Inhabitants of non-privatized apartments hurry to buy them from state

Specialists in privatization of accommodation facilities are shocked - a great number of people unexpectedly decided to privatize their apartments. Even the people who used to think this is unnecessary changed their minds, specialist in privatization of Mazyr district executive committee Valyantsina Mikalaeuna complains to Euroradio. 

Valyantsina Mikalaeuna: “This is horrible! So many people! We also thought there was some little per cent (of non-privatized apartments - Euroradio) left, but this per cent turned into a real crowd. We cannot make it - so many people! We accept 40 applications for one working day! This is a nightmare!”

All this is happening because there have been rumours in Mazyr that privatization is to be over soon. The executive committee's officials addressed to the citizens through mass media, explaining that it was not true, but in vain. People keep filing privatization applications.

"Privatization boom" has come to the capital as well. According to the privatization specialist of the Frunze district executive committee, more than 200 applications are considered monthly. 

Consultant of the accommodation administration of the Housing and Utilities Ministry Kanstantsin Kulikou has confirmed to Euroradio that these are just rumours and that no one is going to stop privatization.

Kanstantsin Kulikou: “No issues of expiration of privatization terms or expiration of "Accommodation" checks turnover were considered in the Ministry, no orders were given in this regards”.

Moreover, privatization gets more expensive each month.

Euroradio has found out that there is another reason which forces people to hurry with privatization. Information about payment for non-privatized accommodation facilities appeared in the media recently. It was claimed with a reference to then Housing and Utilities Minister Uladzimir Belakhvostau that, according to the new Housing-Communal Code which is supposed to be adapted in 2012, inhabitants of non-privatized flats will have to pay the rent to the state. The sum is unknown but this information steered the people up. 

According to Kanstantsin Kulikou, the rent for inhabitants of non-privatized flats is indeed mentioned in the draft Housing Code, as well as the ownership tax. However, these new norms are unlikely to come in force right after introduction of the new Code.