User-initiated extensions as housing supply: A study of government-built low-cost housing estates in Malaysia

In this study of housing estates around Kuala Lumpur, we examine the extens ion (transformation) by households to government-built dwellings. These hou seholds mostly have higher incomes than the target group and begin to exten d almost as soon as they move in. Extensions are generally of a high standa rd and more appropriate for the households than the original buildings. The original planned homes are only the beginning of the development of the ar ea, so it makes sense to provide generous plots to facilitate extension and to avoid the constricted plots and narrow frontages of some current design s.