Vietnam proposes stricter social housing resale regulations

The Vietnamese government is proposing amendments to the Draft Housing Law to tighten regulations on the resale of social housing. Under the current law, owners can transfer social housing through market mechanisms after five years of full payment. The new proposal would restrict resale after five years to only those individuals who meet specific social housing eligibility criteria, aiming to prevent policy exploitation and ensure housing remains available for intended beneficiaries.

For social housing under lease-purchase models, the draft suggests that if tenants no longer have a need for the property, they may be required to terminate the contract and return the house rather than transferring it freely. Additionally, all transactions involving the sale, lease-purchase, or rental of social housing are expected to be integrated into a centralized housing and real estate market information database to enhance management and oversight.

Separately, the Ministry of Construction reported that the real estate market faces challenges in aligning supply with actual demand. As of the third quarter of 2026, successful transactions reached approximately 92,000, representing 92% of the previous quarter. Real estate credit reached 5.21 quadrillion VND by August 31, 2026, a 9.49% increase from the end of 2025.