The Hanoi People's Committee has approved new rates for services in apartment buildings.

The minimum rate is fixed at 800,000 VND (38 USD) per 100sq. m and the maximum rate for the same area is 1.65 million VND (79 USD).

This rate, four times higher than the previous one, applies only to buildings with elevators. For those with only staircases, the rates will be 450,000 VND and 500,000 VND per 100sq. m.

The service prices exclude fees for extra services like swimming pools, tennis courts and saunas.

The new regulation takes effect this month and is valid until next May.

The committee also said that any buildings that receive revenue from providing services within the building complex must decrease their service prices. The management board of each building will set the price for the building. If this causes disputes between managers and households, district People's Committees will settle them, the committee said in Decree 3431/QD-UBND, issued last week.