KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) urged the government to conduct a national housing survey in order to develop measures for a steady supply of housing at affordable prices.

Its research director, Dr Suraya Ismail said the survey would provide guidance to federal and state government, as well as local authorities to plan housing programmes at mukim level based on effective demand and land suitability.

"The survey should include demand-side analysis, covering the distinct demographic patterns whether mukims consist predominantly of young dependents and families, working populations or retirees, and income.

"On supply-side analysis, a land suitability assessment should be done including the current land-use patterns and zones," she said during a forum 'Making Housing Affordable' conducted by KRI in conjuction with World Urban Forum 9 (WUF9) here, today.

She said currently there was data available to undertake a supply-side housing land and suitability model but the demand-side data was limited.

"Both sets of demand and supply conditions could then be analysed to determine the need and policy appropriate at each state and district level.

"Among the possible outputs of the survey are population forecasts, housing demand range, migration patterns, household size by housing type, social housing against social economic variables, and land suitability for different housing types," she said.

Suraya suggested that the survey is best undertaken by the Federal Town and Country Planning Department (JPBD) and the National Housing Department (JPN).

"The information collected through the survey will also provide the general public with the requisite knowledge to make better house-buying decisions.

"As housing consumes a significant proportion of their household incomes, the public needs to be able to plan for the purchase and to choose between different types of houses at different prices, which in turn will lead to better financial planning on their part as well," she said. - BERNAMA