The Petchkasem 91 rental building project is another initiative that the National Housing Authority has taken back from the private sector to manage itself. This project has received a positive response from residents.

                Mr. Thaveepong Wichaidit, Governor of the National Housing Authority, revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact nationwide, affecting social and economic aspects and directly impacting the public. Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha is concerned about the people and has instructed all government agencies and state enterprises to assist those in distress according to their respective missions as a matter of urgency. Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Mr. Juti Krairerk, has therefore assigned the National Housing Authority to find ways to assist residents living in its projects comprehensively.

The National Housing Authority has implemented a policy to reclaim rental buildings from private companies to maximize benefits for the public, in line with the government's policy to alleviate financial burdens on citizens during the current situation, while also enhancing the quality of life for residents by providing affordable housing in a safe and secure environment.

                 Mr. Somjet Prabhanbanit, Acting Deputy Governor of the National Housing Authority, stated that under this policy, the National Housing Authority aims to reclaim rental buildings from private companies, totaling 60 contracts and 32,632 units. In the initial phase at the beginning of 2021, two pilot projects were launched: the Nawamin Community Housing Project and the O-Ngern Community Housing Project. Currently, 51 contracts have been reclaimed, totaling 27,917 units, with plans to complete the process by December 31, 2022.

"The Petchkasem 91 rental building project is another project where the National Housing Authority has reclaimed buildings from a private company and is now managing them. It is located in Soi Petchkasem 91, Phutthasakorn Road, Suan Luang Subdistrict, Krathum Baen District, Samut Sakhon Province, covering an area of 39-3-28.0 rai, consisting of 17 five-story buildings with a total of 2,507 units, each measuring 24 square meters. There are currently 1,187 occupied units and 868 available for rent, managed by the Asset and Community Management Company Limited."

For the rental rates of the Petchkasem 91 project in 2022, the National Housing Authority has reduced the rental rates by 10%, effective from January 1 to December 2022, allowing tenants to pay reduced rates from the previous 1,900 - 2,300 baht per month to 1,710 - 1,900 baht per month. Additionally, electricity costs have decreased as they are billed by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (where private companies charge 5-6 baht per unit per month, while the Metropolitan Electricity Authority charges 3 baht per unit per month). Water costs have also decreased since the National Housing Authority directly contracts with the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (where private companies charge 16-30 baht per unit per month, while the National Housing Authority charges 13-15 baht per unit per month). Furthermore, there are no garbage collection fees as the National Housing Authority provides this service for free, allowing residents to save at least 497 baht per month.

 

After reclaiming the Petchkasem 91 rental project, the National Housing Authority has improved the landscape within the project to enhance livability and safety for residents, such as trimming branches to avoid obstructing power lines, repairing sidewalks and damaged roads, installing awnings, and cleaning drainage systems. There are also plans to increase lighting by adding more light fixtures and installing surveillance cameras within the buildings to ensure the safety of residents and their property.

Additionally, the National Housing Authority promotes community activities to foster unity among residents, such as merit-making on important occasions or organizing events for Children's Day, Songkran, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, as well as vocational training activities for community residents.

Recently, a fire prevention and control training program has been organized in the community, which will be held four times a year, with each session accommodating approximately 60 - 100 participants. This aims to educate residents on the proper use of fire extinguishers, correct fire-fighting methods, and prevention measures to avoid fire incidents. There are also training sessions on the use of effective microorganisms, with plans to continuously develop this community to foster knowledge, resulting in tenants taking pride in their residence and wanting to sustainably improve their living environment.