Use the "other expenses" item to collect enough electricity bills of 4,500 VND/kWh
According to a survey by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters in Cau Giay ward (Hanoi), electricity prices in many rented rooms in apartment buildings and mini-apartments are currently at 4,000 - 4,500 VND/kWh, higher than regulations on normal domestic electricity prices.
Playing the role of a person looking for a room, reporters were introduced by a broker to a room of an apartment in alley 81 Trung Kinh (Cau Giay ward, Hanoi). According to Mr. Cuong - the building manager, the rooms of the mini-apartment building are being rented at prices ranging from 8,800,000 - 9,000,000 VND/month depending on the form of rent and payment.
Reporting the service fee for the room, Mr. Cuong informed that the electricity bill at the building is calculated at 4,500 VND/kWh, water 35,000 VND/m3. In addition to electricity and water bills, tenants must pay an additional 300,000 VND/room/month for service fees, including internet, garbage collection, public area cleaning, hallway lighting, elevators and motorbike parking spaces.
When reporters questioned about the high electricity price at 4,500 VND/kWh, the building manager said that this price has been maintained for a long time and is also a common level in many rented rooms around Trung Kinh area (Cau Giay) at the present time.
Continuing to survey a studio apartment in a mini-apartment in alley 191 Nguyen Khang (Cau Giay, Hanoi), Mr. Tung - the building manager said that the building is also applying a electricity price of 4,500 VND/kWh. However, Mr. Tung emphasized that this is only a temporary solution during the time of completing electricity registration procedures at a single price with the area's electricity company.
“My electricity price is currently collected at 4,500 VND/kWh. At the latest by the end of August, we will reduce electricity bills to a fixed level of about 3,500 VND/kWh after completing electricity procedures at the same price with the electricity company," Mr. Tung shared.
Notably, Mr. Tung said that if renting a room here, he would "understand" the homeowner because on the bill, the electricity bill will be recorded according to the State price, and the difference will be shown in the "other expenses" section so that the total amount paid by the renter will still correspond to the level of 4,500 VND/kWh as agreed.
The washing machine, dryer, elevator and electrical system in the common area operate continuously, while tenants are allowed to use washing machines and dryers without restrictions. Last month, my side had to compensate for electricity bills. If the level of 4,500 VND/kWh is not applied, it will be very difficult to balance costs," Mr. Tung said.
A further survey at a mini-apartment in alley 100 Tran Duy Hung (Cau Giay, Hanoi) shows that the electricity price is 4,000 VND/kWh. According to the building management, this is not only the price applied at the building but also the common level of many mini-apartments and rented rooms in many inner-city areas of Hanoi.
Through a survey by Lao Dong Newspaper, landlords in Cau Giay ward are collecting fixed electricity bills from 3,500 - 4,500 VND/kWh. Meanwhile, some buildings are completing electricity registration procedures according to the electricity industry's price schedule and "promising" to reduce electricity prices to about 3,500 VND/kWh next month.
Apartment renters may be administratively sanctioned
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Lawyer Tran Tuan Anh - Director of Bright Legal Law Firm, said that currently the retail price of domestic electricity is applied according to Decision No. 1279/QD-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Circular No. 60/2025/TT-BCT. The calculation of electricity prices for tenants depends on the rental term and residence registration status.
Accordingly, in cases of renting houses for 12 months or more and having full temporary or permanent residence registration, tenants or representatives of tenants can sign electricity purchase and sale contracts directly with the electricity industry to enjoy domestic electricity norms according to regulations.
For cases of renting for less than 12 months but the homeowner does not fully declare the number of electricity users, the entire electricity consumption will be calculated according to the retail price of household electricity level 2 (from 101-200 kWh). If the homeowner fully declares the number of electricity users, the electricity sector will issue a corresponding quota, averaging 4 people to be counted as one household using electricity.
Notably, if the tenor does not sign an electricity purchase contract directly with the electricity retailer, the total amount of electricity collected by the homeowner must not exceed the amount recorded on the monthly electricity bill issued by the electricity industry.
Regarding the case where the homeowner sets a fixed price to collect from all tenants, without relying on the method of determining electricity prices according to regulations, or collecting an amount higher than the amount allowed to be allocated according to electricity bills, Lawyer Tran Tuan Anh said that this is an act of violating regulations on the implementation of electricity selling prices.
For this act, according to Article 13 of Decree No. 133/2026/ND-CP dated April 6, 2026 of the Government stipulating penalties for administrative violations in the field of electricity, landlords may be fined from 20,000,000 VND to 30,000,000 VND; and at the same time, measures may be applied to force the renter to return the amount of money collected not in accordance with regulations.
