First-time homeowners and renters in Johor can now apply for three housing assistance initiatives introduced under the state’s 2026 Budget, offering financial aid of up to RM7,000 per household.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the initiatives, announced by Menteri Besar Johor, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, are aimed at easing the financial burden of home ownership and rental, particularly for the younger generation.
What we know:
- First-Time Homebuyer Incentive
Eligible first-time buyers can receive RM5,000 to help with the cost of purchasing their first home. - Move-In Assistance
New homeowners may obtain RM2,000 to cover initial expenses such as utility deposits and other moving-related costs. - Rental Assistance Scheme
Qualified renters can receive RM200 per month for 10 months, totalling RM2,000, to help ease rental commitments.
According to Mohd Jafni, applications for all three schemes are now open. Eligible residents are encouraged to apply through the relevant state housing channels.
He added that moving-in assistance, previously capped at homes priced below RM300,000, had been expanded to cover properties up to RM500,000.
“This means anyone buying their first home priced below RM500,000, with a minimum household income of RM4,500, can apply for both the RM2,000 moving-in assistance and the RM5,000 home purchase incentive,” he said.
For those not yet ready to buy, the 10-month rental incentive serves as a temporary cushion.
Mohd Jafni said eligibility criteria included being a first-time homebuyer as well as registered as a voter in Johor and residing in the state.
Married and single individuals are eligible to apply. This is among the largest housing-related allocations by a state government.
“The total allocation exceeds RM80mil, reflecting Johor’s commitment to housing affordability,” he said, noting that RM40mil had been allocated for move-in assistance alone, benefitting an estimated 20,000 recipients.
Application forms for home purchase and move-in assistance can be obtained from Johor Housing Development Corporation (PKPJ) or assemblymen’s offices.
For rental assistance, applications can be submitted via QR codes available on official banners, with forms also downloadable online.
To prevent fraud, Mohd Jafni stressed that all applications must be verified by their respective elected representatives.
“There are no agents or middlemen, and applicants should deal directly with PKPJ or government offices,” he said.
The housing aid is part of the broader Perumahan Kasih Johor (PKJ) programme, which the state government says is aimed at expanding access to affordable homes.
Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring Johoreans can obtain safe and reasonably priced housing, noting that home ownership remains one of the largest financial burdens for the rakyat.
He was speaking at a PKJ handover ceremony held at Dewan Serbaguna Bandar Putra in Kulai.
Onn Hafiz said the state had initially set a target of 21,000 units under the Rumah Mampu Milik Johor (RMMJ) by 2030. However, the target has since been revised to more than 100,000 units following strong demand.
He also dismissed claims of bias in the distribution of assistance, stating that aid is provided regardless of race or political affiliation.
Citing the state’s economic performance, Onn Hafiz said that over the past three years and nine months he is in office, Johor had attracted RM253 billion in investments, created more than 70,000 jobs and maintained an unemployment rate of 2.5%, enabling the government to continue channelling assistance to the people.