The Sense of Community in Homeowner Association Neighborhoods in Urban China: A Study of Wenzhou

Living in homeowner association (HOA) neighborhoods is a new residential experience in China. Associated with housing privatization in the 1990s, HOAs have been established to promote private governance features as their counterparts do in western contexts. However, the role of HOAs and their social implications are still debatable in urban China. Against this background, this study examines the sense of community in HOA neighborhoods, using data from a large-scale household survey in Wenzhou, China. The results reveal that neighborly interaction persists in HOA neighborhoods and crucially influences the sense of community. In addition to neighborly interaction, residents' participation in HOAs has become a new source of the sense of community. Residents' usage of the services provided in HOA neighborhoods can also enhance the sense of community.