Water leaks and seepage in Vinaconex 9B apartment building: When will the problem be fixed?

(Baonghean) - Apartments on the 11th floor of the Vinaconex 9B apartment building (Le Nin Avenue, Nghi Phu commune, Vinh City) are experiencing leaks causing paint peeling, mold, and wall cracks. The reason is that only a portion of the building has a roof, with the majority of the remaining space left open. Residents have repeatedly complained to the developer, but the problem has not been resolved, forcing them to contact Bao Nghe An via the hotline.

Vinaconex apartment building.

The person who contacted Nghe An Newspaper was Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan, the head of the 11th floor (the floor closest to the ceiling of the apartment building). Although his family's apartment was "unaffected because it was located under the rooftop canopy," he stated, "as the head of the floor, I felt responsible for bringing the issue to the attention of the newspaper's editorial office when families on the same floor and in the same building had problems."

On the 11th floor of the Vinaconex 9B apartment building, 8 out of 10 apartments are experiencing leaks and dampness, leading to peeling paint and mold; some apartments also have cracks in the walls and ceilings. A resident on the 11th floor, currently working at the Provincial Police Department, stated: "My apartment has a ceiling crack about 2.5 meters long, and many walls are leaking. Given these issues, I have raised the problem with the building management; along with many other residents, I have submitted a petition to the investor requesting them to take responsibility. However, to date, the investor has not rectified the situation." The owner of apartment 1101 on the 11th floor said that when she complained about the leaks and dampness in her apartment, the building management sent workers to repair them, but "after fixing one spot, leaks and dampness reappear elsewhere."

In most of the top-floor apartments of the Vinaconex 9B apartment building, there are also problems such as leaks, cracks causing mold, and peeling walls.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan, the lack of a roof covering on the rooftop is the main reason for water leaks and seepage into residents' apartments. The Vinaconex 9B apartment building only has a roof covering in a small area, while the majority of the rooftop is left open. After the concrete was poured, the rooftop was only covered with a thin layer of red bricks, the mortar joints were of poor quality, the tiles were uneven, and the drainage system was inadequate, causing water to accumulate during rain. The accumulated rainwater seeped into the apartments below, causing peeling paint, mold, cracks, and other problems, much to the frustration of residents. According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan: "Now, the only solution to definitively resolve the leaks and seepage in residents' apartments is to install a roof covering for the entire building." At the same time, he suggested we go down to the basement of the apartment building, which houses the electrical and water equipment rooms, the fire safety equipment room, the security room, and is regularly used to store about 40 cars and hundreds of motorbikes belonging to residents, but "there are even more alarming problems there."

Indeed, the basement area was quite messy and unsanitary due to leaks from the domestic and sewage pipes, and the drilling of wall pillars to install various equipment. Water leaks from the pipes occurred not only in the parking area but also in the guard room, where the fire escape was located. In the guard room, the entrance was flooded, forcing the guard to use a long wooden ladder as a makeshift bridge; in the electrical and plumbing control room, leaks, dampness, and dirt had become breeding grounds for rats and cockroaches.

The reason is that the rooftop has no roof, only a thin layer of tiles covering it (the person in the photo is Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan - Head of the 11th floor).

In the basement, leaks were everywhere due to water seepage from the domestic water and sewage systems; even the guardhouse, which contained the fire escape, was leaking.

To enter the room, the security guard had to use a long ladder.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan, Head of the 11th floor of Vinaconex 9B apartment building, said: “The total number of households in Vinaconex 9B apartment building (excluding those in adjacent villas) is 70 units (from the 5th to the 11th floor). Residents purchased the apartments at a price of 9,900,000 VND/m2 and moved in at the end of 2013, including a 2% maintenance fee. Currently, the Management Board collects an operating fee of 3,000 VND/m2 (including corridor cleaning, public electricity, and elevators). Despite the high fee, the corridor light bulbs are not replaced when they burn out; the elevators are constantly malfunctioning, forcing residents to use the stairs; according to fire safety regulations, the basement entrance should be open 24/7, but the Management Board only opens one door, while the other is always closed. According to the approved plan, the apartment building should have a community center, but it has not yet been built. The Management Board sends staff to collect fees monthly.” "The fees are charged, but despite numerous petitions from residents, the Management Board has only held one meeting, and the petitions remain unresolved..."

The electrical and water control room was messy, cluttered, and a haven for rats and cockroaches.

To verify the residents' complaints about the developer's conduct, we sought out representatives of the apartment building's Management Board. However, the Management Board is currently absent from the Vinaconex 9B building. According to the residents, the Management Board is affiliated with the developer (Vinaconex 9 Construction Joint Stock Company); previously, the management board resided in several rooms on the top floor, but after encountering numerous "problems," they withdrew to the company headquarters. Investigating the responsibilities of each party, according to the apartment purchase contract between the residents and the developer, 2% of the total amount paid by the residents when purchasing the apartment is allocated for maintenance fees; residents must pay 100% of the maintenance fees before receiving the apartment. Furthermore, the contract clearly states that the developer is responsible for guaranteeing the quality of the construction. Based on what is stated in the apartment purchase contract, it can be confirmed that... The issue now is that the developer needs to promptly demonstrate responsibility in addressing all legitimate requests from the residents.

Ha Giang