It currently costs a renter VND 700,000 to VND 1 million per month for a 20 to 25 square-meter-room, up 30 percent year-on-year, according to Saigon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper.
Due to the rising number of university students and laborers coming back to HCM City to study and work after a long break, the demand for room rentals has skyrocketed.
Couple Duc and Hue from Binh Dinh province had to take leave from work to roam over Tan Phu, Binh Tan, Tan Binh districts in an effort to find a room which their family could afford.
“I collect and trade used things for a living while my husband repairs electric devices. We earn VND 8 to 10 million per month and are looking for a room that is maximum VND 2 million. That room should not be too small for our children.” Hue said.
    |
 |
|
A block of rental houses for workers in District 2 of HCM City. Photo: VNS |
They have planned to move to Binh Chanh district for cheaper alternatives.
Four university students from the Saigon Technology University encountered a similar difficulty, searching for rooms in Binh Chanh district’s Binh Hung commune.
Le Trung Thinh, a member of the group, complained that their previous landlord had promised to keep unchanged the rental rate after Tet. However, the landlord recently decided to raise it to VND 700,000 per room, with effect from February.
“We, of course, had to leave and have not yet been able to find affordable rooms in the area,” he said, adding that searching for rooms takes a large amount of their time, which affects their studying.
Many students in Go Vap, Thu Duc, and Binh Thanh districts have to cramp into one small room or move further away from their school to save money.
Landlord Linh on Binh Hung commune’s Pham Hung street explained that prices go up every year and that she has to pay for room maintenance service and other fees, making the rate increase.
In order to support university students and laborers, People’s Committees of Districts 8, 9, 12, among others have organized multiple activities.
In Thu Duc district, the Labor Union, together with relevant authorities have sent officials to households that offer rental service to encourage them to maintain the rate.
Meanwhile, at the ward-level office of many district People’s Committees, information on where to find rooms and landlords’ mobile numbers have been posted for people in need.
According to the Youth Worker Support Center, it collected information on available rooms for rent before Tet, ready to share to renters after the holiday.
However, the system was jammed up a little due to surging demand. The center is gathering and categorizing information on room status, which will be later announced to labor and youth unions in the city.
Nguyen The Trinh, director of a rental agency in District 8, said that renters should ask their landlords in advance of any changes in the rate and renew their rental contracts before Tet to refrain from paying higher prices in the new year.
Source: VNA