Domanivka authorities propose ₴1,000 monthly housing maintenance fee for IDPs

A small town with modular homes in Domanivka. Photo for illustrative purposes: NikVesti

In Domanivka, there are plans to introduce a monthly housing maintenance fee of 1,000 hryvnias for internally displaced persons to cover the upkeep of the homes in which they live.

This was discussed during a meeting of the Domanivka City Council’s Housing and Utilities Committee on 20 July, according to NikVesti.

Furthermore, the buildings in which internally displaced persons live will be transferred to the balance sheet of the «Domanivske» municipal enterprise. As Oleksandra Sokhan, the deputy head of the settlement council for executive affairs, explained, this decision is linked to legal requirements. According to her, the town council’s departments cannot be the registered owners of residential buildings, which is why it is proposed that they be transferred to the municipal enterprise.

«We spent a very long time consulting with our partners responsible for maintaining these buildings and involved other experts. And in accordance with the law, the town council and its departments cannot be the registered owners. We are therefore terminating the Housing and Communal Services Department’s operational management rights and transferring the buildings to the municipal utility company,» she said.

At the same time, the buildings will continue to be used solely for the accommodation of internally displaced persons and their family members.

The draft decision also provides for amendments to the tenancy agreements. Instead of the Housing and Communal Services Department, the municipal enterprise «Domanivske» will become a party to the agreements, and residents will pay 1,000 hryvnias by the 10th of each month for the upkeep of the accommodation. The document states that this amount may change following the approval of the relevant cost estimate.

«This is not a rent payment, but funds for the upkeep of the buildings. This is standard practice worldwide. The funds will be accumulated in a separate account and used for the upkeep of the buildings. Buildings need to be inspected twice a year — after winter and before winter. The drainage systems and the general condition of the building are checked, and the work that needs to be carried out is identified,» said Oleksandra Sokhan.

She added that these funds will be used to carry out routine repairs. Should major repairs be required, these will be funded by the village council as the owner of the buildings.

«The residents who live there must also look after this property. There have been cases where furniture was damaged or windows were broken whilst internet cables were being laid, and all these costs were covered by the Housing and Communal Services Department. Therefore, there must be a certain level of responsibility under this project,» she noted.

According to Oleksandra Sokhan, residents must also look after the buildings in which they live.

«The residents who live there must look after them and take care of this property. There have been instances where furniture was brought in — damaging the buildings — and where internet cables were laid — causing windows to shatter — and all these costs were covered by the Housing and Communal Services Department. This is a very expensive business. Therefore, there must be some accountability for this project,» she said.

Following the discussion, members of the relevant committee supported the draft resolution and recommended that it be submitted for consideration at a session of the Domanivka Settlement Council.

It should be noted that in Domanivka, in the Mykolaiv region, there are plans to expand the housing estate for internally displaced persons and to build a further six modular homes. At present, housing for displaced persons in the community has already been partially constructed, but there is still a waiting list for accommodation.

Read also the article by NikVesti entitled «Domanivka: How a water-scarce region in the Mykolaiv region is being transformed into an energy-independent «Little Copenhagen»».