Criteria for identifying temporary and dilapidated houses in Vietnam from January 20, 2025

Criteria for identifying temporary and dilapidated houses in Vietnam from January 20, 2025​ (Image from the internet)

On January 20, 2025, the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam issued Decision 55/QD-BXD providing guidelines on criteria for temporary and dilapidated houses.

Criteria for identifying temporary and dilapidated houses in Vietnam from January 20, 2025

Temporary and dilapidated houses are those constructed on homestead land without disputes and are not subject to demolition as per point c and d, clause 1, Article 136 of the Housing Law 2023, and points a, c, d, and đ, clause 1, Article 118 of the Construction Law 2014 (amended 2020) and meet one of the following criteria:

* Regarding residential area:

- For single households, the area is less than 18 m2.

- For family households, the area is less than 30 m2 with a per capita area of less than 8 m2.

* Regarding housing structure

A house with an unstable structure is one with at least two out of the three main structures, including the foundation-ground, frame-walls, and roof made from non-durable materials, not ensuring user safety. Unstable structure does not include the following:

- The foundation-ground made from materials that enhance ground stiffness, such as cement-sand mortar, concrete, reinforced concrete, bricks, stones, tiles, wood.

- The frame-walls include the frame system, columns, walls, and even support foundations. In which, frames and columns are made from materials like reinforced concrete, iron, steel, durable wood; walls built with bricks, stones, or made from durable wood, metal.

- The roof comprises the roof support system and roof tiles. In which, the roof support system is made from materials like reinforced concrete, iron, steel, durable wood; the roof is made from reinforced concrete or tiled. In cases where roofs are made of imitation tile corrugated iron, cold corrugated iron, thermal insulating corrugated iron, corrugated iron, with solid support structure (iron, steel, durable wood frame) firmly attached to built walls, reinforced concrete columns, such corrugated iron roofs are considered durable materials.

* Regarding usage duration:

A house constructed with durable materials having a usage duration of 20 years or more, which has not been renovated, repaired, and is now degraded, damaged, not ensuring safety when used.

* Regarding other criteria (if any): such as functional spaces (kitchen, sanitation), technical systems in the house (electricity supply, water supply), fire safety... based on actual conditions in localities, the provincial/city People's Committee under the central authority shall consider and decide.

Depending on actual conditions, housing structure components may be made from locally sourced materials of equivalent quality, determined by local specialized agencies, and approved or authorized by the provincial People's Committee for approval.

Responsibilities of Central Steering Committee members in implementing the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses in Vietnam

Based on Article 10 of the Regulation on the Organization and Operations of the Central Steering Committee for Implementing the Elimination of Temporary and Dilapidated Houses across the country issued with Decision 126/QD-BCD in 2024, the responsibilities of Central Steering Committee members in implementing the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide are:

- Based on the function, state management duties of ministries and central authorities, and assigned responsibilities, cooperate with related ministries, agencies, and localities to implement the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses according to assigned tasks.

- Proactively propose tasks, solutions related to addressing arising issues in implementing the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses under the scope of ministries and central authorities, and the area assigned to manage.

- Attend all Steering Committee meetings; be responsible for implementing the Steering Committee's conclusions related to the area of ministries and central authorities and localities assigned to manage.

- Utilize the machinery, facilities, and seal of their own agency in performing assigned tasks; direct, urge, inspect the implementation of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses in localities as assigned; guide, promptly resolve issues arising during the implementation process.

- Propose amendments or formulate mechanisms suitable to the actual situation, practical requirements to promote the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses in localities.

- Perform other tasks and be responsible to the Head of the Committee for the execution of assigned tasks.

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