Renovation and Repair of a 70-Year-Old Villa
The Construction Department of Hai Phong City has recently requested the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district to inspect, review, and assess the impact of construction on neighboring households, in response to petitions regarding the ancient villa located at 88-90 Dien Bien Phu Street, Minh Khai Ward, Hong Bang district, Hai Phong City.
The ancient villa at 88-90 Dien Bien Phu was built on a 314sqm land plot over 70 years ago. The total construction area is 146.4sqm, with additional shared areas, pathways, and some unauthorized constructions built by households within the shared land before the liquidation and privatization.
This two-story building comprises 11 apartments (four on the first floor and seven on the second), owned by four individuals, including Mr. Nguyen Duy Long (owner of three apartments).
The ancient villa at 88-90 Dien Bien Phu (marked area) is located in a prime location in the center of Minh Khai Ward, Hong Bang District, Hai Phong City.
In mid-June 2024, the Hong Bang district authorities fined Mr. Nguyen Duy Long’s household for “construction that deviated from the permitted design”. This construction is adjacent to the 88-90 Dien Bien Phu villa. Mr. Long’s household has since paid the fine, obtained an adjusted construction permit, and resumed construction.
However, multiple families within the 88-90 Dien Bien Phu villa have repeatedly petitioned the authorities regarding Mr. Long’s renovation of the apartments within the ancient villa and the construction of a new adjacent structure, which they believe poses a risk to the entire building’s structure and safety.
At the end of July 2024, the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district conducted an inspection and determined that the ancient villa had deteriorated, with plaster peeling off and no longer adhering to the walls and floors. The steel core on the second floor, in the common staircase area, was exposed and rusted.
Facade of the 88-90 Dien Bien Phu Villa, Hai Phong City.
Despite the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district’s efforts to address the residents’ concerns, the issue remains unresolved, leading to prolonged petitions and grievances.
Proposed Opening of a Passageway Between the Ancient Villa and the Adjacent Structure
In response to the residents’ petitions, the Hai Phong City Construction Department has recently requested the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district to review and clarify several issues.
According to the Hai Phong City Construction Department, for constructions with adjacent structures, a commitment to ensure the safety of adjacent structures is required (as per Article 95 of the 2014 Construction Law). Therefore, when applying for a permit, households must provide a commitment to ensure the safety of the structure as prescribed.
Inside the ancient villa at 88-90 Dien Bien Phu (Hai Phong) showing wall cracks and peeling plaster.
National Standard TCVN 9411:2012 stipulates that doors, windows, and vents cannot be opened if the wall is built attached to the boundary of the land lot or the boundary of the neighboring house foundation. Doors, windows, and vents can only be opened if the wall is built at least 2m away from the boundary of the land lot or neighboring house foundation.
Additionally, the Hai Phong City Construction Department noted that the approved design documents and construction permit issued by the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district show that the door of Mr. Long’s new adjacent structure connects to the first and second floors of the 88-90 Dien Bien Phu ancient villa.
Mr. Long’s family has not informed the local authorities about the renovation and repair of their house, and the competent authorities have not taken timely action.
The Hai Phong City Construction Department also requested the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district to inspect and review the national construction standards and norms regarding the installation of a new mezzanine with iron box beams and wooden floors on the first floor, as well as the renovation of windows into doors on the second floor, to determine their impact on the load-bearing structure and change of function of the villa.
Based on this review, they should determine whether a construction permit is required for the renovation and repair and take appropriate measures.
Newly constructed and renovated apartments within the 88-90 Dien Bien Phu villa (marked area)
Furthermore, the Construction Department requested the People’s Committee of Hong Bang district to inspect the unauthorized chipping, plastering, and repainting on some walls that do not belong to Mr. Long’s family, as previously identified by the local authorities, and take appropriate action in accordance with regulations.
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