Seac Pai Van public housing building
Data compiled by the Housing Bureau (IH) shows that to September 116,228 people were living in public housing, which represents 18.4 percent of Macau’s population.
75.6 percent out of the total population living in public housing (87,432 people) are in affordable housing units, with the remaining 25.796 living in social housing units.
Public housing residents were dispersed into 45,573 public housing units, of which 32,763 are affordable housing units and 12,810 are social housing units. This represents an average of 2.5 people per household.
The Housing Bureau said that by the end of September 7,005 public housing units were under construction, most of them being affordable housing units.
If we exclude non-resident workers and temporary residents from the total population, who are not eligible to apply for public housing, the percentage living in this type of housing is set at around 25 percent.
The application for affordable housing units in Macau addresses individuals with lower incomes, enabling them to purchase a house at a controlled price level, which is much lower than that available in the market. Social housing units are also managed by Macau’s administration and are available to be rented out.
Judging by the most recent applications, there is a great demand for public housing. Over 42,000 permanent residents applied to be granted the right of buying one of the 1,900 public housing units available in this particular application process.
Chief Executive Chui Sai On said himself upon being re-elected for a second term: housing is a top priority, and one of Macau’s biggest challenges moving forward. According to data provided by Macau’s leader in 2010 in a Legislative Assembly plenary meeting, over 70 percent of Macau’s population owns a house. In Macau, the average housing price per square meter reached MOP100,000 – an amount ten times higher than a decade ago. MDT/Lusa
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