[2022 National Audit] Seoul's Widely Varying Small Apartment Safety Inspection Fees... Up to 7.7 Million Won Difference

Maximum Amount Difference in Safety Inspection Fees by Number of Units per Generation / Data provided by Yoo Kyung-jun, Office of the People Power Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] It has been revealed that the safety inspection fees for small-scale apartments vary greatly by complex, even if they are of the same size. In some cases, the price difference reached as much as 7.7 million KRW.

On the 14th, Yook Kyung-jun, a member of the People Power Party, analyzed the "Status Data on Inspection Fees of Building Management Inspection Agencies for Regular Inspections under the Building Management Act" submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The analysis showed that even with the same number of households, safety inspection fees differed by up to 7.7 million KRW depending on the apartment complex.

Unlike large-scale multi-family housing with 300 or more households, which are mandatorily managed under the "Apartment Housing Management Act," small-scale multi-family housing is subject to voluntary management. Accordingly, since 2020, Seoul has required district mayors to randomly designate safety inspection companies to conduct safety diagnoses for small-scale multi-family housing under the "Building Management Act" and the "Seoul Building Management Ordinance."

However, there are concerns that the inspection fees charged to small-scale multi-family housing complexes randomly designated vary widely by complex. According to the analysis by Yook Kyung-jun's office, for example, the safety inspection fee for A Apartment in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, with 130 households, was 1.3 million KRW, whereas for B Apartment in Sangdo-dong, Dongjak-gu, with the same number of households, it was recorded as 9 million KRW, showing a price difference of 7.7 million KRW. The average price difference in inspection fees among small-scale multi-family housing complexes with the same number of households in the city was 2.67 million KRW.

Yook Kyung-jun stated, "The reckless charging of inspection fees by randomly designated inspection companies should be avoided," and added, "Seoul's measures to reduce the economic burden on residents of small-scale multi-family housing should be promptly prepared."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.