Prior to October 10, 2025, many workers, despite having a genuine need, found it difficult to access social housing due to low income ceiling regulations, which excluded them from the eligible group. Recently, the Government issued Decree No. 261/2025/ND-CP amending and supplementing Decree No. 100/2024/ND-CP detailing some provisions of the Housing Law, expanding the eligibility policy, removing procedural obstacles, and encouraging businesses to participate in investing in and developing social housing.

The Dai Thang Social Housing and Residential Area project, located in Pho Yen ward, covers a total area of ​​over 11 hectares and is expected to be completed and handed over with 395 units by early November 2025.

Expand access opportunities

One of the notable new points of Decree No. 261/2025/ND-CP, effective from October 10, 2025, is the expansion of eligible buyers of social housing through adjusting the income ceiling to reflect real-life circumstances.

Accordingly, low-income urban residents, civil servants, public employees, and unmarried or single workers with an average income not exceeding 20 million VND/month (an increase of 5 million VND compared to the old regulation) are allowed to purchase social housing. In cases where they are raising young children under 18 years old, the maximum income is raised to 30 million VND/month, accurately reflecting the increasing cost of living and living expenses in industrial cities.

For married couples, a combined monthly income of no more than 40 million VND (an increase of 10 million VND compared to before) is sufficient to qualify for an application to purchase social housing. This policy is considered a reasonable adjustment, giving many working-class families and laborers more opportunities to settle down and stabilize their lives in the long term.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Linh, a worker at TNG Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company, shared: “My husband and I have a combined income of over 30 million VND, and we still have to save a lot to accumulate enough money to buy a house. Raising the ceiling to 20-40 million VND/month is reasonable given the fluctuating prices, living costs, and actual income in urban areas like Thai Nguyen.”

The social housing project in Tich Luong ward, invested by Binh Minh Phat Joint Stock Company, is currently under construction.

Not only young families like Ms. Linh’s, but also Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, a worker at Glonics Co., Ltd. in Tich Luong ward, expressed his excitement: “I’m not married yet, and I aim to buy social housing within the next three years. The regulation allowing single people with an average income of no more than 20 million VND/month to buy social housing is very appropriate and opens up more opportunities for many migrant workers like me.”

Along with adjusting the income ceiling, Decree No. 261/2025/ND-CP also significantly simplifies administrative procedures in the application review process. Previously, many self-employed workers faced difficulties due to the lack of employment contracts to prove their income.

Now, within 7 days of receiving the application for verification, the commune-level police where the applicant resides, temporarily resides, or currently lives are responsible for checking the information in the population database to verify income eligibility. This regulation helps shorten processing time, while increasing transparency and creating more favorable conditions for people with genuine needs for social housing.

Lowering interest rates will ease difficulties for businesses.

Another positive aspect of Decree No. 261/2025/ND-CP is the reduction of interest rates on social housing loans from 6.6% to 5.4% per year. This policy is considered a dual support measure, both helping people reduce their financial burden when borrowing to buy a house and encouraging businesses to boldly invest in the social housing sector, which typically has low profit margins.

Overview and information about the social housing project being implemented in Bach Quang ward, with a total area of ​​nearly 5.7 hectares and a total investment of over 386 billion VND .

Mr. Tran Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tien Bo Group Joint Stock Company (TTB Group) – the investor of the Binh Minh Phat Social Housing Project, said: The government has adjusted many regulations to better suit the reality, expanding the scope of beneficiaries and increasing the feasibility of projects. This is a positive signal, creating motivation for businesses to invest in the social housing segment.

According to Mr. Binh, TTB is proposing to Thai Nguyen province to build three more buildings, each 21 stories high with over 300 apartments, increasing the total social housing stock of the project to approximately 1,500 units, contributing to increasing the supply for the market.

In practice, Decree No. 261/2025/ND-CP has resolved many long-standing legal obstacles, especially regarding the mechanism for selecting investors and clearly defining the distinction between the 20% commercial land allocation and the land use fee for social housing projects. Expanding the group of eligible buyers and renters also helps businesses access the market more easily, reduce inventory, and accelerate project implementation.

According to surveys by specialized agencies, during the period 2021-2025, Thai Nguyen province has approximately 37,000 people in need of social housing (including 16,000 workers and laborers in industrial zones and 21,000 people in low-income groups such as poor and near-poor households in urban areas, officials, civil servants, officers, non-commissioned officers, and self-employed workers…).

During the period 2025-2030, it is projected that nearly 29,000 more people will need to buy or rent social housing, indicating a very large demand that requires a stable and long-term supply.

The family of Mr. Tran Van Tien, a worker at the No. 1 Machinery Parts Joint Stock Company (Ba Xuyen ward), received a loan from the Social Policy Bank’s social housing program to build a house. Photo: Provided.

Currently, the province has approved the investment plan for 4 social housing projects with a total scale of over 2,000 apartments. The Dai Thang Social Housing Area project is expected to hand over 395 apartments in early November 2025; two projects in Bach Quang and Tich Luong wards are expected to be completed this year; and the Green House Social Housing Area project with 476 apartments is expected to be completed in 2026. Once operational, these projects will significantly contribute to meeting the housing needs of thousands of workers and laborers.

Mr. Le Cao Hai, Head of the Housing Management, Urban and Rural Development Department (Department of Construction), said: “We have advised the Department’s leadership to submit to the Provincial People’s Committee a review and adjustment of the social housing development plan according to the targets assigned by the Government. The entire province currently has 83 land plots, with a total area of ​​over 250 hectares, enough to invest in the construction of approximately 24,000 social housing units by 2030…”

Thus, with its synchronized and practical adjustments, Decree No. 261/2025/ND-CP not only creates a favorable legal framework but also provides a strong impetus for the social housing market. This policy contributes to stabilizing social security and promoting the healthy development of the real estate market.

This also lays the groundwork for low-income individuals to realize their dream of owning a home sooner; Thai Nguyen province is moving closer to achieving the target for social housing development by 2030 as planned by the Government.

Source: Thai Nguyen Newspaper