HO CHI MINH CITY PROPOSES RAISING THE INCOME CEILING FOR SOCIAL HOUSING ELIGIBILITY

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed amendments to Decision No. 14/2026, aiming to revise the income criteria for social housing eligibility to better reflect local living conditions and align with current national regulations.

Under the proposal, the maximum monthly household income for married applicants could increase to VND 60 million, up from the current VND 54 million, subject to the approval of the competent authorities.

The draft suggests applying updated income adjustment coefficients of 1.1 and 1.2, in line with the framework provided under Government Decree No. 136/2026.

If the 1.2 adjustment coefficient is adopted, the proposed income thresholds would be:

• Single applicants: up to VND 30 million per month.
• Single parents raising children: up to VND 42 million per month.
• Married couples (combined income): up to VND 60 million per month.

In addition, households with three or more dependents may receive priority when selecting larger apartments or units with two or more bedrooms.

According to the Department of Construction, the proposal is based on Ho Chi Minh City's economic conditions. The city's average monthly income per capita in 2025 reached VND 8.064 million, approximately 1.36 times the national average of VND 5.918 million, providing a basis for applying a higher local income adjustment coefficient.

The Department also noted that certain provisions in Decision No. 14/2026 are no longer fully consistent with Decree No. 136/2026 and should be revised to ensure legal consistency and facilitate implementation.

Specifically, the current decision sets both an adjustment coefficient and fixed income thresholds, which may lead to different interpretations during the application review process. Clarifying the income criteria is expected to improve consistency in evaluating social housing applications.

The proposal also points out that applying the adjustment coefficient uniformly to all applicant groups could unintentionally broaden eligibility to households with relatively higher incomes, potentially reducing opportunities for lower-income families with greater housing needs.

The proposed revisions are intended to improve the implementation of social housing policies, simplify administrative procedures, and ensure that support is directed toward eligible beneficiaries. Final changes will take effect only after they are reviewed and approved by the competent authorities.