At the end of the heating season, it’s time to calculate the debts for communal apartments that Ukrainians have accumulated over the past six months. The winter in Ukraine was quite cold, so heating consumption increased by 6%. In Kiev alone, debts for heat and hot water reached UAH 4.4 billion. Citizens are advised to pay off debts until the end of the lockdown so as not to pay interest.
Kiev. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – April 06, 2021 – Ukraine News
By entering into an agreement on debt restructuring during quarantine, the debtor client saves a certain amount on payment of penalties and future court and enforcement fees.
In “Kievteploenergo” explained to the debtors that in case of untimely payments for the services provided, they must pay a penalty – not more than 0.01% of the debt for each day of delay. But during the quarantine and within 30 days after its cancellation, the Verkhovna Rada banned fines for consumers for late payment of utilities. This is stated in the law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts Aimed at Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)”.
Therefore, before the end of the quarantine, debtors for a communal apartment have a unique opportunity to pay off all their debts without additional costs. Otherwise, the case will go to court, and after the quarantine is completed, not only debts will be collected from them, but the property may also be taken away.
During the quarantine, debtors for communal services need to conclude an agreement on debt restructuring with each utility company. This can be done remotely. Then the debt will be allowed to be repaid in installments, over a certain period of time, and not to pay the entire amount at a time. You can pay off debts for the maintenance of housing in installments; hot and cold water supply; heating; gas supply; sewerage services; electricity, household waste disposal.
The total amount of monthly payments made to pay current bills and payments to pay off restructured debt should not exceed 25% of the total income of all family members, and for pensioners and other persons receiving any type of social assistance – 20%. The debt is repaid within 60 months. However, if the family budget is not enough to fully repay this debt for this period, the term of the contract is extended until it is fully paid off.
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Source: Ukrgate