Ho Chi Minh City authorities have identified 1,046 rental properties with unresolved fire safety violations, affecting 15,549 tenants, with many of them being students or migrant workers. 

According to the city's fire and rescue police division, 15,851 out of 16,897 boarding houses, subdivided rental units, and mixed-use properties have completed fire safety improvements. 

However, 1,046 premises remain non-compliant, posing serious risks.

Among the unresolved violations, 256 properties lack a second emergency exit; 923 have no fire-barrier separation between living and high-risk areas like motorbike parking; 509 are not equipped with fire alarm or sprinkler systems; and 216 are missing emergency lights, exit signs, or protective gear like gas masks.

Since Government Directive 19 was issued on June 24 last year, city officials have inspected over 64,300 high-risk buildings, with most of which being rental properties or residential-commercial hybrids.

This directive mandates the suspension of operations for non-compliant properties after March 30, 2025.

A police officer checks the compliance with fire safety regulations at a boarding house establishment in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

As of Wednesday, 209 property owners voluntarily had suspended rental operations due to high fire risks and non-compliance.

The fire and rescue police division warned that the potential suspension of 1,046 non-compliant properties could significantly impact migrant workers, low-income residents, and students who rely on affordable housing. 

Affected tenants may face abrupt displacement, potential financial loss from unrecovered deposits, and challenges securing new accommodations—often at higher rents and farther from workplaces or schools.

The fire and rescue police division added that it will continue to inspect and guide property owners to rectify violations.

Local police and neighborhood task forces have been asked to notify tenants of unsafe properties, advise relocation, and publish lists of non-compliant properties.

To maintain public safety, grassroots-level police will no longer process residency registrations for non-compliant rental units, and set up a hotline for residents to report non-compliance.

After March 30, district-level authorities will order the closure of non-compliant properties until they meet fire safety standards.

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