LookAtVietnam – Ha Noi authorities are about to deal with super thin houses and houses with awkward shapes in the city.

Under the existing construction law, a house may not be constructed on an area which is smaller than 15 m2.

Ha Noi authorities have demonstrated special concerns about restoring order in the construction industry.

In addition to launching an awareness raising campaign about the law on construction, city authorities have issued three separate guiding documents for construction activities in the city.

According to the documents, city authorities may delegate local authorities at district and ward levels to foresee construction activities in their areas. However, many households have some of their land withdrawn when new roads need to be built, leaving them with very little remaining space.

Under the existing construction law, a house may not be constructed on an area which is smaller than 15 m2. This is a problem that needs immediate solutions from concerned authorities. Otherwise, home owners will say “it is my right to build a house on my land!”

It has been reported that following the reappearance of super thin or awkward houses on new capital streets, the Chairman of the Ha Noi municipal People’s Committee ordered the Department of Construction to take action to prevent more construction of these houses. How has this order been implemented?

We have asked construction inspectors to take pictures of these houses, particularly at the Thanh Xuan junction.

Ward and district authorities have also been asked to conduct regular checks to be sure construction projects in their localities have proper licences. Upon discovery of a violation, the local authorities must notify us immediately. Based on their reports, we are able to develop proposals or advice for city authorities on how to handle the problem.

I still remember the issuance of Instruction No 2 by the Ha Noi People’s Committee in February 2009, which dealt with construction activities in the city. The document clarifies the role of ward authorities in preventing construction of super thin or awkward houses in their localities.

We all know that construction of these houses takes less than two days to complete. Designated local authorities are the ones who know what’s going on in their localities better than any one else.

Six months later, in August 2009, the municipal authority issued Instruction No 24 which included the specific sanction mechanisms for violations against the construction law. It’s a good tool to prevent the appearance of ugly houses in our capital city.

Has your department introduced any measures to put an end to the construction of these houses?

In my opinion, the best way to prevent this is during land clearance; any remaining land plot of less than 15sq.m should be withdrawn by the assigned authorities immediately. Otherwise it would be very difficult to prevent super thin or awkward houses from being constructed following completion of the land compensation procedures.

These small pieces of land can be used as parking areas or turned into green spaces.

Do you have any comments on the idea that neighbours of such small areas of remaining land should have the option to negotiate ownership rights of these plots?

It is a good idea. But I’m afraid to say that it is not highly feasible. In reality, only about 20 or 30 per cent of such negotiations in the past were successful because the buyer wants to purchase the land at a low price, while the seller wants to sell at a high price.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News