New developments in the ‘anti-aging’ mini apartment complex in Hanoi
A recent meeting was held at the People’s Committee of Ha Dinh ward (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi) to discuss the method of resolving the deteriorating conditions at the mini apartment complex located at 22 alley 236/17 Khuong Dinh Street.
According to reports, during the meeting, representatives from the Department of Urban Management in Thanh Xuan district stated that following the incident, the Hanoi City People’s Committee issued a document requiring the application of Articles 44-47 of Decree 06/2021. This means that the “authorities must also be involved” instead of leaving it to the residents and investors to handle the repairs. Thanh Xuan district has established an investigation team to look into the incident.
At the meeting, representatives from the Department of Urban Management in Thanh Xuan district requested that residents and developers provide documents, technical data, and information related to the “anti-aging” mini apartment complex. This information will be used for the appraisal process and to determine the causes of the incident, thereby identifying the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals.
Residents of the mini apartment complex expressed their desire for a prompt resolution to the situation so that they can return home as soon as possible. They highlighted their difficulties in finding temporary living arrangements and mentioned the challenges they face in terms of food and shelter.
The residents also requested that the developer cover all the repair costs for the mini apartment complex, as they themselves do not have the financial means to do so.
The developer stated that as soon as the safety issues arose at the mini apartment complex, they invited a company to provide structural support to the building at a cost of VND 930 million. The developer is willing to fully support this initial phase of repair costs but stated that further discussions are needed for subsequent stages.
According to the representatives from the Department of Urban Management in Thanh Xuan district, the results of the appraisal will determine the exact cause of the incident. If the issue arises from construction defects, the developer will be held responsible. If the problem is caused by neighboring construction activities, the neighbors will be held accountable. Until the appraisal results are available, discussions regarding repair costs and resolution should be postponed.
When a resident asked about the timeline for the renovation and resolution of the situation to find suitable rental accommodations, the representatives from the Department of Urban Management in Thanh Xuan district mentioned that residents themselves should actively participate in resolving the issue. Therefore, it is not appropriate to question when the repairs will be complete.
“This is a crisis for the authorities as well. When you purchased the property, did you ask us anything? Whether it was cheap or expensive or how it was purchased? Now that the incident has occurred, you are asking us where we are? Well, here we are, working together with you,” stated the representative from the Department of Urban Management in Thanh Xuan district.
However, according to urban experts, the responsibility for managing construction order and quality rests with the local authorities. The licensing and management of individual housing units, which have been transformed into mini apartment complexes, have revealed significant loopholes and a slow response to fixing the issues.