What happens to utility bills if nobody has lived in a flat or house for a long time?
Ukraine’s Law on Housing and Utility Services gives consumers the right not to pay for unused utility services, except heating, where no meters are installed.
This right applies if both conditions are met:
- The temporary absence from the home or other property exceeds 30 calendar days.
- The absence from the address where services are provided is documented.
Supporting evidence may include a certificate from a temporary place of residence or medical treatment, an internally displaced person registration certificate, a military service certificate or a copy of an international passport showing a border crossing.
Consumers who have temporarily left their homes can therefore exercise this right by submitting an application and a supporting document to their service provider.
Until martial law in Ukraine ends or is lifted, the following are prohibited:
- Charging and collecting fines, penalties, inflation adjustments and annual interest on housing and utility arrears.
- Terminating or suspending housing and utility services because of non-payment or partial payment.
