Deputies offered Russians “cashback for snow”

It can only be obtained through court

State Duma deputies propose to return money to people for housing and communal services if snow removal is poor. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Vladislav Davankov appealed to the Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services Irek Fayzullin with a proposal to introduce a communal “cashback for snow” to residents of houses who clean their yards independently in winter instead of management companies.

– Every year we see that people themselves dig out their cars and clean their yards, and then also pay for housing and communal services. It would be fair to award such proactive residents “cashback for snow” to pay for utilities,” Vladislav Davankov, vice speaker of the State Duma from the New People party, explained his initiative to MK.

Parliamentarians propose obliging management companies to reduce utility bills in proportion to the number of days when residents were forced to remove snow themselves. To do this, the inaction of the Criminal Code will have to be recognized by the court.

“For example, if the management company hasn’t cleared the snow all month, people won’t be able to pay for the maintenance of their local area at all. If it is half a month, then the reduction will be 50%, but not less than 500 rubles for each day of improper snow removal and no more than the entire amount of the housing and communal services receipt for the month. If the Ministry of Construction supports the idea, we will work together on a mechanism convenient for people,” added Vladislav Davankov.

The parliamentary appeal to the Minister of Housing and Communal Services talks about reducing the amount of utility bills if residents were able to prove a systematic failure to fulfill the obligation to clear snow and removed it themselves. And also about the need to introduce a system of incentives for residents of apartment buildings who are forced to independently clear their yards of snow, at the expense of management organizations. “For example, if the management company has not removed snow for the entire month, then citizens will have the right to legally reduce the costs of housing and communal services by 100%, and if for half a month, then the reduction in costs will be 50%, but not less than 500 rubles for every day of improper snow removal and no more than the entire amount of the housing and communal services receipt for the month. Thus, citizens would have the opportunity to receive “cashback for snow,” that is, return the payment for utility bills in case of improper snow removal,” the deputy’s appeal to the minister says.