Years our government has tried to encourage the people to take upon themselves the responsibility for the condition of their homes and to create associations of co-owners of apartment houses (ajoah), that is, a non-profit legal entity for the joint use, maintenance and management of their home, but the results remained quite modest. Suffice it to say that the first condominiums began to appear in the mid-90s, but by the beginning of 2011 there were only slightly more than 10% of the total number of residential buildings of five floors or higher. The infantilism of the population remained the strongest of all arguments — it is much easier and more familiar it was to criticize state hoo for a disgusting job than to make any efforts for self-organization of their work. And then low utility rates did not give a serious incentive to save and to optimize resource consumption at the level of the house. Condominiums began to gain popularity as the rising cost of “communal”. Also “motivational kick” can be considered from the abolition of the hoo in their familiar form.
About how Ukrainian condominiums experienced last year, we told a member of the National Council on creation and functioning of associations of co-owners of apartment houses under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Chairman of the Association of condominiums and housing cooperatives in Dnipropetrovsk region “Our house” Ekaterina Chizhik, Chairman of the NGO “Association of housing cooperatives, co-owners of apartment houses “Victoria” (Zaporozhye) Lyudmila schantz, Chairman of the NGO “Association of territorial communities” (Kiev) Sergey Grandfathers and Chairman of the city Association “Our house” (str) Paul Cold.
A SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF ASSOCIATIONS — AND SOON WAITING FOR THE NEXT
From the point of view of creation and development of condominiums in Ukraine, last year was special. 1 July 2016 expired, the population of the law “On peculiarities of implementation of the right of property in an apartment house” the decision on the form of administration. For those homes whose residents were unable or did not want time to decide, the local authorities had to appoint a management company in its sole discretion, according to the results of competitions. It was assumed that this prospect will spur the creation of condominium. In General, and so it happened: “there was a significant increase in their number, says Ekaterina Chizhik. — A year ago, condominiums were created in 14% of multi-apartment houses, now we have about 20%. Particularly sharp increase was in July, and in some cities in August — September (depending on when the local authorities held a competition for Directors)”.
The expert suggests that an even greater jump in the number of people wishing to create a condominium will be in the first quarter of next year — when the new Directors will show itself in all its glory.
“In all cities where the contest was held for Directors, the cost of management services is increased, — says Ekaterina Chizhik. And when people really start to believe that how much it costs, goes another rise in the creation of condominiums”. By the way, in some cities the increase was in the nature of the explosion. “In Kiev on January 1, 2016 there were 95 condominiums. As of January 1, 2017 — already 823, 841 uniting the house!” — says Lyudmila schantz.
SIMPLIFICATION. The impact of that to create associations easier. “Under the old law it was necessary participation in the constituent Assembly, more than half of home owners. In real life it was often impossible, especially in larger homes, says Paul Cold. — New legislation adopted another scheme, the constituent Assembly quorum has not. His task is, in fact, to adopt the agenda, voting to build condominiums and other issues can take place either at the meeting or within 15 days after him.”
Association. Already every fifth apartment building in the country.
IN THE ASSOCIATION TARIFF EASIER TO SURVIVE DISASTERS
A painful subject for many — is to increase tariffs. As this trouble was experienced condominiums that are not able to affect the prices for gas, heat, electricity, etc.? “Condominiums are better prepared for this kind of conflict, says Sergei. — Of course, that sharply raise tariffs Especially that abolished the scheme, when the heat could pay the whole year, making smaller monthly burden on the family budget. And just condominiums in the majority retained this form. And people, accumulating funds, the easier it became to increase tariffs. In addition, having the Chairman of the Board, that is the person responsible for the house, residents of houses with condominiums designed more installments on payments.”
In addition, private zheki significantly raised tariffs for service of houses. “A condominium change rates only with the agreement — in the end people see what you paid and to whom paid,” says Sergei.
“Contributions to the maintenance of their homes ajoah forms on their own. Naturally, higher wages and other components lead to an increase in payment. But the fee people pay to yourself, your home, and yourself unable to control it, says Paul Trunk. — However, many owners still do not understand this and fight for every penny. Although at the same time are willing to pay exorbitant amounts for heating”.
At the same time, due to the possibility of cost control and elimination of leakages of funds, the same level of service house condominiums with good management can do much cheaper than for home with a third-party management company.
The contents of the house. The condominium can be cheaper and better.
WHO HELPS WITH HOME INSULATION
“Ajoah — this is the only opportunity to reduce the cost of heating by thermo house, i.e. serve the customer, take a “warm-loan” and collect funds from the owners,” recalls Paul Trunk. Do in apartment buildings this scheme to pull off are often very difficult. “In the house for a few owners we are able to agree on some joint actions and to chip in,” says Catherine Finch.
HELP. It is important that the creation of condominiums allows you to take part in various assistance programmes. “In the cities there are programs for joint financing of capital repairs”, — says Lyudmila schantz. “Every city is taking its program on the development of condominium: this is an initiative of the government itself, and somewhere the condominiums need to fight for its adoption, explains Paul Trunk. The program format is varied, but what unites them, as a rule, the competitive principle of obtaining funds from the budget, that is transparency, and the co-financing themselves the condominium.” In Kiev, for example, a program “70/30”: if your house is to take part in it, you will have to pay only 30% of the cost of home insulation, and the remaining 70% goes to the city budget. “In 2015, was allocated 5 million UAH, granted 16 osmd and ZHSK — all who wanted, — says Sergei. In 2016 were allocated 20 million UAH, but was able to meet only 61 house, and there were more than 70 applicants! This year has allocated UAH 30 million — I think that will be satisfied more than 100 condominiums”.
SELF. On the other hand, works to improve energy efficiency at home is not necessarily carried out only with the help from the local authorities.
“The house insulated and independently. Moreover, many refuse to participate in the program, — says Sergei. — Because it is quite difficult to work with budget money. Yes and to wait while will hold a competition for a contractor and while he will start to work, few are ready”.
Indeed, the same energy, after which you will clearly see all the weak points of your home and have a complete list of required improvements, worth about 10 thousand UAH. For home even in 100 apartments is a small amount. And they work pretty much you can spend and loan money on favorable terms under the state program. “If we talk about “warm credits”, at the expense of compensation of the state house need to return less money than was taken, but risks only the Bank,” says Paul Trunk.
Insulation. With the help of city programs or independently.
THE SABOTAGE OF POWERS AND FIGHTS WITH THE GASMAN
But we should not think that way condominiums is strewn with rose petals. Assistance at the level of local authorities may be combined with the sabotage of local governments at the lower level.
“Across the country there is a problem with disposal of the house from the balance of the former owner and transfer his condominium. Enterprises for a long time, can obtain technical documentation on the house, says Catherine Finch. — Often, local governments themselves have not, and in conditions of deficiency of the budget to find extra money to make not so simple. It’s also the fact that if you are interested in the development of condominiums at the state level, local governments (or their associated services) are often not interested in having a solid financial flows out of their control and flowed past the friendly utility companies.
And what is the lack of technical documentation? It is not only the inability to participate in city or state programs. “For example, we are faced with the inability to conclude contracts for lighting of common areas, — says Ekaterina Chizhik. — When you create ajoah power companies just disables stairwells, elevators, and so forth.” In most cases, the delay is calculated by months. But there are situations worse: John schanz cites the example of condominiums in Kiev, which can obtain the technical documentation for more than 5 years.
Gas service went like a skating rink in apartment buildings.
GAS. There is another nationwide problem is the permission to establish a house (not apartment) gas meters. This means that families who use little gas, and will pay for those neighbors that have gas burners are lit around the clock. “Gas service went like a skating rink in apartment buildings, says Catherine Finch. For example, in the Dnepr regional gas idiots with terrible force. If people started to argue, under the guise of emergency he disconnected the supply, and houses were sitting for months without gas.”
