VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi Construction Department deputy director Nguyen Quoc Tuan spoke with Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper about resident service fees in Ha Noi apartment buildings. 

Resident service fees in new urban areas and high-class apartment buildings are relatively expensive and vary from place to place. Is this contrary to the People's Committee regulations?

We would need to refer to the contracts signed between residents and management boards before we could judge whether the fees were correct.

The city People's Committee, meanwhile, takes responsibility solely for regulating parking fees and investors must calculate fees based on the regulations.

For instance, if a basement vehicle parking place is not included in the apartment price a resident will pay a fee for the park and a fee for security.

If a vehicle park is included, the resident would only pay a security fee. In situations where security cameras and flood insurance are included the fees will be higher.

Under a Construction Ministry decision, the setting and collection of resident service fees is to be made by management boards. But the original investor in many high-class apartment buildings still collect the fees. Why?

The decision regulates that a management board will be set up if apartments make up 80 per cent of the building. Investors will organise a meeting of apartment owners to elect the board. However, the role of the board in setting and collecting fees and management of the building is very demanding and requires experienced and professional staff whereas most boards are mainly made up of retired persons.

A number of management boards have failed to collect enough money from apartment owners to repair and maintain services, elevators, exteriors and common areas, plus take care of the grounds. In the end they have had to give up and turn the job over to the original building investors.

Do you mean the decision does not fit with reality?

The city has suggested amending the decision which is considered too progressive. It needs to be amended to match reality.

What is the best way to avoid differences over parking fees between apartment owners and the original investors in high-class buildings?

China has applied a very interesting method. Investors usually sell apartments with parking lots in the basement included.

The owners of the parking lots can on-sell them if they want to. I think this is a sensible idea but in Viet Nam it hasn't received much support.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News