats” on the outside and inside of

entryways.

2.6.3 Keep It Pest-Free

Droppings from pests as well as their body parts are major triggers for

people with asthma. Maintaining a dry home and keeping it

clean are two of the most important ways to reduce pest

infestations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) avoids

introducing toxic chemicals into the home environment to

abate pests.

2.6.4 Keep It Well VentilatedA house needs a certain number of air changes each hour in order to

circulate fresh air to both the people living there and the combustion

appliances. Modern appliances now commonly use sealed-

combustion. They get their fresh air directly from the exterior of the

house and they exhaust directly to the outside.

2.6.5 Avoid Contaminants Building materials and furnishings in homes

often release volatile organic compounds

(VOCs) that over time can cause health

conditions that range from respiratory distress to

cancerous conditions.

The presence of fire-retardant chemicals in many furnishings has

become a recent consumer concern. Some of these chemicals are

known to be hazardous to health. The best ventilation system may not

effectively remove all airborne contaminants. Some air-cleaning

devices now on the market may actually make things worse. The key

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to reducing contaminants is being aware of them and removing their

source

2.6. 6 Keep It Safe A multitude of hazards in a home can cause injury or even

death. Extension cord under a rug is a fire hazard. No

railings on stairs and rugs that slide easily can cause falls.

Unlocked cabinets with drugs or chemicals can lead to the

poisoning of a child. There has even been a rash of children

falling through window screens from two-story heights and higher.

Window guards that provide protection, yet can be opened by an adult

in case of a fire, can be installed.

2.6.7 Keep It Well Maintained Occupants in a home play a critical role in maintaining it in a healthy

manner. The best systems, materials can be put in place, and

homeowner must be able to use the

equipment or materials effectively in order to

prevent matters from growing worse.

Maintaining an awareness of possible threats to our safety and health

at home is an ever-present challenge. An unattended sink trap that

leaks for any duration can result in mold growth. Poor food waste

handling can lead to pest infestation. Pets that are not properly

groomed can become the source of allergens that can trigger asthma.

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2.7 The 6 "R"s of Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Reduce

Avoid or reduce purchases of products that produce household hazardous

waste.

Reuse

Instead of disposing of usable materials, give them away to somebody

who can use them safely

Recycle

Some household hazardous waste can be recycled, such as lead-acid car

batteries.

Render less harmful Solidifying liquid household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, solvents),

usually by absorbing them in kitty litter, can make them less dangerous to

the environment when disposed of with regular trash.

Route properly

Some household hazardous waste is best put in the trash; some is better

put down the drain; all should be kept out of the storm sewer. For

example, instead of washing driveway oil spills into the gutter, soak up the

oil with kitty litter and set it out with the trash.

Retain

For some household hazardous waste, including persistent pesticides

such as DDT and chlordane, it may be best to hold on to them, if it can

be done safely, until a special household hazardous waste collection takes

place.

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Make sure they are stored in a secure, marked container, inside another

container (in case of leaks), also properly marked. Keep the material away

from kids and pets.

The serious health hazards pose by some molds can remain undetected

for long period of time. The occupants becoming aware only after clinical

health developed.

2.8 Housing quality

GoalImprove the overall quality of the City housing.

Housing Rehabilitation Provide assistance for housing rehabilitation beyond housing maintenance

code requirements.

Property Responsibility and Maintenance

Assist in and promote improved and increased public and private property

maintenance and property responsibility throughout the city.

Housing Preservation Encourage preservation of viable housing. Housing that is susceptible to

redevelopment is often serving low-income household and is an important

part of the housing mix within the city. Future sub-area plan shall preserve

existing viable housing outside of designated centre or corridor

environments where redevelopment and intensification are encourage.

Often the housing that is destroyed cannot be replaced by new housing

elsewhere at the same cost level. Sub area plans should permit the

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transfer of unused development rights from low-income housing to eligible

sites elsewhere in the planning area or the city as a preservation strategy.

Linking Housing with Other Land Uses

Ensure land use plans provide increased physical connection between

housing, employment, recreation, daily-needs services, and educational

uses.

The location of housing in relation to other land uses is a part of what

determine the quality of housing. The desirability and viability of housing

changes for different segment of the community, base on the area’s mix of

land uses.

As complementary land uses become spread further apart transportation

options decrease while transportation costs increase.

These added transportation costs reduce the amount of household income

available for housing and other household needs. This effects lower-

income first. In urban areas, basic service, such as public transportation

and public parks should be available.

Housing goal monitoringProvide a report annually to the City Plan Commission that monitor

progress toward achieving the housing goal and includes recommended

policy change if positive direction toward achieving the housing goal is not

occurring.

Using readily available datasets as a basis for a simple set of indicators

can highlight what is happening within the larger system. This process

should provide assistance in determining what actions are needed to

implement the goals and policies and whether revisions to the policies are

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needed. The public can provide feedback about the indicators that are

most important to them

2.9 Indoor air quality Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could

affect health and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be

compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), chemicals (such

as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stressor

that can induce health effects. Recent findings have demonstrated that

indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air (albeit with different

pollutants) although this has not changed the common understanding of

air pollution. In fact, indoor air is often a greater health hazard than the

corresponding outdoor setting. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants,

filtration, and source control are the primary methods for improving indoor

air quality in most buildings.

Techniques for analyzing IAQ include collection of air samples, collection

of samples on building surfaces and computer modelling of air flow inside

buildings. The resulting samples can be analyzed for mold, bacteria,

chemicals or other stressors. These investigations can lead to an

understanding of the sources of the contaminants and ultimately to

strategies for removing the unwanted elements from the air.

2.9.1 Possible sources of poor indoor air quality Smoking indoors, smoke drifting in from outdoors, or smoke

being carried indoors on clothing

Other things that burn, like oil, gas, kerosene, charcoal

briquettes, wood or candles

Central heating, cooling or humidifying systems

New or recently installed building materials and furnishings,

including carpets and certain wood pressed products

Household cleaning and maintenance products

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Personal care products, like hair spray or soaps

Too much moisture in the house

Mold & mildew:

Tracking pesticides and pollens in on shoes and clothes

Improper circulation of fresh, outside air

2.9.2 Managing biological and chemical pollution factors, like pesticides and mites

Don't smoke indoors.

Circulate fresh, outdoor air through your home every day to

remove stale air and move pollutants out.

Wipe feet off before coming inside, and take shoes off in the

house in order to keep out pesticide contamination.

Replace or clean furnace and air filters when they are dirty.

Check them regularly, at least every two months. Use a "high

efficiency particulate filter" (HEPA).

Use ventilating fans over the stove and in the bathroom and

be sure they are vented to the outside of the house.

Keep ventilating fans clean.

If you have mold, or areas that develop mold, see the section

below titled, "Keeping your home healthy and free of mold

during the wet seasons."

Use safe cleaning products, those without any of the signal

words ("danger", "warning" or "caution"). If you do not use safe

household products, read the label and follow the directions

carefully.

Vacuum carpets well and stuffed furniture well, wash linens

weekly and dust regularly to keep the allergen "dust mites" to

a minimum. Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live in the

dust and our sloughed off skin.

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2.9.3 Managing combustible pollutants in your home, like natural gas

Don't smoke indoors.

Assure the gas flame in all appliances is blue, without much

yellow. If there is a strong smell of natural gas, open the

windows, leave the house, and call the gas company.

Be sure to have good ventilation in rooms with working

fireplaces and gas or wood stoves.

Do not burn charcoal or kerosene heaters indoors

2.10 Concepts of obsolescence and deteriorationObsolescence is the state or condition of being no longer in use. U.S.

Department of Defense defined as the loss or impending loss of

manufacturers or suppliers of items or the shortages of raw materials.

The primary cause of obsolescence is commercial profit motive: when an

item is no longer economical to produce, manufacturers stop producing it.

The U.S. Department of Defense also contributes to the problem with its long

design-to-acquisition lead times which bring about support requirements for

military systems that generally extend from 25 to 30 years, as opposed to the

4-to-7-year support cycle expected for many commercial electronics

systems.

From a manufacturer’s perspective, some or all of the following can make it

uneconomical or otherwise unattractive to continue to manufacture an item:

availability of certain necessary rapidly changing technologies

increased foreign competition

environmental regulations

safety regulations

limited materials.

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3. Policy

3.1Housing policy and implications for practice.The government policy required the planning system to provide an

adequate and continuous supply of land for housing which is provided

choice and a range of housing type to meet an increasingly varied range

of requirement. These include low-cost, middle-cost and high-cost houses.

At the same time it requires that established environmental policies are

maintained. It including; the continued protection of the Green Belt and the

areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the conservation of natural habitats,

the protection of the countryside, and the conservation and enhancement

of the urban environment and built heritage.

In order to meet the requirement for new housing and at the same time

maintain the conservation policies, full and effective use should be made

of land within the existing urban areas. It including;

the use of neglected, unused or derelict land and the conversion

improvement and development of existing building

should avoid the” town cramming”

Protect the green space for recreation and amenity.

When located in urban areas, housing development must be more readily

accessible to a choice of mean of travel to other facilities such as local

shop, school, work place and place of entertainment. If the housing

development is located in the large urban areas and concentrated in

higher density of development, public transport must be well served along

the corridors.

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Where these needs cannot be met in central location, alternative locations

for housing should be capable of being well serve by rail or other form of

public transport.

Government should maintain the policy on affordable housing to meet the

local needs. The authority may negotiate with the developers to include

the element of affordable housing. A uniform quota should be imposed on

all developments.

3.2 The National Housing Policy

The objective of the housing policy is to ensure that all Malaysians,

particularly the low income groups, have access to adequate and

affordable shelter and related facilities. The national housing policy is

emphasized through housing programmes and strategies outlined in the

country's development plan. Housing development also emphasized the

human settlement philosophy through the provision of social services and

amenities as well as economic activities necessary for the attainment of

better quality of life, national integration and unity.

The national housing policy is emphasized through housing strategies and

programmes outlined in the country's development plan which is revised

every five years. Towards achieving the objective of national housing

policy the Government has formulated various strategies and

programmes, created the necessary legislation, established public

institutions and instruments to assist the housing sector.

3.3 Low Cost Housing Policies, Guidelines and StandardsPolicies, guidelines, standard and by-laws have two major impacts on the

attainability of the goal of providing affordable house for the low income

group. Firstly, clear policy statements followed by persistent remainders

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from the government ensure that low cost housing remain on the public

agenda.

Secondly, these guidelines, standards or by-laws determine the viability of

low cost housing project. Stringent insistence on a uniform standard

regardless of the particular needs of the low income group will be translate

into higher cost of development with the implication that the target groups

may be unable to acquire the house.

3.3.1 Low Cost Housing Policies The federal government a prominent role in the low cost housing

industry primarily through policy decrees with set out targets to be

achieved by both, the public and private sectors as well as incentives

to facilitate the process.

The federal government’s policy with regard to low cost housing by the

private can be summarized as follows;

a. 30% Low Cost Component. The policy requires all the private housing developers of projects

above a certain threshold to construct at least 30% low cost housing

unit. The threshold or minimum size of development which must to

provide the low cost component varies between states. For example,

Penang has proposed to bring down the threshold from 150 total units

to 60 units. Johor has maintained the 30% policy but has added a 10%

low- medium cost requirement. Kedah has declared it will not insist on

compliance because of lack of buyers for completes units.

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b. RM25,000 Selling Price CeilingHouses constructed under the low cost component can be sold only at

a price no exceeding RM25,000.

c. RM750 Household incomeBuyer of the low cost units must have a combined household income

not exceeding RM750 per month. The problem encountered by the

genuine ‘poor’ is their inability to provide the documentary evidence of

their credit-worthiness when obtaining mortgage loan from commercial

financial institutions.

d. Minimum Design StandardThe policy specifies that each low cost house must have a minimum

built-up area of 550 to 660 sq ft comprising 2 bedrooms, a living-room,

a kitchen and a bath room. The house may be of any type including

flats, terrace even detached houses.

Even though federal policies does not specify density standard the

upper limit is typically constrained by a steep escalation in unit cost for

buildings above five storey due to additional requirements for fire

fighting and lift.

In an effort to improve the quality and range of housing and to

accommodate social and cultural preferences, various states have

initiated steps to include some 3-bedroom units in the low cost

schemes.

e. IncentivesThe involvement of private developers in the construction of the low

cost housing was mooted during the 80s and was given grater impetus

under the government’s privatization policy. Recognizing that the profit

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margin for low cost housing is too low or non-existing for most projects,

the government, offer some incentives promised included faster

development approvals (through one-stop agencies).

f. Five Years TargetsThe federal government also sets targets to be achieved by both the

public and private sectors for each for the five-year Malaysian Plan.

The performance of the public sector has below par despite huge

funds being allocated for the perusal of the state government.

3.3.2 Low Cost Housing Delivery SystemLow cost housing development in Malaysia is undertaken by both the

public and private sectors. The government’s commitment toward low

cost housing started during the First Malaysian Plan while the private’s

castors involvement was mooted in the Third Malaysian Plan when the

government realized the need and importance of the role of the private

sector in ensuring and adequate supply of low cost housing for the

country. The importance of the private sector role and function has

been increase throughout the years, particularly with privatization

programmes implemented by the government for the development of

the country as a whole.

3.3.2.1 Privet Sector In Malaysia, private sector housing consists of private developers,

cooperative societies and individuals or group of individuals.

Amongst them, private developers account for almost all private

sectors housing delivery accounting for 96% of the overall private

sector housing achievement. The other groups, namely,

cooperative societies and individuals act only as supportive party in

the system.

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Private housing developers are actively involved in the production

of high medium and low cost housing. They are governed by the

housing developers’ (Control and Licensing Act) 1966 (amendment

1988) and the housing Developers’ Regulation (Control and

Licensing) 1989. These regulations require them to obtain license,

advertising, and sale permits from the Ministry of Housing and

Local Government before undertaking any housing projects.

3.3.2.1 Public SectorUnder the public sector Housing Programme, the government is

involved in the implementation of:

a. Public Low Cost Housing programmes consisting of public

low coast housing, site and services schemes and the

housing loan scheme.

b. Housing in Land and Regional Development Authority

area.

c. Government and Institutional Quarters.

d. State Economic Development Corporation.

The Public low Cost Programme are undertaken by the state

governments with the supervision and monitoring of the Ministry of

Housing and Local Government. The federal government provides

loan to the state government to carry out the programmes through

the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

The state Economic Development Corporations (SEDC) and the

Urban Development Authority (UDA) also play important role in the

supply of all types of houses in their respective state particularly

within the urban area. The provisions of housing in rural areas,

particularly within the regional development areas, are undertaken

by the respective Regional Development Authorities (RDA).

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3.4 The National environmental policyThe policy aims at continued economic, social and cultural progress and

enhancement of the quality of life of Malaysian through environmentally

sound and sustainable development. The policy would complement the

objective of environmental protection agencies and will address the

sectoral issues like:

Water management and conservations.

Biodiversity and protected area

Pollution and waste management

Energy efficiency and renewable, and

Air quality.

The policy also should address other cross-sectional issue such as:

Population and the environment

Health and environment

Trade and environment

Poverty and environment , and

Environment and local government

3.5National Urbanization Policy 2006 – 2020

The policy consists of six thrusts:1. Towards an efficient and sustainable urbanization.

The provision and distribution of facilities and infrastructure will be

efficient to prevent wastage of natural resources. The policy was

emphasis on redeveloping, preserving green area for recreational

purpose and conserving environmentally sensitive area.

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2. Develop of a resilient, dynamic and competitive urban economic.Identify the economic strength and specialization of each urban

centre to support commerce and value added economic activities

and knowledge base industries. The economic development of

medium and small-sized enterprises, to provide consumer good to

the urban population.

Eradicate poverty to accelerate Bumiputra participation in the urban

economic sector.

3. Toward an integrated and efficient urban transport system.The increase in population and high private vehicle ownership calls

for the development of an integrated transport system will emphasis

on multi-modal and environmental friendly features.

Transport planning integrated with land use planning for an

effective, reliable, user-friendly system affordable to all level of

population.

4. Provide quality urban service, infrastructure and utilityThe supply of utility such as electricity and telecommunications

should be of a higher standard to meet the requirement of value

added and k-economy activities.

Solid waste disposal and sewage system must be more cost

effective and to prevent wastage resources. Local community

should assist the local authority in administering and managing the

urban area.

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5. Create conducive urban living environment with a distinct identity.Low-cost housing programme to provide adequate and affordable

housing for low income group as well as to resettle squatters.

Housing for foreign workers at specific location to reduce problem

for the urban environment

Public amenities such as school, recreation area, sport complexes,

place of worship, health facilities and cemeteries should be

adequately provided for use by all groups of the urban population.

6. Effective urban governanceThe local authority the main agency responsible for urban

management, must optimize it revenue including finding new

sources and upgrading its capacity to enable towns to become

more competitive

Review existing legislation on administration to create an ethical

transparent work culture for an efficient and effective delivery

system.

3.6 General PlanConsists of following elements:

Housing goal and objectives.

evaluation of the existing programs

Legal requirement 

Relationship to other elements 

Residential population characteristics 

Land use and housing development patterns 

Household characteristics 

Housing characteristics 

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Housing problems and needs 

Housing goals and objectives

GoalsEnsure that the location, timing and intensity of residential development

will maintain and enhance the quality of life for the people.

Provide family oriented housing in a wide range of sizes and costs in order

to promote and retain the community's hometown character and desert

environment

Objectives Maintain the existing residential character sufficient usable open

space to balance the developed portions and recreational usesand

visual relief from appearing "crowded". 

Maintain large lot low cost house development as the predominant

land use. 

Provide flexibility in development standards which can

accommodate neighborhood variations

Evaluation of the existing programs continued presence of affordable housing for the present and future

populations

establishes a program which provides funding for offsite

improvements for housing projects

Insure that all citizens will continue to have a safe and sanitary

residence through continued code enforcement

Resolve to contribute and surpass the "fair share" of the region's

housing needs as identified in this Element

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Use existing programs to assist low income residents meet their

housing needs. 

Establish a coordinated, systematic program of housing, building,

health and fire code inspection and analysis that stresses

prevention of problems.

Refine and update the Housing Element by amendment when new

information is available

Legal requirement Each planning agency shall prepare the comprehensive, long term

General Plan for the physical development.

Each local government is required to develop a Housing Element.

Each element must contain a needs assessment, goals, objectives,

policies, and an implementation program. 

Relationship to other elements Consists of several mandated elements of which the Housing

Element is one.

Land Use Element Lists the amounts of land available for residential development.

There are no conflicts between the Land Use Element and this

Housing Element

Circulation Element Required rights-of-way established in the Circulation Element will

accommodate anticipated growth. 

The City's Circulation Element is consistent with this Housing

Element. 

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Noise Element protection of residential areas from unwanted sound to provide a

quality residential environment

noise buffering requirements

The Noise Element is consistent with the Housing Element.  cause minor impacts on the cost of housing

Conservation Open Space and Recreational Elements

enhance the living environment with the provision for and protection

of environmental amenities

No conflicts between the Conservation, Open Space and

Recreational Elements and this Housing Element. 

impact the cost of housing by reducing the inventory of available

land

Public Safety Element The Housing Element is consistent with the Safety Element

little, if any, impact on the cost or availability of housing caused by

the requirements of the Safety Element

Residential population characteristics Total Population

expected growth in the surrounding areas

Available Land

land available for the provision of decent and affordable housing

for the future need

Race and Ethnic Characteristics

Multi races

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Land use and housing development patterns Zoning

To ensure that community land is used in the best possible way.

To prevent disorderly patterns of growth.

Resource Conservation

development and extension of urban infrastructure

Rural Living District

Attracts a middle and lower income housing.

Single Family District

provide decent housing for all economic segments

Multiple Family Residential

specific demand for apartments,

Housing problems and needs

Affordability. The problem is due to the low wages and low-income level of

the area. They are forced to spend more than twenty-five

percent of their income for housing.

Few families can produce the required down payment for the

purchase of a house

Market Constraints The attraction of alternative employment into the area

Broadening the base of economic opportunities in the

community. 

Include clean non-polluting light industry, destination oriented

commercial tourist facilities and health care facilities

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Land Cost. Prices should be a positive incentive towards the provision of

decent housing for all economic segments

Construction Cost Must be reasonable

Financing Costs Interest rates for home mortgages must be very affordable.

Government Constraints

The availability and cost of housing can influence by

governmental actions, constraints, and even political

Fees - Certain fees for services must be reasonable

Time in Processing.

Minimal turn-around time for plan check and building permit

issuance

Land Use Controls does not have development standards that would hinder the

development of affordable housing

Service and Facility Infrastructure By septic systems or seepage pits and does not have sewer

service. Water resources and water quality.

Streets and Lighting These street costs are passed on to

the buyer and impact the cost of housing.

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Building Code Enforcement construction by following the Uniform Building By Law

Overcrowding considered overcrowded of person per room

3.7 Comprehensive PlanAffordable housing of all types should be available to all community

residents. In an environment that is safe, clean, and healthy. Emphasis

will be placed on preserving existing houses and rehabilitating older

neighborhoods Housing satisfies is the basic human needs for shelter.

Housing and the provision of housing have direct ties to the local economy

to raise the “quality of life” for the current and future population. The lack

of home often leads to negative behavior.

Stress from excessive housing costs can cause other problems for

households such as social, economic, and health-related concerns

Municipal need to analyze the existing and projected future needs. The

comprehensive plan must identify sufficient land for housing including:

government assisted housing

housing for low-income families

manufactured housing

multifamily housing

group homes

foster care facilities

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3.8 Housing stock

3.8.1 Housing Development Housing provision is the most contentious issue which local plan has to

address.

When providing the new house the council has to have full regard to

national, regional and structure plan guidance. However, in arriving the

pattern of development, the council also had regard to many factors

including;

Local demographic trends.

The performance of the local housing market.

Contribution from other housing providers.

Where significant, the new development must ensure to minimize the

environmental impact.

The table below shows the targets and achievements of the various

Malaysia's 5-year Plans. By and large, the performance of the public

and private sectors in delivery of houses was below the estimated

targets except for the 3rd, 6th and 7th Malaysia Plans where the

private sector performed excellently, surpassing the targets set. During

the 3rd Malaysia Plan period, there was rapid economic and social

development, leading to a great expansion of private sector, but most

of the houses constructed were medium and high costs.

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PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING PROGRAMMESTARGET AND PERFORMANCE 1971-2000

Agency

Second M'sia Plan(1971-1975)

Third M'sia Plan(1976-1980)

Fourth M'sia Plan(1981-1985)

Fifth M'sia Plan(1986-1990)

Sixth M'sia Plan(1991-1995)

Seventh M'sia Plan(1996-2000)

Targeted Completed Targeted Completed Targeted Completed Targeted Completed Targeted Completed Targeted Completed *

PUBLIC SECTOR:                         

1.  Public low-cost housing - 13,244 62,200 26,250 176,500 72,302 45,800 26,172 40,000 15,376 64,000 62,812

2.  Housing in land schemes - 41,965 60,000 36,770 110,010 36,112 57,500 32,056 56,100 8,075 9,300 7,188

3.  Institutional Quarters and other staff Accommodation

- 24,240 41,300 20,560 58,500 23,258 27,000 11,284 32,600 18,776 102,700 12,015

4.  SEDC'S Projects and other state projects / medium and high-cost housing

- 6,627 57,300 37,930 53,560 58,373 18,700 27,614 45,300 42,315 54,000 39,609

Sub-total 86,076 220,800 121,510 398,570 190,045 149,000 97,126 174,000 84,542 230,000 121,624

PRIVATE SECTOR:                      

1.  Private Developers  - 64,862 100,00 199,490 - - - - - - - -

Low-cost housing - - - 90,000 22,794 370,400 88,877 215,700 212,003 137,000 127,514

Medium and high-cost housing

- - - 259,470 79,005 169,600 107,442 170,700 339,610 418,000 596,639

2.  Co-operative Societies -}   12,000 4,120 25,260 5,474 12,500 7,483 12,600 11,305 15,000 13,703

3.  Individuals and Groups -} 108,872 150,000 159,070 150,000 94,660 - - - - - -

Sub-total - 173,734 162,000 362,680 524,730 201,933 552,500 203,802 399,000 562,918 570,000 737,856

TOTAL - 259,810 382,800 484,190 923,300 391,978 701,500 300,928 573,000 647,460 800,000 859,480

Source:      Third Malaysia Plan (1976);  Fourth Malaysia Plan (1981);    Fifth Malaysia Plan (1986);    Sixth

Malaysia Plan (1991)      Seventh Malaysia Plan (1996) 

The table below shows the target and the achievement of the

development of housing over the period 2001 – 2005 periods.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING TARGETS AND ACHIEVEMENTS (2001 – 2005)

Programme Housing for the poor Low-Cost Low Medium-Cost

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Target (units)

Achieved (units)

% of Target

Target (units)

Achieved (units)

% of Target

Target (units)

Achieved (units)

% of Target

Public Sector 16,000 10,016 62.2 192,000 103,219 53.8 37,300 22,826 61.2

Low-Cost Housing - - - 175,000 81,108 46.3 - - -

Housing for the hardcore poor 15,000 9,536 63.6 - - - - - -

Sites and Services 1,000 480 48 - - - - - -

Housing by Commercial Agencies - - - 15,000 16,386 109.2 10,000 15,442 154.4

Housing by Land Schemes - - - 2,000 5,725 286.3 1,000 695 69.5

Institutional Quarters and Staff Accommodation - - - - - - 26,300 6,689 25.4

Private Sector - - - 40,000 97,294 243.2 94,000 61,084 65.0Private Developers - - - 39,000 94,029 241.1 90,000 53,607 59.6

Cooperative Societies - - - 1,000 3,265 326.5 4,000 7,477 186.9

Total 16,000 10,016 62.2 232,000 200,513 86.4 131,300 83,910 63.9

Source : MHLG

3.9 Housing needs and supplyMany different factors influence the need for, and supply of housing and it

is necessary for the local plan to have regard to all of them. A detail

analysis has been made to develop the strategy and policies for housing

which follow and some of the most significant factors are as discussed

below;

1. Demography factorsThe starting point for assessing housing needs is demographic, that is

what key changes are likely to occur in the local population. The most

important are the population growth and changes in size of

households.

2. Location The distance from town, city

Industrial area

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Safety

3. Infrastructure Easy to assess

Availability public transport

Quality of housing

4. Type of housing Low cost house

Link house

Semi-detach

Bungalow

5. Population status High income

Middle income

Low income

3.10 Housing choice and diversityThe goal of housing choice and the diversity of housing are to increase the

number of housing alternatives within all areas of the city to help meet the

changing needs and preferences of a diverse population. There are

several methods to implement the program;

1. Distribution of housing optionsPromote a wide range of housing types and housing diversity to meet

the needs of the diverse population and ensure that this house is

available throughout the community for people of all income levels and

special needs.

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The variety of housing types should be available in each

neighborhood. The variety of housing types should not concentrate or

isolate lower income and special needs households.

Diversity includes style, types and cost of housing. Many different

housing forms can exist in an area and still an aesthetic continuity. In

many cases, design guideline will be available to guide the design of

housing form.

Allowing the wide range of housing type throughout the city provides

the opportunity for increased socioeconomic integration and increase

the supply of affordable home ownership opportunities.

2. Taxes and tax structure To support the state consideration of property tax reform measures

that provide increased local options that contributes to housing choice

and diversity.

Other methods of taxing land have shown different effects on the long-

term use of land. Local options for property taxation methods furnish

increased tool to guide the health and development of the region.

Providing tax relief for low-income housing is the way to encourage

community revitalization. Tax increment financing is also a tool for

housing improvement in target areas. Taxing land based upon the

current use of residential property rather than land on the basis of the

highest and best use can help preserve lower-income. Developing a

tax structure that does not hinder home and land improvements will

encourage community revitalization.

3. Accessory dwelling units

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Allow one accessory dwelling units as ancillary use to single-family

owner-occupied home in all designated resident areas as an affordable

house option.

Accessory dwelling units increase the amount and verity of affordable

housing. It also increases the housing stock and living options within

neighborhood in manner that is less intensive than alternative.

Accessory dwelling units should be build in manner that does not

adversely affect the neighborhood. They should be designed to be

physically and visually compatible with surrounding structure.

4. Development of low-cost housingAllow development of low-cost housing units for low-income groups.

5. Special needs housingEncourage the retention, inclusion and development of special needs

and assisted living housing. It includes units that affordable for low-

income special need families in all housing developments.

Adequate housing for special needs populations is in very short supply.

The new units require within housing developments help fill this need

while also helping distribute the supply of special needs housing

throughout the community.

3.11 Housing marketThe table below shows the target on the development of various type of

housing over the 2006 -2010 period.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING TARGETS, 2006 - 2010

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Programme

Number of units TotalHousing for the poor

Low-CostLow

Medium-Cost

Medium-Cost High- Cost Number of

units% of Total

Public Sector 20,000 85,000 37,005 27,100 28,700 197,805 27.9

Low-Cost Housing - 67,000 - - - 67,000 9.5

Housing for the hardcore poor (PPRT) 20,000 - - - - 20,000 2.8

Housing by Commercial Agencies - 13,500 31,005 8,200 4,700 57,405 8.1

Housing by Land Schemes- 4,500 500 - - 5,000 0.7

Institutional Quarters Staff Accommodation - - 5,500 18,900 24,000 48,400 6.8

Private Sector - 80,400 48,500 183,600 199,095 511,595 72.1

Private Developers - 77,700 42,400 178,000 194,495 492,595 69.4

Cooperative Societies - 2,700 6,100 5,600 4,600 19,000 2.7

Total 20,000 165,400 85,505 210,700 227,795 709,400 100.0

% 2.8 23.3 12.1 29.7 32.1 100.0  

Source: MHLG

3.12 Affordable house

Goal: Provide sufficient housing for the current and future population that is

appropriate, safe, and affordable for all income levels

Regional coordinationCoordinate the city’s comprehensive planning with other jurisdictions in

the region to address housing-related needs and issues. A sample of the

reoccurring issues includes the lack the three bedroom units for low-

income household.

Regional Fair Share Housing

Monitors and adjusts the distribution of low-income housing throughout the

region. A reoccurring issue that needs to be address is the distribution of

affordable house for all income groups. Areas that continue to

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accommodate large shares of the low-income housing market have higher

demands to satisfy social health and service needs.

A regional process that periodically monitors progress toward achieving

the region’s housing goals and make adjustment to policy, program and

land use plans help bring abound the desire distribution of housing cost

diversity.

Use of Existing Infrastructure New residential development must be in areas where community and

human public services and facilities are available and in manner that is

compatible with other comprehensive plan elements.

Using existing services and infrastructure often reduces the cost of

creating a new housing. New construction that takes advantage of existing

services and infrastructure conserves public resources that can then be

redirected to other needs as adding to these projects.

Socioeconomic Integration

Promote socioeconomic integration throughout the city. Socioeconomic

integration includes people of all races, religion, sex, national origin,

handicap, disability, economic status, familial status, or other arbitrary

factors.

Affordable Housing Requirement Include a percentage of affordable housing within all new development

that includes housing. Requiring that lower-income housing be

incorporated in every new housing development can helps reverse the

economic segregation trends within the city. This has a positive effect of

integrating the households of varying income. A grater variety of housing

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styles and density should be allowed to accommodate the housing units

required.

Low-Income Housing Development Support and assist the public and private sector in developing low-income

or subsidized housing for households that cannot compete in the market

for housing by using federal, state and local aid.

Few new housing units are developing that are affordable to low-income

household. Incentives are needed to lower or subsidize the cost of

developing new housing for low-income households. Local incentives may

include density bonuses, fee exemption, priority permit processing,

property tax deferral, increased option in housing type and inclusionary

zoning requirements.

Low-Income Housing Funding Sources

Support the development of low-income housing development funding

sources. Low-income housing development funding sources may include

community land trust, trust fund, mortgage revenue bonds, levies, or low-

income tax credits.

Building, Fire, Infrastructure, and Land Use Standards Review periodically and, when needed, revise building, fire, infrastructure

land use standards and requirements to ensure community standards are

implemented new or rehabilitated housing remains affordable.

Technology and community values are two examples of the many items

that can change rapidly overtime. City standards need to be reviewed

periodically to ensure that they are efficient, cost effective, reflect current

technology and maintain the goal of affordable housing. Infrastructure

standards, such as those for residential street, need to be evaluated

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against changing value and needs so that they reflect current desires

while also keeping housing affordable.

Partnerships to Increase Housing Opportunities

Create partnerships with public and private lending institutions to find

solutions that increase opportunities and reduce financial barriers for

builders and consumers of affordable lower-income housing. The city

should participate as a member or help facilitate partnerships that work

toward the development of solutions to affordable housing problem. This

may include working with institutions such as financial institutions.

Employer-Sponsored Housing

Provide incentives for employers to sponsor or develop affordable housing

in proximity to their place of employment. Providing incentives for

employers who desire to help their employees by providing housing that is

near the place of employment has many community benefits. Housing

should be available near employment areas in order to provide

transportation options.

Fair Housing

Promote compliance with fair housing laws. It is important to provide

information to the general public about their rights and obligations under

the fair housing laws and the grievance procedure available in case of

violations. The city should document and forward violations of state and

federal civil rights laws related to housing to the appropriate authorities.

Performance Standards

Create a process to review proposed development practices that try to

achieve the same results as existing development standards. Health and

safe concern must be preserved but flexibility in how to achieve the

desired standard is needed. A review process should be available to

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address a proposed development practice that is different from the

existing development standards.

4. Housing finance and subsidyHousing can be a sector for stimulus of the national economy. But housing

conditions are often seen to be worse than they should be, given the national

standards of living and societal values. For these reasons, almost all societies

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intervene in housing markets through an array of policies and subsidies

intended to stimulate housing production or consumption by various groups.

Housing institutions and subsidy programs are developed in most countries in

response to specific macro-economic or political situations but often remain in

place long after the specific conditions they were meant to address ceased to

be relevant. Generally, when new problems or frontiers in housing or housing

finance require new subsidy approaches, additional programs are added. The

housing subsidy and policy scene in many countries is, therefore, a complex

tapestry of often contradictory subsidy programs, regulations, and tax

measures, bewildering both policy makers and housing experts.

4.1 Why subsidize housing?Most governments have broad goals for the housing sector – e.g., “to

provide every household with a decent house and healthful living

environment”. The policymaker’s task is to refine the many political

pressures into a set of goals and rationales for these goals, and only then

move on to develop implementation strategies and options for achieving

these goals.

The most efficient options often turn out to involve changes in the

regulatory or policy framework, for example in housing finance, land

management and property rights systems. Others will require actual

subsidies, but often preceded or accompanied by policy change. This

section considers a variety of possible motivations for housing subsidies

and their implication for program design. Of course, these will differ for

each country depending on the many factors shaping national housing

policy. Several reasons for subsidy intervention in the housing sector

including;

1. Improving public health

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In most countries, the foremost reason to subsidize housing is to make

sure that housing conditions, including water and sanitation quality, will

not cause outbreaks of disease. In countries where large segments of

the population, particularly in urban areas, live in substandard housing

and neighborhoods deprived of adequate services, this is easily the

highest priority for housing subsidies. In more affluent societies where

substandard housing is no longer an important issue, the focus of

"public health" motivated programs is mostly on neighborhood

stabilization – crime prevention, social services, that improvement of

neighborhood assets.

When public health is the main objective of subsidies, programs need

to be designed to have the maximum impact on general physical and

social conditions, i.e., they have to reach large numbers of households,

both renters and owners, and focus on providing all households with

healthful housing conditions within a specific period of time. The

subsidies may be targeted to improvement of physical and social

services, and may include basic home-ownership options and support

for rental housing.

Public health oriented subsidies are seldom tied to mortgage finance,

since the beneficiary group often does not qualify for long-term loans.

However, subsidies may focus on support for consumer or micro-

finance lending to reach public health goals. 3 Of course, the society

benefits through a healthy political system, but the point here is that

any one analyzing or proposing significant subsidies must be aware

that such reallocations of resources involve power considerations

aside from the sorts of societal benefits discussed here.

2. Improving fairness, justice and social stability

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A second objective of housing subsidies is to improve the income or

wealth distribution in society. Housing subsidy is often used to redress

the sources of societal inequality (often referred to as "fairness")

because it is felt that housing conditions affect people’s opportunity to

improve their chances of success in life, e.g., having better transport to

job-opportunities, better infrastructure to provide electricity so kids can

complete homework, lower crime and fear in neighborhoods, better

access to good schools in other neighborhoods, better access to

housing finance, etcetera. In other words, housing subsidies may be

used to make sure that people have fair opportunities to improve their

lives.

.

Another and related objective of housing subsidies is to directly

address inequality in society through improving housing outcomes for

underserved households (referred to as "justice"). For example, slum

improvement programs are often designed to alleviate extreme poverty

as a matter of social justice. Many Housing Agencies and special

housing funds provide housing to civil servants or “workers” to

compensate for low wages.

Yet another, but related, reason to subsidize housing is to prevent

destabilizing social effects of poor housing and neighborhood

conditions. Political fears that these poor living conditions will lead to

social destabilization are certainly an important objective for housing

subsidies as well. Indeed, slum upgrading and other low-income

housing programs are often approved in the aftermath of political riots.

3. Overcome market inefficienciesA frequently stated objective of housing subsidies is "to increase the

supply of affordable housing". This vague statement must be further

examined to operationalize it.

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In many lower-income countries, the great majority of newly formed

households cannot afford the lowest priced house in the formal sector

housing market. This is particularly problematic in developing

economies where urban growth is predominantly driven by immigration

by rural households. Moreover, the proportion of households that can

afford newly constructed housing in most emerging and developing

economies is relatively small (recent calculations show that this figure

is around the 70th percentile of the income distribution in countries like

Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia).

As a consequence, only a small proportion of the requirement for new

housing can be fulfilled by new standard housing construction and the

subsequent filtering up of lower-income households into the vacated

houses. The only choice open to most newly formed households under

such conditions is to double up with relatives, or build a house in the

unauthorized sector.

4. Stimulating economy growthSome countries have used the housing sector to jumpstart the

economy after a recession or depression. Housing creates

employment not only in the housing construction industry but in

industries that provide building materials and furnishings for the house.

The reasoning is that this employment multiplier effect can mean that

housing subsidies will stimulate the economy relatively more than other

forms of government spending.

However, while this objective to subsidize housing is often promoted

by the housing industry, it can at best be a secondary objective for

most emerging economies. First, government budgets do not allow a

disproportionate allocation for the housing sector to be made. Second,

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housing finance and housing production systems in most emerging

economies are marred by inefficiencies and inequities, and housing

subsidy programs should foremost focus on the process of improving

the efficiency of markets and improving public health conditions rather

than on pouring large amounts of funds into an inefficient sector

4.2 Type of subsidiesA great variety of subsidy approaches can be applied to reach the

objectives set out in the previous section. There are international

“fashions” in subsidies as well as national preferences. Some countries

are more inclined to develop systems that stimulate private sector

production of houses, while others prefer to work more through

government or non-profit bodies.

Some countries use housing subsidies to bring all households to a

minimum housing consumption level, while others focus on subsidies for

higher cost housing and serve only a small proportion of deserving

households. However, there are some basic choices most policy-makers

have to make on the use of different types of subsidies to address specific

housing sector objectives. Here, we will provide a rationale as to why

certain types of subsidy would suite some situations better than others.

1. Demand-side or supply side subsidiesDemand side subsidies focus on increasing the willingness and the

ability of households to consume better housing or housing of a

particular type. Such household-focused subsidies are favored when

the objective of the subsidy is to improve fairness and justice in

housing or in society in general through the housing system.

Increasing the demand for housing can be done through tax-benefits

that lower the effective recurring cost of housing payments, through

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housing allowances or housing vouchers for rental or owner-occupied

housing, or through up-front grants tied to housing finance or savings

for housing. Finance-linked upfront subsidies can be applied to closing

costs, the down payment, the premium for private mortgage insurance,

or the loan amount. Subsidies can also pay for the education of

households in home-maintenance and mortgage credit systems.

Since the beneficiary makes the choice to buy or rent a particular

house, demand-side subsidies are considered more efficient than

supply-side subsidies, which are instead linked to specific housing

solutions or loans.

Supply-side programs subsidize the supply of housing directly in either

of two ways:

(i) Lowering the opportunity costs and risks for private non-profit

lenders or developers to deliver low / moderate income housing,

and

(ii) Direct government lending (or other tasks related to mortgage

finance) or government construction and management of

subsidized housing.

Some examples of supply-side subsidies are tax benefits for non-profit

or private developers, the provision of below-market funds for housing

loans, credit risk insurance or guarantee schemes, or the provision of

serviced land, infrastructure or housing.

2. Location or Household Specific SubsidiesAnother choice policymakers have to make is whether to concentrate

subsidies in specific locations or provide subsidies to specific individual

households. Again, the decision has much to do with the specific

objectives the subsidy program is to address.

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If the objective of the program is to ameliorate public health or improve

inequities in housing conditions, a neighborhood-by-neighborhood

slum or squatter improvement approach is likely to be the most

efficient.

If the concern is to address societal inequities through housing

subsidies (justice), the best option, at least theoretically, is to provide

all qualifying households a housing allowance to be used for housing

of their choice. Equally, when the aim is to give low income households

access to the same housing related opportunities as higher income

households (fairness), mixing of low- and higher income households

may be a preferred strategy, and vouchers or deliberate scatter-site

supply programs could be most effective

3. Entitlements or Rational/Allocated SubsidiesAnother important question is: should all households qualifying for a

housing subsidy receive it? The simple answer to this question is that

the housing budget of emerging economies (and increasingly of OECD

countries) can seldom carry universal housing subsidy programs and

very few new programs are created that are structured as an

entitlement. The more complex answer is that, even if budget

allocations would be plentiful, it will depend on the ultimate objective of

the subsidy program whether all qualifying households should actually

obtain one.

When the purpose is to redistribute income through subsidies, an

entitlement program may be considered, but even then there may be

philosophical reasons not to do so. For example, the US government

has not been in favor of providing housing voucher subsidies as an

entitlement, while many Northern European countries have a traditional

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affinity towards entitlement housing voucher programs as a way to

redistribute income.

When the objective of the housing subsidy is to gradually get the

private sector to make down-market loans, it may be undesirable or

unnecessary to give all qualifying households a subsidy in order to

reach that goal.

4. Linking subsidies to Housing FinanceThere are many ways to subsidize housing: through the production

side (e.g., land grants, infrastructure), through finance (e.g.,

subsidizing construction loans, permanent loans, investor guarantees),

through operating expenses (e.g., public or employee housing, housing

allowances, heat and utilities), real estate tax deductions (e.g., tax

abatement, tax caps, income tax credits/deduction for homeowners),

and by price controls (e.g., rent control).

Many housing subsidies are in one way or another linked to housing

finance, even if they do not subsidize finance directly. There are

several important reason for the popularity of finance-linked subsidies:

4.3 Housing Loan SchemeThe scheme was implemented through a trust account called The Housing

Loan Fund for the lower income group with the rolling capital of RM70

million. The fund was approved under the Financial Procedure Act 1957

(Amendment 1972) on 17th December 1975 and come into effect in 1976.

The purpose of the scheme is to allow the lower income group without

other borrowing means to build or buy fully built low-cost houses to

improve their standard of living.

Rationale

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This scheme is an effort by the Government to help the lower income

group to finance the cost of building a house so that they could at least

have basic housing accommodation. With this facility the Government

would be able to provide suitable and satisfactory housing accommodation

to raise the standard of living of this group.

Approach This loan scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Local

Government and supported by the revolving fund of the Housing Loan

Fund for the lower income group. It deals directly with the borrowers. The

maximum loan amount is RM20,000 with the first RM10,000 being

exempted from service charges while a four (4) per cent service charge is

levied on the subsequent RM10,000.

Target groups for the scheme are the households with a combined income

of between RM500 and RM1,200 that are not eligible for any other loan

facility. The maximum loan amount is RM20,000 with the first RM10,000

being exempted from service charge while a four percents service charge

is levied on the subsequent RM10.000

Eligibility Borrower must be a Malaysian citizen and between the age of 18

and 48.

Maximum amount is RM20,000

Loan period between 5 and 20 years

Service charge; first RM10,000 is exempted while a four percents

service charge is levied on the subsequent RM10,000.

Combine household income between RM500 and RM1,200.

The purpose of loan is to build a new house with a cost not

exceeding RM25,000 or to buy a fully built low-cost house

according to the price of such houses in the area/location.

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For build a house, the borrower must own a piece of land for the

site to be use as security.

For fully built low-cost house, the and the house must be used as

mortgage.

The borrower is not an employee of the government nor of a

corporatise body or financial institution. The borrower does not own a house.

5. Emergency evacuation and the temporary accommodation of displaced populations.

Emergency evacuation is the movement of persons from a dangerous place

due to the threat or occurrence of a disastrous event. Examples are the

evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire and the evacuation of a

district because of a flood or bombardment or an evacuation from a city due

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to a hurricane. In situations involving hazardous materials or possible

contamination, evacuees may be decontaminated prior to being transported

out of the contaminated area.

Evacuation is not a new concept for emergency planners. Over the years there have been countless successful evacuations, but in recent years the context for evacuation planning has changed. With climate change and building taking place on flood plains, risks from flooding have increased.

The purpose of evacuation is to move people, and where appropriate other living creatures, away from an actual or potential danger to a safer place. For this to happen safely there need to be plans not just for alerting people and moving them, but also plans to shelter and support them through to their eventual return and recovery.

The need to provide humanitarian and other assistance, particularly to those with special requirements, requires careful consideration and planning. The diagram below shows the stages of evacuation and includes ‘dispersal’ – a form of evacuation in which people are simply directed to move away from a particular location without the need for temporary accommodation. The activity of warning and informing the public should also run throughout the process.

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5.1 Reasons for evacuation Evacuations may be carried out before, during or after natural disasters

such as:

eruptions of volcanoes, cyclones floods, or Earthquakes.

Other reasons include:

military attacks, industrial accidents, nuclear accident traffic accidents, including train or aviation accidents, fire, bombings, terrorist attacks military battles viral outbreak

Evacuation and shelter planning should focus on supporting the public

throughout the incident, until they return home. Planners need to take into

account:

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5.2 Evacuation and shelter planning

5.2.1 Transporting people and traffic management Transport planning, including traffic management and modeling, is critical. Evacuation planners need to work closely with transport colleagues, including those in the private sector, to develop workable joined-up plans.

5.2.2 Shelter and rest centre accommodation Co-ordination of rest centre accommodation, as well as arrangements

to get people to the rest centre, is a local authority responsibility.

Arrangements will in many cases be well established. Examples of

accommodation used for rest centres by local authorities include

universities, schools, residential colleges and sports facilities/arenas.

The logistical challenges of providing effective sheltering facilities

should not be underestimated. Facilities may need to include washing,

feeding, childcare and medical (including triage) arrangements, as well

as meeting the special needs of evacuees, including their mobility and

cultural needs. Large commercial venues are likely already to have

extensive security, catering and other arrangements which may prove

valuable for local authorities in running a rest centre.

5.2.3 Supporting people sheltering in situ The most effective way in which people can shelter depends on the

scenario. The Preparing for Emergencies website and booklet provide

information for the public on sheltering in situ, whether at home or

elsewhere (eg at school or at work). The Security Service publication

Protecting against Terrorism also provides useful guidance on

evacuating from premises/buildings because of a terrorist incident. The

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latter outlines some of the characteristics of the most ‘protected

spaces’ at home or in the workplace

5.2.4 Assisting groups with specific needs Being evacuated can be a disturbing experience for all involved. For a

significant proportion of people the experience can be potentially very

serious because it removes them from established support

mechanisms or exposes particular vulnerabilities. Evacuation planning

should establish in advance how these individuals will be identified and

assisted so that in an evacuation situation they are not exposed to

excessive risk.

There are other individuals or groups that are not vulnerable but may

require special care and attention. Evacuation planners need to

consider their potential special requirements. Any emergency in the UK

is likely to involve a number of different faith, religious, cultural and

ethnic minority communities. These could be, for example, dietary (eg

kosher food), cultural (eg unisex facilities) or religious (eg need for

prayer facilities). On a similar note, the movement of people from one

part of the country to another may create community tensions. The

police and local authority should undertake a community impact

assessment to inform any decision to move large groups of people to

different communities.

5.2.5 Developing a multi-agency crime prevention strategyConvincing the public that their property will be safeguarded in their

absence can be essential in persuading them to evacuate in an

emergency. As paragraph 5.6 points out, however, plans should

assume limited resources within the police to provide for the protection

of vacated homes and businesses. Evacuation plans should therefore

incorporate plans for law and order. These might include:

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developing a multi-agency crime prevention strategy;

communication strategies both to reassure homeowners and to

deter potential law breakers (including during the return and

recovery stages);

highly visible enforcement strategies such as police stop checks

to provide public reassurance; and

making full use of other resources in the area that might

supplement the police’s activities eg security firms employed by

local businesses, community groups etc.

5.2.6 Pets and livestock It should be assumed that many people will resist any advice to leave

pets and sometimes livestock behind, and that a small percentage will

refuse to evacuate unless the needs of their animals are met.

Arrangements to care for animals therefore need to be built into

evacuation plans.

5.2.7 Protecting items of cultural interest and high value Proportionate measures should be taken by the person or organization

responsible for the valuable item/asset (eg items of personal, religious,

cultural or national significance) to insure, protect and preserve them.

The removal of items/assets from evacuated buildings should not be

undertaken if it places people in danger. The police are likely to have a

role in allowing access to such buildings following evacuation.

5.3 Roles and responsibilities Successful evacuation and shelter requires a well co-ordinated multi-

agency response. A large number of organizations must work effectively

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together to ensure that people advised to leave their homes or other

locations remain supported and protected until they can safely return.

While local communities do not have a formal role or responsibility for

evacuation or shelter, they perform an important role in responding to, and

recovering from, an emergency. It is important, therefore, that local

authorities engage and communicate with their public and communities

about what they should, and can, do in an evacuation to help themselves

and others.

5.3.1 Police In an evacuation situation, the focus of the police will be on saving and

protecting life. It is normally the police who recommend whether or not

to evacuate and define the area to be evacuated in consultation with

key stakeholders (though for small-scale incidents, the decision to

evacuate may be taken by the person in charge of any building/facility

involved). Police should contact the local authority as early as possible,

so that local authorities can implement plans for their areas of

responsibility. These include arrangements for transport of people and

rest centres. Failure to contact the local authority early on can slow the

evacuation and may later result in confusion over financial

responsibilities.

5.3.2Fire and Rescue ServiceThe Fire Rescue Service (FRS) would be among the first people to arrive at the site. The Service also has the ability to mobilize large numbers of firefighters and equipment rapidly. For this reason they have, accepted responsibility for the management of public mass decontamination in the event of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) attack. The New Dimension programme has already delivered new

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equipment and procedures to enable decontamination of large numbers of the public at the site of a CBRN incident. In the event of localized flooding, large-scale flooding of underground facilities or large-scale fire, the transportation of large quantities of water may be required. Supplementary equipment, procedures and training to provide a risk-based tiered response, including rescue from still and flowing water, may be provided by the FRS in partnership with other emergency responders.

FRS can provide the following capabilities: Verifying shelter plans to make sure that they are ‘fire

safe’; Using decontamination units during an evacuation; Search and rescue capabilities for people andanimals in

the urban and water environments; Using boats and high-pressure pumps during a flood; and Making an area safe for returning people (with the final

decision being made by the multi-agency Gold Commander).

5.3.3Ambulance ServiceAmbulance Services provide an accident and emergency service (to respond to 999 calls) and patient transport services for routine out-patients. In the event of an emergency, ambulance trusts will implement their agreed major incident plan. They will have a key role in responding to the needs of human casualties and provide an interface with the NHS. Ambulance services should be ready to implement mutual aid agreements and call on voluntary sector capability to augment capacity. Resources will be focused on triaging,

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treating and transporting casualties in the immediate aftermath of any major incident. Emergency planners should therefore not rely on the Ambulance Service to provide transport for vulnerable people in the community or non-critical patients to be evacuated from hospitals, where alternative non-specialized means of transport would suffice. For these groups of people, the NHS and local authorities (especially social services) will need to work in partnership to allow their transfer to a place of safety. This is because whilst transport (eg provision of coaches) may be accessed through emergency planning units of local authorities, the NHS will need to provide any medical supervision required during the evacuation process (for example, a paramedic and appropriate equipment for the coaches).

5.3.4Local authoritiesLocal authorities are responsible for co-ordinating welfare support to their communities in the event of an emergency and play an important leadership role, which includes:

providing temporary shelter (rest centres) including any transport arrangements needed to help

people get to and from these; providing information from the electoral roll to police

casualty bureaux to assist in accounting for evacuees ensuring suitable arrangements are in place to meet

welfare needs; feeding and providing refreshment for those in temporary

shelter;

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establishing arrangements for local GPs to issue emergency prescriptions at rest centres;70

Exercising evacuation plans, providing rest centres, transport to rest centres and welfare support (including food and medical), leading on rehabilitation and long-term welfare support for survivors. Also responsible for the safety and preparedness of schools, children’s homes, public highways that are not motorways or major trunk roads and the recovery phase.

Local authorities have general powers to provide temporary shelter in

the form of rest centres for people who have been temporarily

evacuated from their homes because of an emergency. To believe

that there is a danger of loss of, or damage to, the applicant’s personal

property because the applicant is unable to protect it – and no other

suitable arrangements have been made.

5.3.5Voluntary and community sectorThe voluntary and community sectors can perform a wide variety of important operational and support roles ranging from assistance for animals, assistance with rest centres, provision of food and refreshment, practical and emotional support, equipment, training and exercising. Community groups and leaders can promote self-help within affected communities and for vulnerable community members. Early engagement of voluntary and community groups in evacuation planning will enable LRFs to make the most of the capabilities offered by these local groups. As Emergency Response and Recovery sets out, LRFs are obliged to ‘have regard’ to the voluntary sector in their planning under the

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Civil Contingencies Act 2004.76 They should have a voluntary and community sector group through which they can effectively engage with this large and diverse sector.

5.3.6Health ServicesThe functions of health team to providing primary care for the evacuated population. Working with local authorities to identify and support the vulnerable. NHS Trusts plan for the evacuation of hospitals and Strategic Health Authorities plan for provision of healthcare to refugees. These should be aligned with the hospital’s major incident plans. The total evacuation of a hospital or mental health facility would, however, be considered only under extreme circumstances. In such circumstances the decision to evacuate would be made locally taking into account: The overall risk to patients; Appropriate, safe transport and patient-tracking

mechanisms; and A pre-planned and suitably equipped destination.

5.3.7Environment AgencyThe EA is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment. As an environmental regulator, with a wide range of roles and responsibilities, it responds to many different types of incident affecting the natural environment, human health or property. The EA’s main priorities at incidents are to: Prevent or minimise the impact of the incident; Investigate the cause of the incident and consider

enforcement action; and

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Seek remediation, clean-up or restoration of the environment.

6 Agency Role

6.1 The role of Federal Government

ObjectiveThe general welfare and security of the nation and the health and living

standards of its people require housing production and related community

development to:

correct the housing shortage

eliminate substandard and other inadequate housing

provide decent homes and suitable living environment

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government were given the

responsibility of facilitating the steps leading to this national objective.

They were to do so to encouraging and assisting in the production of

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housing of sound standards of design, construction, livability and size,

reducing the cost without sacrificing standards;

Using new design, material, techniques and methods of

residential construction.

Developing well-planned integrated residential neighborhoods.

Stabilizing the housing industry.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government also plays the vital

advisory role and, through the Town and Country Planning Act 1976,

provides the policies and framework for urban planning by considering

land allocation, population density, layout plans and overall physical

development. The Ministry also enforces its policies through various other

Acts such as Local Government Act 1976; Street, Drainage and Building

Act 1974; Town Planning Act 1995; Housing Developers (Control and

Licensing) Act 1966; Strata Tittles Act 1985; Fire Services Act 1988 and

Sewerage Services Act 1993.

6.2The role of local government, A local government area has diverse population, demographics, physical

size and level of urbanization, resources and infrastructure. Where the

thrust of housing policy relates primarily to council’s urban planning

functions, it may be most suitable to identify housing objectives and

strategies within council’s planning instruments.

The following table summarizes various local government roles and

responsibilities in relationship to housing outcomes in the community.

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Local government role

Relationship to housing outcomes

Corporate planning

Resource allocation

May include:

  council resource allocation to support housing initiatives

  different rates and charges for low-cost or community housing providers

  grants to local housing groups or initiatives

Urban Planning

Land use zoning   availability of residential land

  location of housing in relation to transport, services, and employment opportunities

  cost/value of residential land

  configuration of residential development, density

Setting development controls

  appropriateness of housing for community needs (household size, adaptability to life stage) and community expectations (amenity, cultural heritage protection)

  cost of new housing and renovations

  environmental impact of housing

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  protection of existing housing stock

Development application processes

  efficiency of approval processes

  consideration of housing impacts as part of social and economic impact assessment for development proposals

Infrastructure planning

Levying contributions for infrastructure

  cost of housing

Planning and providing infrastructure

  timely availability of appropriate services

  value of housing

Local government role

Relationship to housing outcomes

Social Planning

Preparation of Social Plan

  identify community housing needs regarding access, equity, participation and rights (many councils include a specific housing needs assessment and identify strategies to address these housing needs)

Provision of local community services

  support groups with particular housing needs (youth, homeless people, the aged)

  support people to remain in existing housing

  coordinate support, provide access to information about available services

Research   maintain data on local housing needs

Integrated community building activities

Master planning   work with private/public developers to encourage appropriately designed and affordable housing and address diverse community needs in urban release or renewal areas

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  ensure this housing is located near services, transport, and employment opportunities

Neighborhood renewal

  work with private/public property owners, developers, and residents to enhance amenity, appropriateness, safety and sense of community in residential areas, through physical design and community building.

6.3 Other function 0f a local government, Include;

1. Infrastructure Built and maintain;

Road

Road furniture

Drainage

Market

2. Town services Solid waste Management

Street cleaning

Grass cutting

Maintain the premises and public utility

Municipal Council

District Council

Provide the public places

Landscaping

3. Urban Health Service.

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Diseases control

Food safety and quality Control

Vector control

Water quality

Nuisance control

Disaster control

6.4 Enabling role in relation to other organizations / agencies.

Local housing strategies should be closely linked to council’s other

planning responsibilities and processes. It may not even be necessary to

prepare a separate Local Housing Strategy. Rather, elements of the

strategy might be incorporated within council’s existing strategic

processes and plans:

A local

social planning process could include a focus on housing needs

and responses.

A local

environmental study to support a land use planning process

should include an analysis of potential residential land capacity

and constraints; population trends and corresponding housing

needs; and sustainable residential design appropriate to the

local context.

A council’s statutory land-use plans could provide legal support

for local housing objectives, by incorporating them in the overall

aims of the plan, and by including specific mechanisms to

achieve them through the planning process.

A local economic strategy could develop mechanisms to attract

appropriate workers or new residents through specific housing

policies, such as housing for retirees, rural residential housing,

or employee housing.·

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Council’s corporate plan may need to include provisions to

support and operationalise housing related initiatives

A combination of these approaches, tailored to the

circumstances of your council, is likely to be appropriate.

However, to ensure that council’s specific housing objectives

and initiatives are not ‘lost’, it is important to regularly review

and update the key elements of the housing strategy.

6.5 Prioritizations programme

Low Cost Housing The basic importance is the public sector low-cost housing programme

through which both the Federal and State Governments have co-operated

to implement numerous low-cost housing projects. In this undertaking the

State Governments identify and allocate suitable lands, assisted by the

Ministry's National Housing Department in tender procedures and the

supervision of the physical implementation of housing projects. It is the

State Governments

The 30% low cost housing quota has been imposed by the government

since 15th August 1982 as a social obligation by developers to

complement the efforts of the government to provide affordable housing

for all. All housing projects have to allocate at least 30% of houses as low

cost units and developers cross subsidize the cost of building these low

cost units from the sale of higher cost units.

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7. Enforcement and Regulation

7.1 Enforcement of housing and environmental standards,

Legal requirementEach planning agency shall prepare the comprehensive, long term

General Plan for the physical development. Each local government is

required to develop a Housing Element. Each element must contain a

needs assessment, goals, objectives, policies, and an implementation

program. Local Government Act 1976 is an act to revise and consolidate

the laws relating local government.

Housing Code EnforcementThere are many problems related to the housing code enforcements.

These include absentee landlords, properties belonging to estates,

effective court procedures, tenant political support, proper personnel, code

enforcement and relocation of families.

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One of difficulties of code enforcement is that when property is found to be

unfit for human habitation, a family must be relocated. Necessary

assistance must be provided to help this family located in shelter that is

acceptable for proper living.

In some areas, the properties involved are so numerous that it becomes

very difficult to remove families from substandard housing and to relocate

them to other area. Either the new housing is unavailable or the family is

unable to live its normal life in a new situation.

7.2Regulation of housing management Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171)

Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133)

Uniform Building By Law 1984

Town and Country Act 1976 (Act 172)

By Law under Local Government Act 1976

Town Planners Act 1995 (Act 538)

Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333)

Control of Rent Act 1996 (Act 363)

Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 (Act

118)

Refuse Collection, Removal and Disposal By-laws

Housing Development ( Control and Licensing ) Regulation,

1989

Housing Development ( Housing Developers Account )

Regulations, 1991

7.3 Agencies involve in the development of housing. Besides State Governments, some other Government agencies are also

active in the provision of housing. The UDA Holdings Sdn Bhd, a

corporatised former statutory body, various State Economic Development

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Corporations, Land and Regional Development Authorities are among

agencies which also undertake housing development projects. However,

their operations are mainly in the urban and semi-urban areas. In addition,

the Government also encourages various co-operatives to build and sell

houses to their members as well as to the public. To facilitate this, the

Housing Developers Act exempts co-operative societies and Government

Agencies engaged in housing development from having to obtain housing

developer's license and sales and advertising permits.

Assessment

One written assignment 20%

Two class test 20%

Final Examination 60%

Total 100%

Recommended Text

1. Jill Stewart (2001), : Environment Health and Housing, Spon Press,

London; New York

References

1. Herman Koren, Michael Bisesi., (2003), : Handbook of Environmental

Health (vol.1 & 2), Boca Raton, London, New York, : Lewis Publishers.

2. G.Tyler Miller, Jr (2005), Living in the Environment, 14th Edition, Thomson

Books/Cole.

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3. Thad Godish (2001) Indoor Air Environment Quality, Boca Raton,Fla,:

Lewis Publisher

4. United State Environmental Agency; Indoor Environment Division, :A Brief

Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home; Washinton, DC (1200

Pennsylvania AVE., Washington 20460), US.

5. Ministry Hosing and Local Government; The national urbanization policy;

2006-2010.

6. Evacuation and Shelter Guidance; Non-statutory guidance to complement

Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Response & Recovery.

Printed: October 2006 © Crown copyright 2006, ISBN: 0 7115 0477 6.

A. COURSE WORK - Weighting (40%)

1. Essay / Write-Up Assignments – Weighting 20%

You are asked to write an essay of between 2000 – 2500 words

reviewing the housing and residential development of a named :-

“The Impacts of housing development to the environment and human health”

Assessment Submission Date Weighting

Essay /

Write-up

To be Confirmed 20 %

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2. Class Examination Assessment – Weighting 20%

Your class test will be held in two sessions and consist of TWO Parts. Part A class test will be held somewhere in February. Part

B will be held in March. You have to answer mainly long and short

question based on the module content. Part A and B will be worth

10% each.

B. Final Examination Assessment – Weighting 60%

Your understanding of the material contained in this module will be

assessed in a 3 hour examination. You have to answer mainly long and

short question and some essay-type questions based on the module

content. There will be no previous year exam papers for this module as it

is a new program for this semester. You are encouraged to go to the

main campus Library in Shah Alam to get the exam samples.

Please note that in the time available, lectures can only present a

summary framework of the topics in this module. Typically, you should

spend an hour of private study for every hour of formal class contact. If

you are given references referring to material covered in lectures, make

sure you read them, it is unlikely that you will attain more than a lower

second degree in the exam if you just regurgitate lecture notes. Do not

just photocopy material “to read later” (i.e the night before the exam),

you will gain most enjoyment and satisfaction from this module if you

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consistently set aside time for private study of material contained in

lectures as the module progresses.

MODULE DESCRIPTION: HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Module Tutor (Abd. Rahim bin Dal)

Module tutor is responsible for the individual timetabling and content of the

module. You will be providing with the necessary background information for

the module. If you have any specific problems regarding the content or

expectations from the given module, please discuss with the module tutor.

Assignment Structure and Timetable

In general, most modules are divided with a 40% weighting on coursework

and 60% on final examination. The coursework should compile of at least one

piece of work, sometimes two. As a guideline 10% is worth about 1000 to

1500 words or 8 – 10 hours work (maximum)

Your responsibilities and Our Expectation

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You are expected to spend a minimum of 39 hours working on this module.

The time includes the scheduled lectures, private study, group discussion,

report writing etc, and thus you should put in at least 2 hours of private study

time each week.

You should attend all scheduled seminars. Attendance at seminars is not

mandatory.

Our program and Malaysian Environmental Health Association (MAEH) runs

a series of other well-publ

icised Seminars or Conference to which you are warmly invited. Your

University life should be fun! Make it a good balance between things

academic and things non-academic. Join in what you can and manage your

time carefully.

Plagarism

It is important to remember that it is a university-wide assignment offence to copy

material directly from any reference source (books or journals) without correct

citation. Failure to do this may result the student obtaining zero for that particular

assignment.

What’s Next

During your study in this Program, time management is going to be more important

than ever. While you workload will be heavier than the final year, it becomes

increasingly important to produce high quality assignments. The attendance to

seminars, workshops, etc is absolutely paramount in order to :

1. Provide you with the necessary material and training which will be expected

from you by future employers.

2. Obviously essential to pass your examinations.

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3. Provide additional material which may be used in written assignments.

One essential point to remember is that because you’re reading Environmental Health and Safety at honours level, this means that studying outside the lectures, practicals, etc is critically important in order to pass. Reading additional beyond that listed in handouts or lectures is important if you wish to obtain a good honours degree.

MARA UNIVERSITY of TECHNOLOGY (UiTM)Faculty of Health Sciences

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT FORM

Please complete the form below and staple / attach it securely to the front of

your assignment before passing in the assignment box.

NAME :

Please print

AWARD (Course)

Year :

NAME OF MODULE :

ASSIGNMENT TITLE / DESCRIPTION :

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NAME OF TUTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSIGNMENT : Abd. Rahim bin Dal

DATE ASSIGNMENT DUE : DATE ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED :

DATE RECEIVED :

This submitted coursework is my work, it contains no unreferenced verbatim extracts from the works of others and it has not (either in whole or in part) been submitted towards the award of any other qualification either at UiTM or elsewhere.

Signed ……………………. Date ………………………….

EXAM SPECIMENS

1. Environmental scientists consistently prioritize the indoor environment as the source of significant public health hazards. Explain SEVEN steps to a healthier habitat in the home.

(15 marks)

2. Explain briefly the activities currently enforced by the government agencies related to the residential housing.

(10 mark)

3. The Governments vision in housing development is to provide the sufficient and affordable housing for all income levels of population. Discuss the characteristics of the affordable housing.

(20 marks)

4. Explain the concept of healthy, safe or non toxic housing which is a requirement for people with health conditions such as severe allergies or multiple chemicals sensitivity.

(15 marks)

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5. Many different factors influenced the need to own a house and it is necessary for the local authority to consider those factors. Discuss this statement.

(10 marks)

6. Discuss the basic requirements in the government housing policy.

(15 marks)

7. The best way to dispose the household hazardous waste is by practicing the 6R methods. Explain and give example of the 6R method.

(10 marks)

8. Explain the concept of healthy, safe or non toxic housing which is a requirement for people with health conditions such as severe allergies or multiple chemicals sensitivity.

(15 marks)

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