To accurately assess the safety and quality of residential buildings in accordance with national housing regulations, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed that the municipal People’s Committee approve funding for the inspection and evaluation of 186 aging apartment complexes across the city.

The department has also recommended that the Department of Finance urgently allocate funds for ward-level authorities to begin the inspection process.

According to the proposal, the Department of Construction has compiled a list of 186 old apartment buildings requiring assessment.

Among them, 56 have never been inspected, while 130 buildings were previously evaluated but now require re-inspection.

Most of the previously assessed buildings were inspected during 2016–2017 and were classified as Grade C, meaning structurally safe but deteriorating.

However, it remains unclear whether these buildings meet the criteria for demolition under the 2023 Housing Law, necessitating a new round of evaluations to determine their current safety status.

Those rated Grade B during the same period - indicating satisfactory structural integrity - will not be re-inspected at this time, as their condition does not yet warrant it.

The total proposed funding for the inspections, based on ward-level submissions compiled by the Department of Construction, exceeds 32.5 billion VND (approximately 1.3 million USD).

This amount does not yet include inspection costs for apartment blocks located in several wards - Hanh Thong (2 buildings), Go Vap (1), Sai Gon (10), Vung Tau (3), and Thanh My Tay (4) - as these localities have not yet submitted budget proposals.

Given the large number of buildings requiring inspection, the Department of Construction has urged the city’s leadership to approve the plan and expedite implementation to ensure compliance with legal safety standards.

The department also recommended that the Department of Finance swiftly allocate funds to ward-level governments responsible for managing these apartment complexes, enabling them to organize qualified construction inspection teams and carry out assessments efficiently.

For wards that have not yet submitted cost estimates, the Department of Construction has requested immediate reporting to facilitate funding allocation.

PV