Each resident of the country receives a monthly payment receipt for housing and communal services. Rent is calculated by the organization with which an agreement has been concluded for the provision of utility services in an apartment building, or powers are transferred to a single settlement center that charges utility bills.
Often the payer is faced with an inflated amount. He can check the accrual himself. But first you need to figure out what the amount of payment for housing and communal services (HCS) is made up of and what factors influence it.
What is included in the rent?
Rent is a common concept that implies a mandatory monthly payment for housing and communal services. Its structure depends on whether the property is for personal use or rented out. According to Art. 154 Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the rent for the apartment consists of:
| For the employer | For the owner |
| Of the costs of maintaining residential premises: for management, maintenance, routine repairs and removal of solid waste; on resources spent on maintaining public places. | Of the costs of maintaining residential premises: for management, maintenance, routine repairs and removal of solid waste; on resources spent on maintaining public places. |
| From expenses for individual consumption of resources (cold and hot water, electricity, heating, gas, sanitation) | From expenses for individual consumption of resources (cold and hot water, electricity, heating, gas, sanitation) |
| From the hiring fee | From contributions for major repairs |
According to Art. 153 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the following are required to make utility payments:
- the employer from the moment of signing the rental agreement;
- tenant;
- the developer from the moment of receiving permission to put the house into operation.
Payment of rent on the basis of Art. 155 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation must be carried out no later than the 10th day of the month following the month of provision of services. However, the contract for the provision of housing and communal services may establish a different payment period. In the absence of payments within 3 months in order to collect debts, the supply of resources may be limited to the consumer.
What services are included in the rent?
The state has established a certain list of services to maintain residential buildings in optimal condition:
| No. | Service | Periodicity |
| 1. | Cleaning the local area. | Depends on the specific service option. For example, garbage is removed 295 times a year, and swept 200 to 290 times a year. |
| 2. | Cleaning staircases. | This includes sweeping and wet washing once a week. |
| 3. | Basement cleaning. | This service is provided only once a year. In this case, the collected waste is transported to the designated place. |
| 4. | Removal of household waste. | Solid household waste is collected every day. |
| 5. | Current repairs and preparation for seasonal operation. | Current repairs of building elements are carried out based on the results of the inspection (repair of the elevator, porch, canopy, wall joints, etc.). As for preparing for the autumn-winter period, this process consists of repairing doors and glazing windows. |
| 6. | Lighting. | The necessary equipment is provided according to the approved limit. It is worth noting that the lighting in the entrance is in the hands of apartment residents - they themselves must purchase light bulbs. |
| 7. | Deratization. | The problem with rodents is solved after inspection - if necessary, holes are sealed and traps are installed. |
| 8. | Pest control. | At least 12 times a year, insect control is carried out using irrigation, pollination and distribution of bait in places where they are collected. |
| 9. | Maintenance of smoke and ventilation ducts. | It is checked once a year if the premises are not gasified, and up to 6 times a year if they are gasified. |
| 10. | Maintenance and repair of in-house power supply systems. | Includes minor repairs to distribution boards, replacement of electrical elements, correction of wiring irregularities, etc. |
| 11. | Maintenance and ongoing repairs of in-house central heating systems, hot and cold water supply. | Inspection twice a year. It is possible to replace emergency areas as routine repairs and then eliminate their occurrence in the future. |
| 12. | Maintenance of elevators and dispatch systems. | Includes ensuring complete safety in using the elevator through periodic inspection of device parts and their replacement. Cleaning of the premises is also provided. |
If there are no services provided from this list, you should contact the management company with a corresponding request.
If no response is received, then you need to file an application with the prosecutor’s office or court, since fulfilling the entire list is the direct responsibility of the service company.
Sample application for recalculation of utility bills
How is rent calculated?
The amount of payment for housing and communal services is not constant. It is influenced by factors:
- number of people living;
- volume of consumption;
- gasification of the house, on which the electricity tariff depends;
- room area;
- utility tariffs;
- issued benefits and subsidies;
- accrued penalties.
Each factor, to one degree or another, influences the total amount accrued for each line on the receipt.
Home repair and maintenance
The tariff for this line is approved in an amount capable of maintaining public areas in proper condition. In accordance with paragraph 7 of Art. 156 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the fee is set by the general meeting of residents, taking into account the proposals of the Criminal Code, for at least 1 year. Based on clause 8 of Art. 156 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the amount of contributions for owners to HOAs is established by the governing bodies.
Expenses for one-day visits
They are included in the article “Housing Maintenance”. In the absence of collective metering devices, charges will be made according to consumption standards. If they are available, the total cost is calculated by subtracting the individual consumption of all residents from the general house consumption, and then divided among all owners in proportion to the area they occupy.
Calculation of the amount for utilities
Their cost makes up a significant portion of the total rent. The calculation method depends on whether a meter is installed in the apartment or not.
According to meter readings
They are installed not only for water and electricity, but also for gas and even heating. To calculate rent based on actual consumption, it is necessary to submit reliable readings from the IPU within the established time frame (usually before the 25th of the current month).
If the readings are not submitted on time, the fee will be charged based on average consumption for the previous 3 or 6 months, and then according to the standards.
According to standards
In the absence of metering devices, the price of consumed resources depends on consumption standards, which are set either per person (water, gas, electricity) or per 1 square meter of apartment (heating). The final figure is calculated as the tariff multiplied by the number of people or the total area of the premises and the standard.
In the event that there is no meter, but the technical ability to install it is available, an increasing factor is used when calculating the cost of resource consumption (water and light).
IMPORTANT! If no one is registered in the apartment, and there is no IPU, utility bills will be charged as per 1 registered person.
Hiring fee
It is influenced by: the location of the room, area and available amenities. Local authorities set the fee per 1 m2, and federal departments set its maximum threshold.
Tariff changes can occur no more than once a year. The organization renting out housing must notify about this 3 months in advance.
Major repair fee
Federal Law No. 271 of December 25, 2012 introduced significant changes to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation. Now owners pay separate contributions for major repairs to a specialized fund. Tenants of premises and property owners in buildings that are in disrepair and subject to demolition are exempt from them.
The funds collected are used to repair or replace common property, such as elevator equipment. The fee is set per 1 m2, so its size directly depends on the total area of the apartment.
Penalty
Penalties are a type of penalties assessed for debt on utility bills. You can find out about existing debts via the Internet, from employees of settlement centers or through a personal bank account.
In accordance with paragraph 14 of Art. 155 Housing Code of the Russian Federation, penalties depend on:
- from the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (up to 90 days of delay - 1/300 of the rate, from 91 days - 1/130);
- on the amount of debt;
- on the number of days of delay.
Penalties are accrued for each day starting from 31 days from the due date for payment.
In a communal apartment
Neighbors must establish the procedure for paying for housing and communal services in such an apartment on their own. The agreement must be made in writing and signed by all residents. If owners and tenants fail to agree on the method of calculation, the dispute between them is resolved in court.
Typically, residents divide their personal accounts, and each receives a separate receipt for utility bills. The rent in such apartments is calculated based on the occupied space or the number of people living.
IMPORTANT! A similar payment procedure can be established in a privatized apartment that has several owners.
How to calculate rent?
The final payment amount depends on the following factors:
| Current utility tariffs | absence or presence of preferential conditions, subsidies |
| Absence or presence of individual metering devices | provided that the residential premises have meters for cold and hot water, this means that the final payment amount is established based on individual consumption. However, if there are no meters, calculations are carried out according to social norms based on 1 registered citizen |
| Number of residents living in this residential premises | determined taking into account all persons registered on a permanent basis |
| Housing area | range of housing and utility services provided |
Property owners or their users must also systematically pay for general house services.
This group of costs includes water consumption for washing, cleaning the entrance, and electricity consumption for lighting staircases.
Calculation of housing and communal services for 1st tenant
In practice, not every apartment has meters that monitor gas and water consumption.
Today, there are houses in which the installation of metering devices is impossible due to the specific nature of utilities. In particular, this is difficult to do in old houses - in Khrushchev-era buildings.
Because of this, the procedure for calculating certain housing and communal services items is carried out in accordance with the current consumption rate when calculating per 1 resident:
- Drainage.
- Gas.
- Water supply.
The final amount for these items depends on how many residents are registered in the apartment.
There is a formula that allows you to calculate the amount of payment for the following items:
Payment for utilities = norm for 1 person * housing and communal services tariff * number of registered persons.
For example, if there are 3 people registered in an apartment, the hot water consumption standard is 3 cubic meters. for 1 person per month. The tariff for hot water supply is 130.27 rubles.
This means that you will have to pay for hot water per month - 3 * 3 * 130.27 = 1,172.43 rubles.
From what moment the rent in a new building is calculated, read here.
If no one is registered in the apartment
Provided that no one is registered in the premises, this fact is not a basis for exempting the property owner from paying for utilities.
If meters are not installed in the apartment, this means that payment will be calculated per 1 registered person.
However, if individual metering devices are installed for heating, gas or water, they must be turned off.
Other utilities are calculated in accordance with current tariffs calculated for 1 resident.
And yet, for this purpose, it will be necessary to deliver to the service organization a document certifying that the owner is registered at a different address.
Payment procedure in a communal apartment
The payment procedure is established by the residents.
Payment for an apartment can be transferred in proportion to the number of registered residents or the occupied space.
You can also install personal metering devices for each living family and pay for housing and communal services based on meter readings.
At the same time, it is possible to divide personal accounts, respectively, each family will receive receipts with the amount indicated for them.
This kind of agreement must be in writing and signed by the owner of the apartment or the tenants.
Payment based on meter readings
It is implemented this way:
| All service organizations individually | determine the date of transmission of the readings, as a rule, this occurs in the period from the 18th to the 25th of the current month |
| Until the end of the current month, the company performs the calculation | sends payers by mail the corresponding bills with the marked amounts requested for payment |
| Payment by payment order | must be completed by the 10th of the following month |
Reducing the rent amount
Citizens are interested in reducing the amount of payments. You can reduce the amount of payment for housing and communal services in the following cases:
1. Installation of meters.
Paying for actual resource consumption is beneficial. Individual consumption is often significantly lower than established standards. And if people are registered in the living space, but no one lives there, installing meters will completely eliminate payments for water, electricity and gas.
IMPORTANT! Even in the absence of registration, the owner is obliged to pay for heating, housing maintenance and major repairs.
2. Temporary absence.
To reduce the rent, you must provide documents proving temporary absence (more than 5 days):
- train/plane tickets;
- a copy of a certificate confirming the fact of a business trip;
- medical certificate confirming treatment in a hospital;
- certificate of temporary registration.
Recalculation of utility bills is appropriate in the absence of metering devices.
3. Registration of benefits and subsidies.
Some categories of the population have the right to receive assistance from the state in the form of benefits and subsidies for paying for housing and communal services, which are a kind of discount. To do this, you need to collect a package of documents proving your right to receive government support and submit it to the district social protection department.
4. Receiving low-quality services and long interruptions in delivery.
Quality requirements are described in Appendix No. 1 of the “Rules for the Provision of Utility Services”, approved by PP No. 354 of 05/06/2011. It also establishes the percentages by which payments are reduced in various situations. For example, for each hour that the permissible duration of a break in water or heating supply is exceeded, the cost is reduced by 0.15%.
In addition to the rent reduction, based on paragraph 4 of Art. 157 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, an authorized company can be held accountable.
What is included in the rent in Russia, list of housing and communal services
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We obtain the necessary resources from organizations that have the appropriate licenses. The main list of housing and communal services consists of :
- Cold water supply. The water supplied must be clean and free of germs or any chemical impurities. It should be available around the clock. The maximum permissible break is up to 8 hours per month and no more than 24 hours in case of an accident.
- Hot water supply. Not everyone gets this anymore. This water, in addition to the above requirements, must have a temperature from 65 degrees Celsius to 75 degrees. Small deviations from the norm are allowed.
- Sewerage. Housing must have a wastewater disposal system.
- Heating. In this case, the main factor is the air temperature in the apartment. It should be at least +18 degrees in the room and at least +15 at the entrance. During the heating season, heating may be turned off for no more than 24 hours per month.
- Gas supply. Not all houses are connected to domestic gas. But if housing is connected, then it is paid along with other utilities.
- Electricity. Interruptions in the supply of electricity lasting 2 hours for two sources and 24 hours for one are allowed.
List of municipal utilities and their characteristic features
These services do not apply to any individual apartments or private houses, but create comfortable conditions for the owners or owners of residential premises, and they are included in the rent.
Here is a list of these services:
- Repair, maintenance of housing. The main purpose of this function is to maintain the premises in good condition.
- Major renovation.
- Garbage removal.
- Other services. These include cleaning of entrances, elevators, areas around the house, 24-hour security, secure parking, grocery delivery, and so on.
Read more here: what is included in the maintenance, maintenance and ongoing repairs of property. ⇐
Important! These services are not mandatory, but if present, they must be paid at established rates.
Operational services in housing and communal services
These services include:
- Telephone and landline communications.
- Internet and television.
- Intercom.
- Security and stuff.
Note! Such services are paid only if they are available and used by residents.
Obligations of management companies and housing and communal services
All obligations listed in the contract must be fulfilled by the company so that the contract is not terminated and penalties are applied to the HOA.
The main point of the contract, which must be implemented, is repair work.
They are obliged to provide two types:
- Current work;
- Major renovation.
It may be that the house does not need repairs or that the residents want to demolish the poor-quality building. All these points must be reflected in the contract.
Organizational activities include:
- Control over the supply of all necessary services from authorized organizations.
- Accepting payments for services provided. Ensuring that payments are received on time.
- Ensuring safe conditions for residents to use the house, as well as when carrying out repair work.
- Consideration of complaints from residents.
Additional services
There are also additional paid services that are not included in the maintenance of the house. These may include: security, alarm systems, CCTV cameras. Some companies require illegal fees for various types of services:
- Services that are not included in the contract.
- Additional fees are charged for services included in the contract.
- Collection of mandatory donations for the activities of the organization.
How to check whether utility bills are calculated correctly
If it seems to you that the payment for housing and communal services was calculated incorrectly, check the receipt:
- Information on the number of living citizens.
- The specified area.
- Changes in consumption rates and tariffs, their validity and legality.
- Correctness of meter readings, if available.
- New payment lines appear.
- Availability of funds to pay for unprovided housing and communal services.
ADVICE! You can calculate the rent yourself using calculation formulas or using a housing and communal services calculator.
The procedure for calculating rent is described in detail in Appendix No. 2 of PP No. 354 dated May 6, 2011.
Rent calculator
A service has been developed for each region to help citizens approximately calculate the amount of payment for housing and communal services. The user is required to:
- choose a place of residence;
- select a billing period;
- indicate the area of the apartment, the number of registered residents and the type of house (mkd or private);
- select the type of resource (water, electricity, gas, etc.) and calculation method (meter or standard). Payments for general house needs will also be calculated here.
The service is convenient because you don’t have to look for consumption standards or established tariffs, they are entered automatically. However, regional calculators do not calculate home maintenance fees and the amount of contributions for major repairs.
How to figure out what's included in your rent receipt
The first thing a consumer looks at is the total amount of utility bills. How to figure out what it consists of? What is included in the rent in Russia?
In addition to the standard list of utility services provided, the receipt contains such items as major and current repairs, and house maintenance. The payment may also include territory security and video surveillance.
However, all additional items must be agreed upon with residents at a general meeting. In this case, each of the owners gives written consent to pay for services not included in the standard payment document.
The total amount is calculated based on the tariffs for the billing period and the indicators provided by the consumer.
Owners who have equipped their apartments with metering devices (MU) transfer the indicators themselves; everyone else is charged based on standards or data from general building MUs. This takes into account information about the number of residents, total area and devices with increased energy intensity.
Personal account
One of the responsibilities of management companies and HOAs is to register a personal account for residential premises owned or used under a social tenancy agreement. It should be remembered that a personal account is not a document confirming the rights of the tenant or owner, unlike a certificate of ownership or a social tenancy agreement.
The LS contains the following information:
- information about the owner;
- information about persons living in the apartment;
- total area;
- size of utilities;
- shared participation of all owners of living space (if there are several of them).
To open a personal document at the passport office you must provide:
- owner's passport;
- certificate of ownership or social tenancy agreement;
- residential maintenance agreement.
The personal account is issued specifically for the apartment, and not for its owner. If the consumer owns several residential premises, each of them will have its own personal account. Any changes to the drug account are made only with the written consent of the owner.
Form
A receipt for housing and communal services is provided in the form of a form to be filled out monthly.
It deciphers the following information:
- drug number;
- billing period;
- details of the service provider company;
- general information about property;
- PU indicators;
- general house expenses;
- information about benefits, subsidies or installment plans provided to the owner.
Receipt for housing and communal services
The contents of receipt forms for private houses and apartments may differ in the section of general house expenses for intercom, concierge or entrance maintenance.
Where to go if your rent is charged incorrectly
Under the contract for the provision of housing and communal services, each party agrees to fulfill its obligations in good faith: the consumer is required to pay on time, and the responsible company is required to provide services of adequate quality and correctly calculate the rent.
If, during the verification of the correctness of the accrual, an erroneously calculated amount was identified, which, for example, is significantly higher than the payment for previous months, you need to contact:
- To the company that charges the fees: management company, homeowners association or EIRC. Before applying, check all the data on the receipt, especially the submitted readings and tariffs. If an error is discovered due to the fault of the tenant himself, he will be issued a new payment document or the amount paid will be credited in subsequent payments. If the overstatement of the amount was due to the fault of an authorized person, and recalculation was refused, it is worth filing a formal complaint with higher authorities.
ADVICE! You can get advice on calculations and charges for housing and communal services by calling the hotline in the region.
- To the state housing inspection. You need to complain to the inspectorate in case of deliberate misuse of a tariff or benefit.
- To Rospotrebnadzor. The appeal is appropriate when the incorrect accrual is associated with inadequate quality of services provided or their non-provision.
- The prosecutor's office is the body that oversees the implementation of existing laws. During the inspection, the supervisory authority may issue an order to eliminate the violation, which is subject to mandatory compliance.
- To court. Before turning to the judicial authorities, the plaintiff must collect evidence of a violation of his rights.
