Starting in 2016, it will be costly to accumulate penalties for non-payment of utility bills. According to the latest legislative amendments, penalties for late payment of utility bills will significantly increase.
Since 2016, amendments to the Housing Code will come into effect, which, among other things, will increase the amount of penalties for late paid receipts for gas, electricity, heating and water. Management companies will become more active in working with debtors and, if necessary, connect collectors.
From 2016, a differentiated scheme for calculating interest will be applied, depending on the duration of the delay:
- up to day 30 inclusive: not charged;
- from 31 to 90 days: in the amount of 1/300 of the refinancing rate;
- from day 91: in the amount of 1/130 of the refinancing rate.
First of all, this approach to calculating penalties is directed against hard-core defaulters in housing and communal services. And there are many of them in our country. So, only in Moscow there are about 8% of all tenants.
Whereas for those who could not pay the receipt for a month, but then immediately paid off all the debt, this approach is more profitable. Indeed, according to the current rules, penalties are charged immediately from the first day of delay in payment of the receipt.
Since 2016, the refinancing rate and the key rate will also become equal. As a result, all penalties and fines will increase by more than 30%. The refinancing rate is now 11%, whereas previously the calculation was based on the rate of 8.25%.
It becomes extremely unprofitable to be a malicious defaulter of housing and communal services. For example, the debt for housing and communal services is 10,000 rubles. During the first three months, penalties in the amount of 330 rubles will accrue. (10,000 * 90 * 0, 11/300), whereas under the current rules the amount would be 247, 5 p. If the debt is not repaid and continues to accumulate, then by six months the penalty will be already (10000 * 6 * 180 * 0, 11/130) = 9138.5 rubles. For comparison, according to the rules of 2015, the penalties would have amounted to 6853.8 rubles.
