Housing needs, housing conditions and housing aspirations of one-person households in Hong Kong

Abstract

There is a noticeable raise in the population of one-person households (OPH) in Hong Kong over the past 30 years. However, the government has few supports to the housing need of the OPH. Most of the OPH are facing serious housing problem that they are remain in the private housing market. Most of them have to pay high rent or live in sub-divided units. The housing need of OPH, especially non-elderly OPH, is always being left out in the society. This study is to explore the housing needs, housing conditions and housing aspirations of prime adults OPH and middle-aged OPH of Hong Kong. The differences of the housing needs, housing conditions and housing aspirations between these two different age groups would be compared in the study. Besides, possible housing policies which help the prime adults OPH and middle-aged OPH in fulfilling their housing needs or helping them to achieve their housing aspirations would be suggested. Survey would be used to collect the opinions of the prime adults and middle-aged OPH. A total of 182 valid data were used in data analysis and the housing needs, housing conditions and housing aspirations between the two age groups are found to be different. At the end, some suggestions on the housing policy for the prime adults OPH and middle-aged OPH are suggested.