Draft amendments to Vietnam’s housing and real estate business laws propose new policies on rental housing and old apartment renovation, while expanding decentralisation and simplifying administrative procedures.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on October 2 discussed the draft amended Housing Law and the draft amended Law on Real Estate Business.
Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh presents the two draft laws at the meeting. (Photo: National Assembly Media)
Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said the two drafts retain provisions that remain appropriate while introducing changes to address practical obstacles and improve the legal framework for housing development and real estate business.
The drafts also institutionalise relevant policies under Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee and Notice No. 64-TB/VPTW of the Party Central Committee Office.
They also incorporate pilot policies on social housing development under Resolution No. 201/2025/QH15 of the 15th National Assembly and Government Resolution No. 66.15/2026/NQ-CP.
Greater decentralisation, fewer administrative procedures
The two drafts promote decentralisation in line with the two-tier local government model while cutting administrative procedures and simplifying investment and business conditions.
They are also designed to address practical difficulties, ensure consistency with relevant legislation and introduce new mechanisms and policies, particularly for rental housing and the renovation of old apartment buildings.
Under the draft amended Law on Real Estate Business, the authority to approve the transfer of all or part of real estate projects would be transferred from the Prime Minister to provincial-level People’s Committees.
The draft would eliminate four of 12 administrative procedures and streamline seven others, shortening processing times. It would also remove or simplify nine of 31 investment and business conditions.
The draft amended Housing Law would decentralise 20 of 21 procedures under local jurisdiction. Only the procedure concerning the lease of official housing would remain under the authority of ministries and sectors.
It would also eliminate three of four business conditions, simplify administrative dossiers and shorten processing times.
New chapter on rental housing
The draft amended Law on Real Estate Business contains nine major groups of provisions, including revisions to concepts related to real estate business, real estate projects, existing real estate and future real estate.
Meanwhile, the draft amended Housing Law sets out development orientations and corresponding policies for four main housing groups: commercial housing, rental housing, official housing and policy-based housing.
Notably, the draft adds a new chapter dedicated to rental housing development.
The chapter covers eligible tenants, development using state and non-state capital, project requirements and investment procedures, incentives for investors, rental prices and the management of rental housing.
The draft also introduces regulations on accommodation for experts and workers outside industrial parks to meet practical housing needs.