Payment of housing and communal services is one of the responsibilities of homeowners and those who live in it. Usually we are talking about tenants and owners of property received from the state or municipality. How to save, given the increase in prices and commissions?
Normative regulation
Housing Code - the basic regulatory document governing the payment of housing and communal services. In order to implement the law, a number of regulatory acts have been issued at the level of the Government of the Russian Federation and central authorities.
There are a number of resolutions that have been adopted at the federal level, including No. 354 of 2011. It details many of the nuances. Local authorities set prices and resolve other issues with payment.
The current acts established that a citizen who missed the due date is also obliged to pay a fine, calculated depending on the amount of the debt. The Civil Code contains general requirements regarding payment of obligations.
A number of regulations are devoted to providing citizens with benefits and subsidies aimed at reducing the amount that socially vulnerable people and pensioners spend on housing and communal services. They are accepted at both the federal and regional levels.
Who influences expenses
Banks, post offices, credit organizations, payment systems through which payment is paid make their share in the costs. If an agreement is concluded with the post office or other organization accepting money, then no commission will be charged from citizens. Each organization takes its commission for the service provided.
Some companies charge money based on the amount paid, others, regardless of it, setting a fixed tariff, while others mix the two approaches. A fixed rate is proposed, and if the payment exceeds a certain threshold, an additional percentage is charged.
If the homeowner lives in the city, then his commission costs in connection with the payment of housing and communal services increase significantly.
Groups of eligible persons
The state, through its acts, has established various forms of support for citizens when paying for utilities. It applies to a list of individuals. It is difficult to indicate all who enter it. Typically, these are:
- persons with veteran status in accordance with the law;
- parents and spouses of the dead military personnel and persons equated to them;
- disabled people, families in which they live;
- persons or families of persons involved in the liquidation of emergency situations (Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Mayak and others);
- large families.
The list of such citizens is divided into two main categories:
- the benefit is established in accordance with federal law;
- The privilege is established in accordance with the provisions adopted by the regional authorities.
Local officials are entitled to establish additional subsidies for the payment of housing and communal services and methods of support in favor of persons entitled to federal benefits.
Support Methods
A budget provides assistance in several ways.
- Issuance of funds to pay for utilities.
- Payment is made directly from the budget, bypassing the citizen.
Features of payment of housing and communal services in Moscow
The subjects set the maximum threshold for spending a pensioner or a person entitled to benefits. In Moscow, this threshold is no more than 10%, in some other regions for comparison - 22%.
What types of services are covered by state aid:
- water supply and sanitation;
- gas supply;
- heating;
- power supply.
Some retirees permanently residing in the capital are entitled to a 50% discount.
This applies to veterans, including military service, repressed persons.
For some citizens, the state budget pays for the utilities completely (people with disabilities and war veterans, 80-year-olds, people with the title of Hero).
Benefits are issued either through the MFC, or through a special city portal, also through the city institution "My Documents".
Documents are transmitted every six months, benefits and discounts apply to only one premises owned. Documents should take no more than 10 working days.
Standard package of documents
The list or package of documents for obtaining benefits is formed on the basis of the regulatory framework. Basically, this issue is decided by the executive authorities of the subjects. I must say that there is almost no difference. All lists are compiled in accordance with the methodological recommendations transmitted from the Government of the Russian Federation.
- passport;
- certificate of family composition;
- documents confirming the status (disability, large families, etc.);
- documents confirming the absence of arrears in payment for services;
- application completed in accordance with the form approved by the local authority.
Benefits for housing and communal services are accrued at the place of registration of a citizen, regardless of where they actually live. Often there are disputes about the legality of this situation. But the courts prefer to take into account the place of registration of residence as the real location of the person.
If a person has the right to apply for several types of assistance at the same time, he is invited to choose one of them. Exceptions are provided by law.
Where to file documents
Reception of documents involved:
- MFC staff;
- management of social protection of the population.
The original documents remain with the applicant, he brings with him copies that are certified and collected in the file.
Accrual scheme
Benefits are noted either on the receipt or on the client’s personal page on the website of the company providing the services.
There is a rule according to which accruals are made from the next month. For example, the documents were sent to the MFC in January, which means that the benefit will start in February.
If any securities are not enough, then the production on the application is suspended, the client is given a deadline for their provision. And yet - to a person who has debts, subsidies are not provided.
If a citizen has other incomes, then subsidies or discounts are available during a period of significant growth in expenses for paying utility bills, and not throughout the year.
Responsibility of citizens
Illegal provision of subsidies or other state assistance entails liability.
The first form of liability is civil law, that is, a person compensates for illegally received money. If the error occurred not through his fault, then the funds are not refundable.
An article has been introduced in the Criminal Code, which provides for criminal liability for the unjustified receipt of benefits and assistance, provided that knowingly false information is provided or information withheld. Adequate amount of damage to initiate proceedings - 2500 rubles.
Execution of obligations
People worry about the fact that the money was sent on the last day of the term, and they are charged a fine. According to the law, it does not matter after what period of time the money will be in the company's account. Moreover, the corresponding algorithms for recalculation are introduced into computer programs. Therefore, you can choose the most convenient payment method for yourself.
What options are offered?
- banks;
- payment systems;
- mobile phones;
- terminals
- post offices.
Below we consider each of the listed options.
Banks
Banks and other organizations that accept payments from the population earn from the commission. Consumers complain that banks invite customers by promising discounts. When the account is just opened, all promises turn out to be half true at best. Similar statements are found when paying for housing and communal services in Sberbank.
However, it all depends on the relationship of the bank with the public utilities, if an agreement is signed between them, then the commission from customers is not charged when paying.
The client can pay for services through the Internet services of the bank or at a branch. Sometimes a bank encourages a client to use electronic services, while refusing a commission.
If the client has used the cash desk service or Internet banking, he has a receipt. In the first case, it is issued directly in the department, in the second it remains in the system. At any time, bank employees can print out at the client’s request.
Electronic payment systems
Along with banks, utility billing services are offered by payment systems. For example, Yandex Money offers to use their services. However, they are paid. Some, on the contrary, attract customers with a lack of commission. In others, the commission is much smaller and almost invisible to the client, even the senior citizen.
Looking at how this system is arranged, there is a possibility:
- Track your payment history
- receive an extract or receipt;
- see the presence of debt or overpayment.
Registration in the service takes several minutes. The client receives a wallet or some equivalent account. In fact, banks and payment systems offer a single set of services. The difference lies in the level of quality of service.
The duration of the transfer is determined by the features of the payment system or bank. The size of the commission or its absence is determined by the contract between the service and the relevant company.
mobile connection
Mobile phones or smartphones are an additional way to pay for services. A special application is installed on the device, with which it is possible to make an inventory from the account to pay for mobile communications. So far, such a service is offered only by MTS.
Terminals
Payment terminals are spreading more and more every day. They are established either by banks or companies providing payment acceptance services. The size of the commission or its absence is determined by the owner of the device and the contract between him and the communal service.
Post office
Mail still serves a large part of the population, providing many of the basic services. Including - accepts payments. Most often, it has agreements with utility providers to accept payments, and payment of housing and communal services by pensioners is made more often by mail.
Finally
There are two ways to save on utility bills:
- get a subsidy;
- choose a service for payment that does not charge a commission for payments, or it is significantly lower than that of other companies.
The conditions for the provision of state aid are regulated by both federal and regional authorities, the main work lies primarily with local officials.
The difference lies in the list of persons entitled to the benefit, and the amount of the subsidy, as well as the amount to spend on utilities considered acceptable.
The size of the commission is determined by the owner of the service or the management of the bank. Not so long ago, a law was passed on direct settlements of citizens with utilities. He must reduce the number of intermediaries and the size of the commission.
If an agreement is signed between the service provider and the organization that accepts payments, the amount of the commission is either reduced or not charged at all. Thus, payment of housing and communal services without a commission is a rarity.