Increased housing options equate to increased costs: a new clause in the housing legislation
In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and tenant control, a new line item titled "Cleaning of Common Areas" is set to appear in Russian utility bills starting from August 2025. This change, long advocated by experts like Alexei Tsvetkov, a 15-year veteran in housing and communal services, could potentially lead to more tenant satisfaction with utility billing and common area cleaning services.
Until now, costs related to cleaning common areas were included in the "Maintenance of Housing" category. This new line item, however, is expected to provide a clearer picture of how much is spent on keeping common areas clean, offering tenants a more direct and effective means to monitor the service quality.
If cleaning is poor or services are delayed, tenants can now demand a recalculation with a clear basis under the new line item. This added transparency may also facilitate more accountable management of common area cleaning services, simplifying oversight for managing companies.
While the specifics of how these costs will be distributed among tenants and the implications for individual households are yet to be fully understood, it is clear that this change represents a step towards increased transparency and control for Russian tenants.
It's important to note that while this new line item is expected to be a common practice in Russia from 2025, it may not be as prevalent in some European countries. In fact, in countries like Germany, cleaning of common areas is often regulated by separate contracts between tenants and cleaning companies.
As for utility and municipal service rates, increases of 8.6 to 21.1 percent, depending on the region, are set to take effect from July 1, 2025. These rate hikes, which vary across regions, are intended to cover rising resource costs and infrastructure upgrade needs. Tenants may need to adjust their budgets accordingly to cover these increased costs, although the direct impact on specific line items like "Cleaning of Common Areas" remains to be seen.
For detailed information on how "Cleaning of Common Areas" costs are handled and their implications for tenants under new utility payment rules in Russia, it would be necessary to consult specific local regulations or building management policies.
References: [1] Kommersant. (2023). Utility rates in Russia to rise by 11.9% on average from July 1, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4817878 [2] Interfax. (2023). Utility rates to increase by 8.6-21.1% in Russia from July 1, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.interfax.ru/russia/774585
Tenants might need to budget more for their personal-finance due to the upcoming change in utility billing, as a new line item for "Cleaning of Common Areas" will appear, and costs previously buried in the "Maintenance of Housing" category will now be more transparent. With this change, tenants may have a better understanding of how much is spent on keeping common areas clean, potentially leading to more effective budgeting for this expense.
