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Almaty is contemplating a significant increase in the monthly fees residents pay for managing and maintaining their apartment buildings. The Department for the Development of Communal Infrastructure and Housing Inspection has proposed raising the minimum tariff to 70 tenge per square meter, a move that has sparked considerable discussion among the city's inhabitants.

Understanding the Minimum Tariff

This minimum tariff, often referred to by Almaty residents as the 'housing maintenance fee' (RSZh), represents the baseline amount apartment owners contribute monthly. These funds are intended to cover the upkeep of the building's common areas and infrastructure, such as roofs, entrances, basements, and utility systems.

It's important to note that this minimum tariff is not universally applied. It comes into effect only in specific circumstances: when an owners' association (OSI, NSU) or a chairperson has not been elected, or when elected management bodies exist, but residents have not agreed to pay a higher fee.

What Does the Minimum Tariff Cover?

According to Talgat Mukhamedgaliyev, the minimum tariff is designed to cover essential services for building management and maintenance. While the exact services included are detailed in a specific methodology, they generally encompass the basic operational needs of the building.

Setting the Minimum Tariff

The process for establishing this minimum tariff is handled at the local level, within cities of republican and regional significance, as well as districts. Housing inspections conduct the calculations based on a special methodology. This involves summing the total annual expenses for building maintenance and dividing it by the total area of all apartments in the building, then by 12 months. This calculation yields the cost per square meter in tenge.

Since last year, it has become mandatory to link the minimum tariff calculation to the monthly calculated indicator (AEK). The final approval of the proposed minimum fee rests with the local maslikhat (representative body).

The current proposal of 70 tenge per square meter is undergoing public discussion until June 5th. Following this period, the tariff will be deliberated and voted upon during a maslikhat session. If approved by the deputies, the tariff will be legally binding for one year, requiring re-approval annually. Mukhamedgaliyev noted that this process is often delayed, with some regions having unchanged tariffs for several years.

Is 70 Tenge Enough for Almaty?

Currently, Almaty residents have been paying a tariff of 40 tenge per square meter since the beginning of last year. If the new proposal is adopted, this would represent a substantial increase.

This proposed rate places Almaty slightly ahead of Astana, where the tariff was raised to 69.2 tenge per square meter in March of this year, up from 57 tenge. However, experts suggest that even 70 tenge might be insufficient for maintaining buildings to a satisfactory standard, considering current market service costs.

Mukhamedgaliyev expressed understanding regarding concerns about income levels but stressed the difficulty of maintaining buildings, especially older ones with aging infrastructure, on such a minimal budget. He speculated that the actual cost for proper upkeep could exceed 100 tenge per square meter, suggesting that Almaty might reach this figure next year.