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21-22 April 2017, the Round table "Development of unions and associations in the housing sector and the strategy of their cooperation with local and state authorities" has been organized in Minsk. The "round table" has been organized in TAC of Belarussian State Technological University (str. Sverdlova, 13A). The organizers - International Association for Real Estate Management, NGO "EKAPRAEKT", Belarusian State Technological University. The project partners - the Union of Housing Associations and City Council of Tartu (Estonia). In most of the target countries of the HOME project (except for Ukraine and Belarus), there are no national or regional housing unions (associations), which could protect the interests of these groups. In a society there is no understanding of how important the establishment of these non-governmental organizations for the dialogue with executive and legislative state bodies, to find the informed, for example, in management or regulation of rental price for residential buildings. In Belarus in 2017 (as a result of IAREM activities in 2010 - 2016), the process of active establishment of housing associations has been started. In some small towns two or more housing associations have been established without external support and assistance. However, housing associations still have some difficulties as lack of knowledge and practice of effective management of residential buildings, lack of practice in decision-making process, limited experience in the use of energy-efficient technologies. In the results, housing associations have limited capacity to solve the problems of their target groups. There is a need to connect newly established associations into the international networks of professionals to support the sustainability of such associations. The structure of the municipal housing in Estonia is the same as in the target countries of the HOME Project and is characterized by a dominance of joint households with collective owners. At the same time in Estonia, about half of households has chosen so-called "German" version of house management when the entity is not established, however management is provided by professional manager. The second half of households in multi-storied buildings has created a legal entity (analogue of condominium associations in Ukraine and housing association in Belarus). All households grouped together in the unions and associations and established close cooperation with local authority and government bodies. Representatives of City Council of Tartu (Estonia), leaders of the Union of housing association of Tartu, heads of housing associations of Tartu, heads of housing associations from 7 Belarussian cities and TAC have participated in the round table. On 21st of April a round table with representatives of the City Council of Tartu, Housing Union of Tartu, administration of Pervomaisky district of Minsk City (11:00 - 13:30) and Minsk region (14:30 - 17:00), the Ministry of Housing and Utilities of the Republic of Belarus on the following topic as cooperation with housing associations and their involvement in decision-making at the local level and in the development of legislation. The first round table was organized in the administration of Pervomaisky district of Minsk. After the round table, the participants had an opportunity to visit residential buildings managed by "customer service" in Pervomayskyi city district. Then guests from Estonia visited the largest housing association in Minsk region – “Quarter Zelenyi Bor”. In the office of the housing association “Quarter Zelenyi Bor” the meeting with the authority of the Minsk region has been arranged.
Problems of development of unions and associations in the housing sector and the strategy of their cooperation with local and state authorities have been discussed at round table on 22nd of April in TAC in Belarusian State Technological University. Estonian delegation included not only representatives of the housing associations, but also four representatives of the City Council of Tartu, including the Vice-mayor. Taking into account the diversity of the delegation from Tartu, experience presented by colleagues from Estonia was very useful for Belarusian one. Anna Valk, the Head of the Union of housing associations, made two-hour detailed presentation. The Union of housing associations has been established in Tartu in 2009 and currently joins 230 members (housing associations). It is quite high number of members taking into account that the total population of the city is 100000 people. The Union provides to its members the legal services, adviser for economic issues, auditor, accountant, and in addition, has been organizing various training seminars, facilitate the exchange of experience between Estonian cities, and other countries. Joint households as an entity has been established in Estonia since 1994 due to the same housing privatization process, left over from the Soviet Union. The experience of Sweden, Finland, Canada and other countries has been used for the preparation of the law on housing association. The law oh housing association has been adopted in Estonia in 1994. Transition period for establishment of housing associations has been serious and weighted. For example, in each house before the establishment of the housing association, energy supply company installed accounting devices. Apartment owners have a separate contract with electric power enterprise and pay directly to the company based on the data from counters of electricity. All other payments are made through the housing association. In general, the housing associations in Estonia have some differences in comparison with Belarussian ones. |
Term 31.01.2015 – 30.01.2018 Financial support European Union Project management Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe (IWO), Berlin Contact
Project partners Ukraine Lviv housing owners and residential real estate managers Association Foundation for support of homeowners’ associations”, Charkiv Azerbaijan Property Market Participants – Public Union Georgia Local Democracy Agency Georgia Civil Society Institute Batumi Branch Charity Humanitarian Centre “Abkhazeti” Tbilisi Branch Office Moldova Institute for Urban Development Belarus International NGO “Ecoproject” International Association for Real Estate Management Associated partners National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) Lviv Regional branch of all Ukrainian organization "Union of disabled people of Ukraine" |
For example, housing associations at their disposal have a building as a whole with communications, elevators, attics, basement, but also balconies and loggias, windows of apartments, which can be painted or glazed only by housing association, but not by owner of the apartment. It means that balconies and loggias are not a part of the apartments.
The general meeting of the Estonian housing association approves the following documents as (1) the statute (for the association with number of apartments above 10); (2) building rules and regulations; (3) an economic plan for each year; (4) salary rate for the head of the housing association and (5) fixed partnership fee. The general meeting of owners elects a board for the housing association, whose members bear subsidiary liability for any damages caused to the housing association because of their mistakes, as well as due omission. Each member of the board is included into the state register and could be prosecuted during 5 years after the resignation of the board member. For example, if the Board of the housing association did not recover in time from homeowner the debts for utilities, then members of the board will have to pay this amount from their own pocket.
According to the opinion of Estonian colleagues, the position of the head of the housing association sometimes looks as a hobby as the salary rate for this work is usually symbolic. The motivation of the Head of the housing association in proper repair and maintenance of the house is a main issue.
The practice of cooperation of housing association with local authorities has been also discussed during the round table. After joining of European Union in 2004, housing association have received the considerable financial support from the state for energy efficiency measures in houses. After energy renovation energy savings achieved 45-47%.
The City Council of Tartu has funded half the cost of reconstruction and extension of parking areas in the yard areas of housing associations. Significant funds are also allocated for the construction of bicycles parking’s, “houses” with garbage cans and underground garbage containers. These containers have an advantage over conventional ones on aesthetic and sanitary characteristics and by the way save a lot of money of house owners. Upon the request, local authorities in Tartu annually for the housing associations provides the following services: (1) replacement of the sand for the playgrounds, (2) provide for free granite chips for sprinkling sidewalks in the event of an icing hazard (sand and salt mixture is prohibited), (3) in cooperation with housing associations co-finance the campaign on collection and disposal of bulky wastes and collections of leaves in autumn.
In Estonia all complaints from tenants (owners of apartments) are considered by the Board of the housing associations without involvement of the City Council. The complaints from the owners of apartments about housing associations the city authority of Tartu will not be considered. Neither municipalities, nor the public authorities do not intervene in the work of the housing association. Housing associations and city council are partners and support each other.
Representatives of housing associations from Tartu and 7 housing associations from Belarus exchanged the experience and practice during the discussion.
Pictures from round table are made by Gennadiy Kalionov
