Hanoi will halt the licensing of new commercial housing projects in its centre in three years’ time, according to the city’s proposed Housing Development Programme for the 2012-20 period.

Statistics from the municipal People’s Committee show real estate inventories in the city remain high with 5,789 apartments, covering a total floor space of 566,000sq.m.

The city is speeding up inventory reduction by allowing properties to be converted into social housing or structurally adjusted.-VNA