Applications for public housing began on 27 September, but so far just 504 have been received, according to data from the Macao Housing Bureau (IH).
The figures showed that there were 320 complete applications and 184 incomplete applications between 27 September to 25 October.
Individual applications totalled 194 valid applications, making up approximately 60 percent of the total. There were 126 family applications received.
[See more: Government-built housing for seniors is too expensive, some elderly say]
Some believe the low turnout this year can be explained by the government’s lowering of the upper monthly income limit for applicants by seven percent – from 38,350 to 35,650 patacas. As well, the upper net worth threshold has been lessened by 10.5 percent from 1,254,900 patacas to 1,122,200 patacas .
This round of public housing applications is for units on five plots in New Urban Zone A. In total, there are 5,415 flats up for grabs.
Public housing applications are typically competitive affairs in Macao. In previous years, the number of applications submitted were substantial, with a total of 11,707 applications recorded in 2021 alone.
