Is it obligatory to pay utility bills for Ukrainians who have moved abroad and who may not pay their bills
A large number of Ukrainians have had to leave their homes empty and move abroad because of the war. Find out more about whether those who do not currently live at home have to pay utility bills
Many Ukrainians fled their homes in Ukraine because of the war and were forced to move abroad. At the same time, IDPs left their houses and apartments empty. However, utility bills continue to arrive, even if no one is currently living in the property. Do Ukrainians have to pay utility bills if they do not currently live in their homes - is described below with reference to RBK-Ukraine.
Utility bills: do you have to pay them when living abroad?
From the legal point of view, Ukrainian citizens who have moved abroad are obliged to continue paying utility bills accrued during the period of their absence from their homes.
However, it is noted that citizens who have not lived in their own apartment or house for 30 days are entitled to recalculate the amount of debt.
"The legislation allows for a reduction in the cost of utilities if no one has lived in the apartment or house for more than 30 days. The only exceptions are heating and apartment building management services," the lawyer explained.
How to recalculate the amount of utility debt?
To recalculate the amount, you need to apply to the Utility Service Centre. The application must be accompanied by a document confirming the absence of the citizen from the home for a certain period of time.
Such a document may be an IDP certificate, a medical treatment certificate or a military service certificate.
After the application, the service provider will be obliged to recalculate the cost of garbage collection, as well as hot and cold water.
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Penalties for non-payment of utility bills in Ukraine
The current legislation of Ukraine provides for the following penalties for non-payment of utility bills:
● penalty charges;
● termination of utility services;
● eviction from the apartment/house and subsequent foreclosure on the property in accordance with applicable laws.
Who will not be fined for late payment of utility bills
In March 2022, the government banned the charging of penalties for late payment of utility bills. It is also noted that there is currently no provision for the termination of utility services to citizens with overdue payments.
The Law of Ukraine identifies several groups of citizens who will not be fined in case of non-payment of utility bills:
● persons whose homes are located in the area of hostilities or in areas that have been or continue to be under occupation;
● internally displaced persons who have left the temporarily occupied territories or areas where hostilities are taking place.
It is noted that these conditions apply only to those debts that were accumulated after the outbreak of a full-scale war.
Just a reminder. Military personnel may go abroad on holiday to visit their families during martial law. Under what circumstances a serviceman will be allowed to go abroad and what is required for this, please read here.
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The simultaneous stay of visitors in the hotel lobby not more than one person per 10 square meters of serviceable area is allowed.
Persons can visit hotels and stay there (outside hotel room) only if they wear respirator or face mask (including homemade mask), so that the nose and mouth are covered.
Hotel guests are obliged to keep the 1.5 meters distance.
Online check-in making in advance is recommended to avoid queues at check-in to hotel.
Meals in hotels are provided through meals delivery service to rooms upon prior order or at hotel restaurants situated inside or in open areas, provided the distance of at least 1.5 meters between seats at adjacent tables.
Not more than 4 clients are allowed to stay at the table (excluding children under 14 years old). Unless these tables are separated by a special partition;
Self-serve is not allowed.