Recruitment for Non-Homeowners Aged 19-39 and Newlyweds
Starts November 7... Move-in After March Next Year
Recruitment for tenants of the ‘Youth Safe Housing Public Rental’?offered at 30-50% of market prices in convenient locations near subway lines such as Sadang Station on Lines 2 and 4, and Munjeong Station on Line 8?has begun. Those finally selected through next month’s application will move in sequentially starting from March.
On the 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will recruit tenants for a total of 528 units across 25 complexes in the ‘Youth Safe Housing Public Rental’ sector. Following the recruitment announcement on the 31st, online applications will be accepted via the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) website over three days from the 7th to the 9th of next month.
Youth Safe Housing is rental housing supplied through public-private cooperation to support housing stability for homeless youth and newlyweds, focusing on locations with convenient public transportation access. In April, the city announced the ‘Youth Safe Housing Promotion Plan,’ which completely revamped the youth housing project system.
The city grants benefits such as zoning upgrades and floor area ratio relaxations when constructing Youth Safe Housing, and receives the additional units secured through these benefits as donations to supply as rental housing (public and private rentals). The ‘public rental’ category, which includes public rental and SH pre-purchase, is managed by SH Corporation, while the ‘private rental’ units are directly managed by the project implementers who recruit tenants and select candidates.
This tenant recruitment will supply a total of 528 units across 25 complexes, including 153 units in Munjeong-dong 55-6, Songpa-gu, and 22 units in Sadang-dong 1044-1, Dongjak-gu. Applications will be accepted next month, with results announced in February next year. Final selected tenants will move in sequentially from March next year after eligibility verification.
Applicants must be homeless youth or newlyweds aged 19 to 39. For public rental housing, applicants must have a combined monthly average income of 100% or less of the urban worker household income standard based on household size, including themselves and their parents. Detailed information on Youth Safe Housing tenant recruitment can be found on the SH website or by contacting the call center.
Until last year, the city recruited Youth Safe Housing tenants twice a year, but starting this year, it plans to increase this to three times annually to continuously expand supply. During the second recruitment for Youth Safe Housing (public rental) held in August, 24,079 applicants competed for 241 units, resulting in an average competition ratio of 99.9 to 1.
Additionally, to reduce management fees?which are a significant part of housing costs?the city has used operating profits from paid parking at Youth Safe Housing starting this year to lower management fees. It has also improved convenience by allowing tenants to own and operate vehicles, which was previously not permitted.
Meanwhile, along with this tenant recruitment, the city will provide Youth Safe Housing to socially vulnerable groups and youth facing housing insecurity in welfare blind spots, especially those whom autonomous districts find difficult to assist with housing issues. The city plans to grant priority tenancy rights to youth who need housing after leaving child welfare facilities within districts, as well as to recipients of public assistance and low-income groups recommended by the districts.
Han Byung-yong, Director of the Seoul Housing Policy Office, stated, “Youth Safe Housing allows tenants to live for up to 10 years, serving as a ‘housing ladder’ for youth and newlyweds lacking assets. We will continue to expand the supply of Youth Safe Housing to provide a strong support system for youth struggling with employment and housing.”
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