The Ministry of Housing and Utilities of the Republic of Belarus has published an explanation concerning the payment of utility services when an apartment is rented to a citizen not employed in the economy. It turns out that it is possible to avoid paying for housing and utility services at so-called economically justified tariffs.
In the case considered by the Housing Ministry, an employed citizen rents out an apartment to a person not employed in the economy.
The ministry explained that economically justified tariffs apply to the entire area of the rented residential premises and to the full volume of services consumed if the tenant is the payer of utility services in the rented apartment.
At the same time, if the landlord retains responsibility for paying utility services under the rental agreement, the higher tariffs will not apply.
“If the landlord and tenant, under a rental agreement for residential premises in the private housing stock or in an additional agreement to it, have agreed to leave the obligation to pay for utility services with the officially employed owner, there will be no need to pay at economically justified tariffs,” the explanation says.
