Residential and neighborhood assistance fees terminated: Russians now exempt from paying property managers
The Russian State Duma has recently presented a bill aimed at amending the housing code, which could potentially revolutionise the management of small apartment buildings. If passed, this bill would allow residents of buildings with up to 50 apartments to manage their homes independently.
This proposed legislation is a response to the ongoing issue of residents being "captive" to managing companies in small apartment buildings. According to experts, the current limit allows managing companies to take over small buildings and impose high fees for services. However, in buildings with up to 50 apartments, managing organisations often avoid such buildings due to the high maintenance and upkeep costs.
One such example is provided by Sergei Kostyuchenkov, a member of the Tula Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He explained that there are buildings with up to 50 apartments where managing companies cannot operate due to their small size and old condition.
If the bill is adopted, approximately 6% to 9% of houses throughout Russia could free themselves from managing companies. This could potentially reduce utility bills by up to 40% for these houses, according to specialists.
However, it's important to note that the bill does not apply to buildings with more than 50 apartments, where managing companies are already common.
In addition to the bill, certain regions are rebelling against a housing and utilities price hike, as reported by TASS. Despite the small total payment amount from few residents, the costs for maintenance and upkeep are not covered in these buildings. A new line in housing and utilities bills for Russians requires payment, but the eligibility criteria for any potential discounts are not specified.
The bill, led by Dmitry Gushev, aims to make it easier for residents to create a TOS (Tenants' Association of Owners) as a management form. Currently, this right is only granted to residents of buildings with no more than 30 apartments.
It's essential to consult official Russian legal databases or recent government publications on housing legislation for authoritative confirmation or details on this specific bill. The provided results do not contain any information about a proposed bill in Russia amending the housing code to allow small apartment buildings with more than 30 apartments to become self-managed.
Personal finance in these buildings with up to 50 apartments may significantly improve if the bill is passed, allowing residents to manage their homes independently. Specialists estimate that utility bills could decrease by up to 40% as a result, potentially freeing around 6% to 9% of houses in Russia from managing companies.
