To take as due: the number of persistent non-payers for housing and utilities has decreased in the Russian Federation

In Russia, the number of persistent debtors for housing and utilities has decreased by 300 thousand. As of January 1, their number amounted to 3.2 million people, while last year there were 3.5 million of them, as the Federal Service for the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation told Izvestia. The trend was also confirmed by the Ministry of Construction, which recorded a 1.5% decrease in debt compared to 2024. State Duma deputies and experts believe that the main reason is the strengthening of control over debtors.

Why Russians began to pay more often for housing and utilities services

In Russia, the number of persistent defaulters for housing and communal services has decreased. The Federal Bailiff Service (FSPP) told Izvestia that as of January 1 this year, the balance of pending enforcement proceedings on debt collection amounted to 3.2 million.

- In the same period of 2024, it amounted to 3.5 million proceedings, - specified in the press service of the department, noting that such debtors are subject to measures in accordance with the law "On Enforcement Proceedings".

The Ministry of Construction confirmed the trend of reduction of non-payers.

- The total amount of overdue accounts receivable as of December 1, 2024 decreased by 1.5% compared to the same period of 2023. Collectability of payments of citizens who have direct contracts with resource supplying organizations for the provision of public utilities is 95.4%, - explained in the press service of the Ministry.

It also noted that the country paid 97.5% of utilities, and the Ministry is actively preparing for an experiment in online debt collection for housing and utility services using the GIS Housing and Utilities, portal "Gosusudy" and the system "Justice".

- A large number of discussions have been held with the Ministry of Finance as the operator of the Unified Public Services Portal and the Judicial Department of the Supreme Court, which is responsible for the GAS RF "Justice". The start of piloting of the new mechanism is planned in the first half of 2025, - specified in the Ministry of Construction.

The Ministry expects that by reducing the time of consideration of cases in the courts, this approach may contribute to the reduction of accounts receivable. At the same time, the existing procedure of collection with paper document flow will also be preserved, and the electronic procedure will become an alternative measure, the Ministry of Construction specified. They did not name the amount of debt for housing and communal services.

The State Duma believes that the reduction of debts of Russians was influenced by fines and penalties, as well as increased control over timely payment, but notes that the figure of debts remains very high. In October 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin stated that the total amount of debts of the population and organizations is 1.2 trillion rubles.

- Absolutely all suppliers of utility services have now taken up the problem with debts. For example, we see the statistics on capital repair funds, as they are established by the regions and there it is open, and for many of them the collection rate has already exceeded 100%. Not only current payments are well collected, but also those of previous years," Svetlana Razvorotneva, deputy chairman of the State Duma for construction and housing and utilities, explained to Izvestia.

According to her, on the other hand, the downward trend in debtors is surprising, as the problems that lead to the appearance of debts have not gone anywhere, and the mechanism of their collection has not become much easier. At the same time, the deputy also admits that the reduction has come at the expense of debts that have been accumulating for years and have been recognized as uncollectible, but this is not a mass story.

"Izvestia" sent a request to Rosstat to comment on the amount of debts of Russians.

How digital technologies can affect the growth of debt payment

Tatyana Gotsulenko, Director of the Association of Management and Maintenance Organizations in the Housing Sector, was skeptical about the data on the decrease in the number of debtors.

- I am surprised by these figures, according to the information of our association and those management companies that I know, it is not possible to say that the number of debtors has decreased. So it is difficult for me to explain," she explained to Izvestia.

Vera Moskvina, the executive director of the association "Housing and Utility Control of Moscow", believes that theefficiency of the work of management companies, which are switching to work with digital technologies and influence debtors through them, has increased.

- Now such tools as voice notification are used. For example, a person simply calls his intercom, and he gets a voice from there: Ivan Petrovich, you owe 45 thousand, pay the debt. In addition, community chat rooms work well. If there is a question to the management company to repair something, it can answer in this chat that it is not done, because there are not enough funds due to non-payment of debts. And, as a rule, everything is quickly paid, because in front of neighbors becomes ashamed," she explained.

According to her, people don't pay not because they don't have money, but because they have more important things to do. She also believes that if there is a mechanism for collecting debts through the Gosusgoservices service, the number of debtors in the Russian Federation may be reduced to a minimum, as it is a convenient and understandable function for people. Russians are already reminded about property tax and traffic fines through this portal , and they pay them instantly, because it is easier to look there than in your mailbox, says Vera Moskvina.

- For managing and resource supplying organizations, conducting claims work in relation to unscrupulous payers is a long-term quest. I believe that with the approbation of the project piloted by the Ministry of Construction on the pre-trial submission to the owners-debtors of the application for debt collection in electronic form through the portal "Gosuservices" and in the GIS of housing and communal services, we will see positive dynamics in this matter- said "Izvestia" director of the state institution of the Stavropol Territory "Regional Information and Analytical Center" Sergei Rudometkin.

According to him, the new format will allow suppliers of housing and communal services to apply to the GIS of housing and communal services, providing the appropriate calculation. This will shorten the period of court proceedings. On the other hand, citizens will be informed about each stage of court proceedings, the industry representative explained.