A recent survey has found that 94 per cent of residents believe that Bermuda has a housing problem, with almost half citing cost as an issue.

The survey of 400 residents, conducted by Narrative Research Bermuda last month, also found that more than half of respondents expressed support for a government modular housing initiative, with six out of ten residents in favour of the programme.

Margaret Chapman, the chief operating officer and a partner at NRB, said: “These results provide important context for the discussion about proposed housing solutions in Bermuda.

“It’s essential to understand public sentiment when considering new initiatives, as well as to understand the proportion of the population most affected by housing issues.”

The phone survey, carried out between March 4 and 15, found that 69 per cent of respondents considered housing a very serious problem on the island, while another 24 said housing was a “somewhat serious issue”.

Only about 4 per cent of respondents said that the housing problem is either not very serious or not serious at all.

The survey found that women were more likely than men to view housing as a very serious problem, while residents aged between 35 and 54 were more likely than younger residents to believe that housing was a more serious issue.

The survey also questioned respondents whether affordability of housing was a problem, with 19 per cent saying it was a very serious issue and another 24 per cent stating it was a somewhat serious issue.

A quarter of respondents said the cost of housing was not a very serious issue and 30 per cent said it was not serious at all.

NRB said: “Residents with household incomes below $150,000, Black residents and non‑Bermudians are more likely to perceive the cost of housing as a serious issue, compared with their respective counterparts.”

On the subject of the pilot modular housing initiative, announced by the Government in November, six out of ten residents expressed support for the initiative.

A quarter of respondents said they opposed the programme, with the remainder taking a neutral stance.

NRB said: “Across demographics, men, Black residents and Bermudians more commonly support this initiative compared to their respective counterparts.”

The pilot programme, which proposed installing nine capsule units on Boaz Island, garnered more than a dozen objection letters this year and was refused planning permission by the Development Applications Board over conflicts with the Bermuda Plan.

The Bermuda Housing Corporation subsequently launched an appeal against the decision, citing a “real and growing” housing crisis on the island in appeal documents.

Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Housing and Municipalities, has said the units were part of a plan to create 262 homes within 18 months across the island including precast residences.