Special, breakthrough policies are needed to remove bottlenecks in social housing development in Hanoi.

As the political, administrative and economic center of the country, Hanoi is currently facing great pressure on housing demand, especially the social housing segment for low-income people, workers and young families.

Current status and requirements for policy innovation

A representative of the Hanoi Department of Construction said that from the beginning of 2025 until now, Hanoi has had 1 completed project with about 1,340 apartments; 5 projects qualified to supply to the market with about 4,635 apartments. Thus, with about 11,334 apartments in the 2021 - 2024 period, the cumulative number of apartments qualified to supply to the market is about 17,309 apartments.

Social housing area in Dong Anh commune, Hanoi. Photo: PV

In addition, there are 6 projects that have started construction and are currently under construction, with about 4,463 apartments; 2 social housing construction investment projects were decided by the Hanoi People's Committee to be assigned to investors with a total land use scale of about 5.75 hectares, about 2,166 apartments...

In addition, some dossiers are requesting approval of investment policies and assigning investors to build social housing according to regulations. Of which, 29 projects with a total land use scale of about 69.85 hectares and about 28,300 apartments have been reported for appraisal.

Meanwhile, according to the national housing development plan, Hanoi is assigned the target of completing about 56,200 social housing apartments by 2030, of which 37,500 units will be completed in the 2026-2030 period.

In reality, the main reasons why social housing has not developed commensurate with demand are the lack of land, many obstacles in site clearance, lengthy investment procedures and low profits that make businesses reluctant to participate. Meanwhile, commercial housing prices are constantly increasing, far exceeding the affordability of middle-income people, making the housing problem increasingly difficult. These factors require a specific policy that is strong and flexible enough to remove difficulties and create a new boost for the social housing market in the capital.

Opening mechanisms for social housing segment

Faced with these challenges, Hanoi is urgently developing a Resolution on specific policies for social housing development, based on the 2024 Law on the Capital (amended) and the Law on Housing (amended). The draft resolution is considered a breakthrough, opening up a new mechanism to help mobilize social resources for this particularly important segment.

Accordingly, the city will support up to 50% of the technical infrastructure costs outside the project fence for independent social housing projects; projects for rent or hire-purchase only will be supported up to 100% of the infrastructure costs. Investors are also exempted from all fees and administrative procedures from the investment preparation stage until they are eligible to start construction, contributing to shortening the time and reducing the cost of project implementation.

Regarding credit, Hanoi proposed allowing investors to borrow up to 80% of the total investment from the budget entrusted through the City Development Investment Fund, with a loan term of up to 25 years and an interest rate 2-5% lower than that of commercial banks. For those who buy, rent or lease-purchase social housing, preferential loan packages from the social policy bank are still maintained, ensuring access to capital.

Notably, the draft resolution also clarifies the role of commune-level authorities in Hanoi's two-level government model, helping management, supervision and implementation become more specific and closer to the people. This is considered a necessary adjustment step so that the social housing development policy can truly come into life, linked to the needs of each residential area.

If implemented synchronously, the above solutions will contribute to removing the biggest "bottlenecks" today: from land funds, administrative procedures to capital sources. More importantly, they demonstrate the strong determination of the Capital government in making social security the focus of sustainable urban development.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Bui Thi An, President of the Hanoi Women Intellectuals Association, the core of all support policies is to be transparent and target the right people. Associate Professor Dr. Bui Thi An stated: "It is necessary to clearly stipulate that support amounts are not included in the selling price, lease-purchase price or rental price of social housing. Thus, support from the new budget will truly contribute to reducing costs, bringing real benefits to the people."

Associate Professor Dr. Bui Thi An emphasized that social housing is not only a place to live but also a living environment. If projects are not planned in sync with transport infrastructure, schools, healthcare , commerce, etc., even if they are cheap, it will be difficult to attract people. "It is impossible to build social housing far from the center without means of transportation and basic services, which is unfair to low-income people."

Sharing the same view, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Construction Dao Duy Phong affirmed that clarifying the role of commune-level authorities in the two-level management model will help the policy implementation process to be more rigorous and effective. The grassroots authorities are the ones who understand the actual needs of the people, so it is very important for them to participate in the process of monitoring, reviewing and supporting beneficiaries.

Hanoi’s efforts in developing specific policies for social housing clearly demonstrate the government’s commitment to putting people at the center of urban development. However, the final effectiveness depends not only on the level of incentives but also on the implementation, supervision and coordination of all levels and sectors.

For the policy to truly come into life, three factors are needed: Serious implementation - transparent information - synchronous infrastructure. Then, each social housing project will not just be dry concrete blocks but a place where people can settle down, start a business, contributing to the formation of sustainable and happy communities.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/can-chinh-sach-dac-thu-dot-pha-de-thao-go-diem-nghen-phat-trien-nha-o-xa-hoi-o-ha-noi-10394350.html