Lawyers explained when it is legal not to pay for heating and how to appeal payment notices.
Many Ukrainians face high heating bills, even when they consume economically. Some hope to reduce their expenses, in particular by refusing to pay for heating in their entrance halls or by not having it in their apartment.
“Economic News” writes about this.
It is impossible to refuse to pay for heating of entrances, corridors and other common areas. In apartment buildings, common heat meters are usually installed, so the consumed gigacalories are distributed between all apartments in proportion to their heated area.
Owners of autonomous heating are also required to pay for heating common areas, regardless of whether they use central heating or not.
Is it possible not to pay for central heating?
You can be exempt from paying for central heating only if the autonomous heating is installed in accordance with the law and all necessary permits are obtained. According to lawyer Roman Simutin, if the heating system was installed illegally, the owner will have to pay for both heating the apartment and common areas.
“If a person refuses to pay, the heat supply company has the right to go to court. In such cases, the court, as a rule, takes the side of the service provider,” explains Simutin.
He also notes that today individual heating is only permitted to be installed for the entire building, and not for individual apartments.
You don’t live in the apartment – is it possible not to pay?
The fact of absence from the apartment is not a reason for exemption from paying for heating. However, there are two cases when consumers can legally not pay for heating:
- The service was provided poorly – for example, the temperature in the apartment was below standard.
- Heating was either absent or provided only partially.
In such situations, documentary evidence is required. If, for example, the housing was destroyed or damaged, it is necessary to provide the supplier with official documents confirming this fact.
Let us recall that water tariffs may increase again in Ukraine. In particular, water supply and sanitation may become more expensive in two stages, starting from April 1, 2025.