Establishment of regional funds for major repairs discussed in Tatarstan

A workshop on “Regional programs on major repairs overhaul of the common property of apartment houses. Organization of regional operators’ activities” was held today in Verkhneuslonsky area of Tatarstan. The plenary session was attended by Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov, Director General of the Fund Assisting the Restructuring of Housing and Public Utilities of the Russian Federation Konstantin Tsitsin, Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing of Russia Andrei Chibis.

The workshop is held for the executive authorities of Russian regions in connection with the introduction of amendments to the Housing Code as of January 1st, 2014.

Welcoming the participants, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov suggested that the changes that had occurred since 2007 are revolutionary. “What has happened since 2007 to the present day can be called a revolution not only in housing but also in general in the form of our towns, in the citizens’ attitude to their houses”, said Ildar Khalikov. “Our citizens received the answer to their main question about what awaits them at home”, he added.

According to the Head of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan the program on major repairs included more than 11 million houses with the area of ​​52 million square meters. Ildar Khalikov personally thanked Director General of the Fund Assisting the Restructuring of Housing and Public Utilities of the Russian Federation Konstantin Tsitsin.

Konstantin Tsitsin recalled that three years ago the Housing Fund had appealed to the leadership of the Republic with the proposal to create a regional fund for major repairs. “Today we can say that the fund proved itself. 60% of apartment houses have been repaired”, said Konstantin Tsitsin.

The Head of Housing Fund urged the participants to learn the experience of Tatarstan in the creation of a regional fund for major repairs as from January 1st, 2014 a similar system of major repairs of apartment houses must be launched in every region.

Konstantin Tsitsin reported that each region, firstly, should determine the work list and schedule for each house. Secondly, the region should adopt a mandatory monthly fee by owners and identify co-financing from budgets of all the levels. Thirdly, there should be established a regional operator for major repairs.

“The amendments to the Housing Code require creating the entire regulatory system by January 1st, 2014. But not all regions have done it. Meanwhile, as per January 1st the compliance with these requirements is an  obligatory condition to receive money from the Fund Assisting the Restructuring of Housing and Public Utilities”, reported Konstantin Tsitsin.

Director General of the Fund Assisting the Restructuring of Housing and Public Utilities stressed that the activities of the regional operator and the whole system should be as transparent as possible. “The regional operator will be under constant supervision”, said Konstantin Tsitsin.

The details of the system of major repairs being introduced were specified by Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing of Russia Andrei Chibis. In particular, he encouraged the regions to inform the public about the meaning of the new system. Also, according to Andrei Chibis, regional authorities should establish a reasonable amount of fundraising from the population for major repairs.

After the meeting Andrei Chibis told the reporters that in the development of amendments to the Housing Code their authors relied primarily on the experience of Tatarstan, where the regional fund for major repairs has existed for three years. Each owner pays a fee to the fund and receives guaranteed repairs of his house. This system has worked well and will now be introduced across the country.