Sherzod Khiyoyatov, the First Deputy Minister of Construction and Communal Services, commented on the introduction of minimum mandatory payments for the maintenance, operation, and repair of common property, as well as landscaping of the land adjacent to multi-apartment buildings (utilities) at a briefing.
By the order of the head of the Ministry of Construction and Communal Services, minimum utility fees have been approved in Uzbekistan starting from May 1st. In Tashkent, the fees will range from 1147 to 1829 sums per 1 square meter depending on the district and the number of floors in the building.
Sherzod Khiyoyatov explained that management companies and homeowners' associations can set utility tariffs higher than the minimum amounts but not lower. The minimum tariffs were determined based on studies conducted by design institutes, taking into account factors such as the number of floors, the presence of elevators, and different types of apartment buildings.
He emphasized that setting minimum tariffs is a necessary measure to ensure that buildings are properly maintained.
According to him, this is a "necessary measure" because it is essential to maintain buildings and structures in good condition.
He also mentioned a list of minimum works and services that the management body must provide when setting the approved tariff. Some of these services include:
- Providing electricity to common areas in multi-apartment buildings
- Technical monitoring of elevator equipment
- Maintenance and repair of facades and entrances
- Maintenance of water pumps in the basement
- Roof waterproofing and repair
There are a total of 16 points on this list.
Currently, Uzbekistan has 42,057 multi-apartment buildings with over 1.4 million apartments. Out of these, 38,700 buildings are serviced by 819 management organizations, 836 are managed by 156 homeowners' associations, 1,130 are self-managed, and 1,405 are under the balance of government agencies and organizations.
It is noted that management organizations in the country have over 17,000 units of necessary equipment, with more than 11,000 employees working, including various specialists such as plumbers, electricians, and maintenance workers.
It is reported that in 2023-2024, 5,684 multi-apartment buildings have been renovated across the country, amounting to 278.6 billion sums. The funding comes from various sources including government budgets, management organizations, and sponsorships.
As part of preparations for the fall-winter season of 2024/2025, it is planned to renovate 5,493 multi-apartment buildings managed by organizations, with 20% of the work already completed as of today.
According to the Ministry of Construction, as of April 30th, residents have a total utility debt of 207 billion sums. Efforts to collect these debts are ongoing, with an average collection rate of 95% currently.
