DETERMINANTS OF RESIDENTIAL SATISFACTION TOWARDS ‘SIRI SARA UYANA’ GOVERNMENT HOUSING COMPLEX IN COLOMBO DISTRICT

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of socio-demographic characteristics, physical features of the house, neighbourhood facilities, and maintenance services on the residential satisfaction of the occupants in the ‘Siri Sara Uyana’ government housing complex in the Colombo district. This housing unit consists of 430 occupants and among them, only 150 respondents were randomly selected through a structured questionnaire in the study. The data were collected from February to April 2020 and were analyzed using frequency and ordered probit model. The frequency of residential satisfaction revealed that 61.33 percent of the occupants who live in the housing apartment were not satisfied, whereas 27.33 percent of them were satisfied, followed by only 11.33 percent of them being satisfied neutrally. The results of the ordered probit model showed that the number of family members significantly impacts residential satisfaction. Among the maintenance facilities, plumbing services, corridor maintenance, cleaning services, and elevator facilities significantly impact residential satisfaction. Accessibility to the market, schools and parking were identified as significant factors in the neighbourhood. Further, the size of the bedroom, bathroom and electrical installation were found as physical features that significantly impact residential satisfaction. The findings of the study provide an understanding of the critical factors that facilitate satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the occupants which can play a serious part in making successful housing policies in the future.