MINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION REMOVES PROPOSAL FOR TIME-LIMITED APARTMENT OWNERSHIP

The Ministry of Construction has released the latest draft of the revised Housing Law, which no longer includes the proposal on time-limited ownership of apartment units. Instead, the draft focuses on strengthening regulations governing aging apartment buildings to enhance public safety and provide a clearer legal framework for renovation and redevelopment.

Under the updated draft, ownership rights for apartment units will continue to be governed by existing housing and land laws. The previous proposal, which suggested that ownership would end when a building reached the end of its service life, has been removed.

The revised draft consists of 13 chapters and 149 articles, streamlined from the current law by reducing 49 articles to simplify the legal framework and improve regulatory efficiency.

Although the proposal on limited apartment ownership has been withdrawn, the draft maintains provisions on managing buildings that have reached the end of their design lifespan. Provincial People's Committees will continue to be responsible for organizing safety inspections of apartment buildings that have exceeded their designed service life or show signs of significant deterioration.

Based on inspection results, competent authorities will determine whether a building can continue to be used, requires repairs, or must be demolished in accordance with legal regulations.

This approach shifts the focus from limiting ownership rights to ensuring that apartment buildings remain safe for residents while providing a legal basis for the renovation and reconstruction of aging residential buildings.

The revised draft therefore retains the principle that the service life of an apartment building is determined by its approved design documents and the results of official safety inspections, rather than by imposing a fixed ownership term on apartment owners.

Overall, the latest changes indicate that the draft Housing Law emphasizes building safety management and urban renewal while preserving apartment ownership rights under Vietnam's existing legal framework.