HCMC – Commune-level police will conduct income verification for social housing buyers under Government Decree 54/2026.
Issued on February 9, the new decree on housing and real estate business took effect immediately.
Under the new rules, an applicant is considered not to own a home if neither the individual nor their spouse has their name on a land use right certificate or housing ownership record in the locality where the social housing project is located.
Authorities responsible for issuing land use right certificates must confirm housing status within seven days of receiving a request.
Applicants must self-declare and commit to their average monthly income. Commune-level police where they reside permanently or temporarily will verify the information and coordinate with relevant agencies for post-checks when necessary.
Income caps remain unchanged at VND15 million per month for single applicants and VND30 million combined for married couples.
The decree also revises procedures for selling and leasing social housing projects developed without public investment funds. Developers must disclose project information on the provincial Department of Construction’s portal and the national housing and real estate market database.
Applications may be submitted in person, online, by post, or through employers. The submission period must last at least 30 days. Developers must send the list of eligible applicants to the Department of Construction for review and public disclosure. A draw will be held if applications exceed available units.
For rental projects, developers may prioritize selling units to eligible tenants before the 10-year minimum lease term ends. If tenants do not purchase, units may be sold to the National Housing Fund. Sale prices are based on appraised values, plus average loan interest during the rental period, minus depreciation.
