Housing is the most important. Answers to citizens' questions received during the 'Big Conversation with the President'

Several appeals concerning the improvement of housing conditions for various categories of citizens have been received by the Head of State. In particular, the issue of a young family with two minor children. The current legislation (Decree of the President of January 6, 2012) grants the right to state support for the construction or acquisition of residential premises to young families with two minor children as of the date of approval of lists for preferential loans in order of priority. In accordance with the Decree of the President of July 4, 2017 No. 240 "On State Support for Citizens in the Construction (Reconstruction) of Residential Premises", in 2018, young families with two minor children registered as in need as of September 31, 2007, were invited by the Vitebsk City Executive Committee to build apartments.

In addition, a new form of improving housing conditions is provided for those on the waiting list – obtaining residential premises for commercial use (rental housing). It is also provided based on the date of registration as in need.

A single mother from Vitebsk, raising a 13-year-old son and living under a lease agreement in a small room of the state housing stock in a dormitory, which is provided for the period of maintaining employment relations with one of the city's private enterprises, was also interested in the opportunity to acquire separate housing. According to the law, she is not entitled to state support to solve her housing problem. However, as she is registered as in need on the general waiting list (since the end of 2010), the applicant can claim rental housing in order of priority. Currently, it is impossible to exercise this right due to the presence of applicants registered earlier. Two rental houses have been built in the city in recent years. 896 applications were submitted for apartments in the first house, and 691 in the second. Depending on the apartment size, they were provided to those in need registered from 1976 to 2009. For example, if one-room apartments in the first house were received by those registered from 1976 to 2007, then in the second house – by those registered from 1982 to 2002.

A temporary option for improving the housing conditions for this family is to submit a request to the organization where the applicant works for the provision of a larger room in an organization that has dormitories on its balance sheet.

However, an option for improving the housing conditions for a Vitebsk resident living in an old house built in 1955 would be the installation of hot water supply. This is the possibility she inquired about in her appeal.

In accordance with the legislation, work on equipping residential buildings with new types of engineering systems (including hot water supply) is classified not as capital repair, but as modernization, which is an improvement of the consumer qualities of the real estate object. They are not related to the safe operation of houses and the uninterrupted provision of basic housing and communal services. Such work can only be carried out at the expense of the owners of residential premises.

"Vitbichi".