Housing benefit (rent and repair support)
Housing benefit subsidises rent or repairs your home. Its income threshold is wider than the livelihood benefit.
Two kinds of support
- Renting households — part of the monthly rent is subsidised.
- Owner households — repair support when the home is in poor condition.
The amount depends on area, household size and actual rent. Check with 1600-0777 (housing benefit line) or your community centre.
Steps
- Apply at your community service centre.
- Submit the lease contract. Without it, support is difficult.
- Income, asset and housing assessments follow.
- Once approved, it is paid monthly into your account.
- Always report a change if you move.
What you need
- The lease contract (essential)
- Proof of rent paid (bank transfer records)
- ID
- Income and asset documents
- A bank account
Where to go
- Your local community service centre
- 1600-0777 housing benefit call centre
- 129 health and welfare counselling
- Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
- 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (interpretation)
Questions people ask
I have no contract. A verbal agreement makes support difficult. Ask the landlord to write a contract. See the lease-contract guide.
I pay rent in cash. Bank transfer records are better. If paying cash, always get a receipt.
Do goshiwons and dormitories count? It depends on the housing type. Ask about your own case at the community centre.
Are foreign residents eligible? The same eligibility rules as basic livelihood security apply. See the basic-livelihood-eligibility guide.
My landlord tells me not to apply. There is no legitimate reason for that. Get advice from the community centre or 1600-0777.
Take care
The contract and transfer records are the key. Many people live without a contract — and then get neither housing benefit nor deposit protection. Get a contract written even now.
Related
basic-livelihood · lease-contract · deposit-protection · emergency-welfare
Source
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport www.molit.go.kr / As of 2026-08