Livability

Summary

General
The livability survey was announced during the first half of November 2010, via an e-mail link. A total of 1,260 respondents filled in the questionnaire. The response was 32.9% (in 2009: 29.6%).

The assessment of Dutch respondents for total livability averaged 7.4 (in 2009: 7.2) and those of international respondents, 6.7 (in 2009: 6.6). Idealis considers livability in a complex good if a majority of the tenants (at least 70%) feel comfortable and safe. A large majority of the respondents (79%) gave a score of 7 or higher to total livability of the complexes in which they live. (In 2009, the figure was 77.5 %.)

Aspects of livability
For most aspects, the average scores were between 6.5 and 7.5. Aspects that scored the highest were safety inside the complex (8.0), safety in the immediate vicinity of the complex (7.7) and little or no inconvenience on the corridor or in the housing (7.6).

Our goal was to achieve an average minimum score of 6.0 for all separate questions/subjects. There were three aspects with lower average scores than 6.0. The lowest score concerned information about how to get support (and who to contact) at Idealis regarding inconvenience (4.3). Other relatively low scores went to the assessment of support and Idealis' approach to dealing with inconvenience (5.2) and the assessment of the bicycle sheds/racks (5.9).

Livability per complex
Dutch respondents gave the highest scores for total livability to the Burgtstraat complex (8.2), Droevendaal (8.1) and Marijkeweg (7.6). The lowest scores for total livability went to Walstraat (6.8), Langenhorst (6.8) and Arnold Koningstraat (7.0). International respondents gave Droevendaal the highest score (8.2) and Bornsesteeg, the lowest (6.2).

The scores could vary widely per aspect among the various complexes. When a complex receives an unusually low score for a particular aspect, the highest scoring complexes on that aspect could provide an indication of how improvements could be made. There will be a discussion of the complex scores with tenant representatives, caretakers and Housing Services staff.

Areas of attention for 2011

Social control
Many tenants are not certain how and who they should approach at Idealis for support in cases of inconvenience caused by co-tenants. Idealis views contacts between tenants and the caretaker as the most important link for dealing with inconvenience, vandalism and the like. Below is a list of some important items:
  • the responsibility of tenants to call other tenants to account for unwanted behavior;
  • contact between tenants and caretaker to take a coordinated approach, where necessary
  • Idealis is ultimately responsible for putting an end to serious inconvenience.
An information board has now been placed on all corridors, which also contains information about social control. The goal of the 2011 year-end survey is to achieve an average assessment of 6.0 for familiarity and appreciation of the approach taken to deal with inconvenience and vandalism.

In 2011, in consultation with the Housing Department, a staff member of Communication and PR will review ways of improving the information provided to tenants about social control. The SFO tenant representatives will also be consulted about the form and content of this information.

Bicycle sheds
Bicycle sheds are an important point of attention in student housing. In the supplementary comments and suggestions for improvement from respondents, the bicycle sheds/racks received frequent mention. Starting in 2010, all bicycles designated by Idealis as wrecks will be collected by Re-bike. This is a project of the re-integration-orientated Voorwerk Foundation, whereby bicycles are repaired and parts, reused.

In 2010, Idealis took stock of the bicycle sheds/racks at the student complexes and identified the bottlenecks.

Implementation of improvements in bicycle management will take place partially in 2011 and partially in 2012. This will entail an investment for 2011 of around €155,000 and for 2012, €128,000, excluding VAT.