Recently, the social housing segment in Hanoi has recorded many signs of improvement when a series of projects opened for sale, meeting the demand for affordable housing of the people. In addition, supply is expected to continue to increase as many abandoned projects are being considered for exploitation to convert functions to social housing.
Recorded at the Phap Van - Tu Hiep student housing area (Hanoi), the project abandoned for many years has begun to be repainted to convert into social housing. Four buildings in the student housing area are being painted with exterior paint and installed with corrugated iron roofs on the roofs of the blocks. The interior of the apartments has not yet been renovated. Renting a room near this area, Mr. Pham Van Hai Binh said that many of the project's buildings have been abandoned for many years, causing great waste. The transition to social housing will help take advantage of resources and add a supply of affordable housing.
"Having rented a house in Hanoi for many years, I really hope to have the opportunity to buy social housing to stabilize my life. High demand while supply is too small makes it difficult for people to access. Therefore, I hope this student housing area will be converted soon so that many people like me have the opportunity to own a house" - Mr. Binh shared.
Not only at the Phap Van - Tu Hiep project, the Mai Linh market project (Yen Nghia ward, Hanoi) has been invested in construction for more than 10 years, but abandoned and has also been proposed by the investor to be converted into a social housing area.
According to records, most of the area of this project is vacant, many items are seriously degraded, the electricity and water system is damaged, and weeds are growing densely, causing great waste.
It is known that Mai Linh market was invested in since 2014 but has not been effective because it was not built in accordance with the basic design, has not been granted a construction permit, the design drawings are not in accordance with the detailed planning 1/500, have not been approved for fire prevention and fighting... Although the authorities have taken strong action, the changes are still not significant.
Mr. Pham Anh Tuan - Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Affairs Department of Yen Nghia Ward said that the investor, Vietnam Trade Development Joint Stock Company, has issued a document proposing to the Hanoi People's Committee to consider adjusting the project target, converting Mai Linh market to a social housing model. The ward has reported and requested the investor to correct all existing violations before considering the conversion plan.
Talking with Lao Dong, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nam - General Director of G-Home Joint Stock Company, a company specializing in developing social housing, commented that taking advantage of abandoned areas to avoid waste is necessary.
According to Mr. Nam, many projects have been left vacant for too long, not used for the right purpose, or resettlement areas have been built but no one has moved in, causing waste. Therefore, converting these projects into social housing, in terms of policy, is a plan worth considering and supporting. This will help increase the supply of affordable housing, meeting the needs of the people. However, he said that the proposal related to Mai Linh market needs to be evaluated based on current law, especially planning factors.
" March land belongs to the commercial - service land group, while social housing is residential land. If there is a problem with planning, it will be very difficult to implement. The policy is good, but it is necessary to carefully review legal regulations to ensure feasibility" - Mr. Nam emphasized.
