Capital repairs: what it is and whether you can avoid paying for them

On Tuesday, January 28, the Russian State Duma passed in the second and third reading a bill increasing the level of capital repair collection from 50% to 60%. The measure applies only to citizens who transfer payments to special accounts, for the rest the amount of fees will remain unchanged. "Izvestia" tells what is capital repair and whether it is possible not to pay for it.

What is capital repair of an apartment building in 2025?

The All-Russian capital repair program was launched in 2014. Since then, apartment owners must pay a certain amount of money each month for the capital repair of their building. The money is collected into a general account intended for the restoration of all houses in the region, or into an individual special account created for a specific building.

The general account is managed by the Capital Repair Fund (CRF), a non-profit organization formed by regional authorities. It is responsible not only for collecting funds, but also for drawing up a capital repair program for all houses in the area under its control, looking for contractors to carry out the work and controlling the quality of repairs.

Individual special accounts are under the control of a management company or a homeowners' association (HOA). The money lying in them can be used only for capital repairs of a particular house with the consent of the owners.

Capital repairs include certain types of work, such as:

• repair of water and gas supply, electric networks, heating system and water disposal;
• repair of elevators and elevator shafts;
• repair of roofs, basements, facades, foundations.

In some regions, the concept of overhaul also includes facade insulation, installation of ventilation systems, installation and maintenance of meters, etc. The list is supplemented according to the decision of local authorities.

Who should pay for capital repairs in 2025

Monthly contributions for capital repair - one of the obligations of the owners of residential premises. The size of the payment depends on the meterage of the apartment. For example, in Moscow from January 1, 2025, the minimum tariff is 29.66 rubles per square meter. If desired, property owners can transfer more to the FCR account or a special account, but it is impossible to pay less.

Nevertheless, there are categories of citizens who are exempt from contributions for capital repair. These include:

• Residents of emergency houses that are being prepared for demolition;
• people renting housing;
• elderly people over 80 years old;
• Heroes of the USSR, Heroes of Russia, Heroes of Socialist Labor, holders of the Order of Glory or the Order of Labor;

Non-working pensioners over 70 years of age, as well as disabled persons of groups I and II are entitled to discounts and compensation for capital repairs, but only if they live alone or support another person from the same social categories. Regional authorities may expand the list of privileged persons at their discretion. You can familiarize yourself with it on the regional portal of public services or on the website of the local administration.

Whether it is possible not to pay for capital repairs in 2025

There is an opinion that it is possible not to pay for capital repairs even for those who are not included in any of the privileged categories. However, this is incorrect - according to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the contribution is mandatory for all owners. Therefore, it will not be possible to save on utility payments.

If the owner of the apartment stops paying for the capital repair, the debt will start to accumulate on his account. If it is not repaid within two months, penalties will be charged - 1/300 of the current key rate of the Central Bank per day. In 2025, this rate is 21%. The longer the delay, the higher the penalties.

If even this measure will not help to reason the debtor, representatives of the FCR, management company or HOA have the right to sue him. During the proceedings, the unscrupulous owner may be assigned a fine, which he will have to pay in addition to the existing debts.

If after that the contributions, penalties and fines will not be paid, the bailiffs will take over the case. They can seize the debtor's property, funds on his accounts or restrict his movement. For example, he will be forbidden to leave the country.

Earlier, Alexei Orekhov, an expert in interior decoration and CEO of NATEK, told Izvestia how to save money on apartment renovation without compromising quality.