A social housing block for workers in Dong Anh District in Ha Noi. The Construction Ministry has carried out inspections at social housing projects in three major cities. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuan Anh

HA NOI  (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Construction has carried out an inspection on social housing projects in three major cities, Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City, focusing on quality and prices according to a newly-issued decision.

The ministry's decision 548/QD-BXQ was issued early this week to establish a group, headed by Deputy Minister Nguyen Tran Nam, to inspect construction quality, selling and leasing prices of social housing projects in the three cities.

This follows findings that apartment prices of several low-income housing schemes have been higher than commercial projects, although social housing projects were provided support in land-use rental, taxes and preferential credits.

A recent investigation by the ministry also revealed misuse of 20 per cent of the land fund designated for social housing projects.

According to the ministry, preferential treatments were provided to social housing projects with the aim of making houses affordable and accessible to low-income earners. However, facts have revealed that many social housing projects across the country have failed to meet the expected standards of quality and prices.

The ministry pointed out that the inspection was necessary to tackle these issues.

Construction Minister Trinh Dinh Dung also ordered the municipal construction departments to send reports on their social housing projects to the inspection group before the end of this month.

Across the country, 98 social housing projects had been completed and 129 others were underway, to date, with a total of 55,000 apartments. — VNS