Unauthorized Construction: Buildings Exceed Permitted Five Floors
Two years have passed since the tragic mini apartment disaster in Khương Hạ (Hanoi), yet the pain of the residents lingers. Despite this, as observed by our reporters, in the narrow alleys of the capital, particularly near universities, unauthorized 8-9 story mini apartment buildings continue to rise, posing significant fire safety risks.
Posing as a prospective buyer, our reporter was guided by an agent named N. to view several mini apartments listed for sale or transfer in the mini apartment hub of Triều Khúc (formerly Tân Triều commune), now part of Thanh Liệt ward. These buildings feature elevators and are designed with 3-4 units per floor.
A 9-story mini apartment in a narrow alley on Triều Khúc street, despite being permitted for only 5 floors + attic. Photo: Đình Phong.
Notably, two adjacent mini apartments located deep within alley 98 on Triều Khúc street stand at 9 stories tall, comprising 27 rental units. The owner is listing each building for over 17 billion VND.
“These mini apartments have been operational for just a few months, generating monthly rental income of over 100 million VND per building. They are ideal for investment and cash flow, given their proximity to major universities and high student demand for rental accommodations. The units are consistently fully occupied,” the agent boasted.
In alley 87 on Yên Xá (also part of the former Tân Triều commune), a 7-story mini apartment with 17 units is listed for nearly 14 billion VND.
Despite being marketed as “high-profit investments,” the buildings visited by our reporter are located in narrow alleys inaccessible to cars, with emergency exits barely half a meter wide.
A local resident in Triều Khúc shared with our reporter: “This area is only permitted for single-family homes up to 5 floors + 1 attic, but many have been illegally extended to 8-9 floors. Once built, they are immediately rented out, and the occupancy is very high. With alleys as narrow as 2 meters, firefighting vehicles would struggle to access in case of a fire.”
Investigations reveal that these mini apartments in Triều Khúc and Yên Xá were granted construction permits by the former Thanh Trì District People’s Committee in mid-2024, with a maximum height of 5 floors + 1 attic.
Observations by our reporter indicate that the Triều Khúc area is filled with 8-9 story buildings, divided into small units ranging from 15 to 30 square meters, equipped with water heaters, mini kitchens, and individual electricity and water meters—typical features of rental mini apartments. Most units are occupied, with signs advertising “luxury rental apartments – fully furnished.”
Although labeled as “single-family homes,” these structures function, operate, and scale similarly to mini apartments—a type of housing known for its safety risks.
Authorities Claim Difficulty in Enforcement
In an interview with Tiền Phong, the leadership of Thanh Liệt Ward People’s Committee confirmed that no mini apartment projects have been officially permitted in the area. All structures are classified as single-family homes owned by individuals. However, many owners convert these homes into rental units after construction.
In the mini apartment hub of Triều Khúc, numerous buildings have been constructed in violation of permits, exceeding approved heights.
Regarding the mini apartments in Triều Khúc mentioned in the article, the leadership of Thanh Liệt Ward People’s Committee stated that these structures were built before the local government reorganization on July 1, 2025. As the ward has not yet received handover documents from the previous administration (Tân Triều Commune People’s Committee), enforcement is challenging.
“After July 1, newly identified violations must be addressed decisively. However, for buildings already constructed to 9-10 stories, we are hesitant to take action. Addressing one building would necessitate dealing with hundreds of others, raising questions about responsibility and funding. Currently, our focus is on managing fire safety for these structures,” a representative of Thanh Liệt Ward People’s Committee explained.
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Unveiling the Unlawful: 42 Houses Built Without Permission, Developer Vanishes.
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Chairman of Hai Phong Football Club Fined 80 Million VND for ‘Land Grabbing’
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