A Foreigner’s Guide to Renting Apartments in Vietnam

If you’re someone looking for some Hanoi housing options, now’s actually a great time to rent an apartment in Vietnam. You’ll find a lot of apartments for rent in Hanoi to be of a higher class, with many luxury properties that have qualities comparable to international standards. This is especially advantageous for expats looking to have a place they can go to when they enter the country. 

While apartments in the area are of great advantage to expats, the legal frame and terms of Vietnamese housing can be a bit different than those from other countries. Let’s discuss the legal terms, considerations, and conditions of renting an apartment in the country.

Conditions for Foreigners Renting an Apartment

According to Article 119 of the Vietnam 2014 Housing Law, where the conditions of particles involved in housing transactions are stipulated, the lease of properties to foreigners require the following conditions:

• Lessors – The lessor must be the owner of the house or the person permitted by the owner to authorize the house transaction in accordance with Housing Law and Civil Law. It is also important to note that if the lessor is an individual, there must be full capacity for civil acts to carry out transactions on houses in accordance with Civil Law. On the other hand, if the lessor is an organization, there must be legal status.
• Lessees – If the lessee is a foreign individual, they must have full civil act capacity to conduct house transactions according to Vietnamese law provisions. They must also be eligible to own houses in Vietnam and are not required to have temporary registration or permanent registration in the place where the property is located.

What to Look for Before Renting

If you’re an expat looking to sign a lease contract in Vietnam, Hanoi property rentals are one of the easiest to get into. However, you need to pay close attention to the condition of the property and the paperwork involved in any of the properties you are about to rent. Here are a few things to check before you sign a contract. Any apartment for rent should meet the following:

• It must have a certificate in accordance with the law.
• It shouldn’t be subject to any disputes or claims about ownership. If the lessor owns the property for a definite time, the property must still be in the lessor’s ownership during the time of your contract.
• It shouldn’t be in distraint for judgment execution or not in distraint to abide by the legally valid administrative decisions of competent agencies.
• It must not be subject to the decision of land acquisition or a notice of clearance and demolition of the competent authority.
• The property should also ensure the safety of the lessee. It must have adequate electricity, a water supply, and a working drainage system.

Conclusion

When looking for an apartment or a house for rent in Hanoi, you need to look very closely at the property first and the legal requirements of renting in the country. You should also ensure that you see both the lessee’s and the lessor’s documentation before signing the lease. This will make sure that your contracts are valid and that you won’t encounter any legal problems when you move in.

VietLong Housing is a local Hanoi-based real estate company with more than ten years of experience in the industry. We help thousands of expats find their dream homes and apartments that suit all their needs. If you’re in the market for Hanoi apartments for rent or sale, VietLong Housing is the one to call. Contact us today to see all our listings.