Housing and communal services in Russia, perhaps, at all times was the most problematic industry. However, it was only at the end of the first decade of the new century that housing and communal services were looked at not as a problem child, but as a full-fledged business.
The reform in the housing and communal services sector in Russia was a forced decision, because over the years, equipment in houses has worn out, electrical, heating and water supply systems are outdated. A decision was made to adopt a reform of housing and communal services in order to modernize housing complexes.
Reform goals
The main directions of the process of implementing the reform of housing and communal services in the period from 2008 to 2012 were the following actions:
- activation of market relations in the communal sphere;
- attracting private business and investors;
- overhaul of apartment buildings, including using the funds of the residents themselves;
- relocation of citizens from emergency houses to other housing.
Novels: management companies
Thanks to the reform of housing and communal services, new members have appeared in the Russian business community - management companies that manage and maintain the housing stock.
No matter how the population perceives managers, it is very difficult to replace their functions, because today it is an effective mechanism for organizing competition in the housing and communal services market and attracting funds from entrepreneurs for the benefit of ordinary residents.
Novels: Council of an apartment building
Every year in the course of the reform, various changes are made related to the natural process of transformation of the sphere. Thus, amendments were made to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation concerning new concepts, such as, for example, the Council of an apartment building. This is a novelty of legislation, which is designed to strengthen the role of owners of residential premises in resolving issues of housing management, to share duties and responsibilities with them.
It is worth noting that changes were made regarding the provisions on capital repairs of premises (both residential and non-residential) and the corresponding capital repair fund.
In essence, this advice will allow homeowners to actively participate in the management of their property. The council is selected in stages, for a start, residents will need to assemble a so-called initiative group, then prepare certain documents and hold a meeting of residents of the whole house. At the meeting, residents must independently resolve current issues regarding the maintenance of common property, determine the amount of payment for it, as well as the procedure for maintaining the territory. At the end of the meeting, a summary will be made, which must be notified by the chairman or secretary of the meeting to all residents, even those who were not present in person. The decisions of the meetings are passed on to the management company that serves the house.
The existing capital repair fund is formed with the help of contributions from homeowners. With the help of the latest amendments to the reform, residents of the house have the right to change the way the fund is formed based on the decision of the general meeting of residents. But if a loan was taken for carrying out major repairs and not repaid, then such houses will be denied in changing the method of forming the capital repair fund.
Recent changes concerning the fund for assisting the reform of housing and communal services have affected the conditions that must be clearly stated and spelled out. That is, some clarifying documents are needed so that the fund can provide financial assistance to homes in need.
