SHAH ALAM, Nov 3 — Single individuals account for 45 per cent of the 179,250 Rumah Selangorku applicants recorded as of April, said state housing executive councillor Datuk Borhan Aman Shah.
He said the category comprised 80,662 applicants, while another 84,248, or 47 per cent, were married, reflecting strong demand for affordable housing among young people.
"Demand for affordable housing is also dominated by young people, with 92 per cent of all applicants aged below 40.
"Of these, 100,380 applicants, or 56 per cent, are aged between 18 and 29, while 64,530, or 36 per cent, are aged between 30 and 39," he told Media Selangor.
According to Borhan, financial constraints, including upfront costs such as down payments, existing financial commitments and eligibility requirements, are among the main challenges young people face in owning a home.
To address these challenges, he said the state government offers the Smart Sewa Scheme as an alternative, allowing eligible individuals to rent homes at below-market rates for periods ranging from two to five years.
"Under the rent-and-save concept, tenants who meet the requirements can receive a refund equivalent to 30 per cent of the total net rent paid upon completing their tenancy period.
"The refund can be used to build savings, including for down payments and other homeownership-related expenses," he said.
Borhan said 41 Smart Sewa participants had also applied to purchase Rumah Selangorku units, with 40 receiving offers, subject to meeting financial institutions' loan eligibility requirements.
He said factors such as proximity to employment centres, land-use planning and access to public transport were considered to ensure affordable housing developments met the needs of working residents.
"This includes developing affordable housing units in transit-oriented development areas, such as those along Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines and in major towns across Selangor," he said.
Meanwhile, Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS) acting executive director Mohd Hafiz Hassan said house prices, down payments and financial commitments were preventing many young people from purchasing homes.
He said average house prices exceeding RM400,000 placed a heavy financial burden on those just starting out in life, particularly as they also needed to meet other expenses, including vehicle purchases.
"That is why the State Government, through LPHS, is working to provide affordable housing such as Rumah Selangorku to help these groups own their homes," he said.
He explained that Rumah Selangorku units were reasonably priced and built in locations with access to public transport and various daily amenities.
"When we plan to build Rumah Selangorku developments, we ensure the surrounding areas are supported by various facilities that make life more convenient for residents," he said.
According to Mohd Hafiz, apartments and serviced apartments are also being developed in urban areas to increase the supply of affordable housing without driving up costs excessively.
Under the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), the state aims to build 200,000 affordable housing units through the Rumah Selangorku Harapan and Idaman initiatives by 2030.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said 64,188 units had been completed so far, while another 69,014 were under construction, bringing the total to 133,202 units.
