Is it possible to refuse heating in an apartment building?

The annual increase in service costs forces owners of residential property in multi-apartment buildings to think about how they can avoid paying for central heating services and switch to an alternative - individual heating.

Changing the centralized heating method to installing your own equipment will allow you to independently control temperature indicators and reduce cash costs.

Refusing heating is an action not prohibited by law, but before carrying it out you need to collect the necessary documents and comply with legal formalities.

Is it possible to refuse central heating?

The legislation does not provide a clear answer to this issue. On the one hand, owners are free to choose the range of services they receive from utility and service organizations. On the other hand, the heating plant is part of the common property, which means that unauthorized changes to its design are unacceptable. You will need to obtain permits, their approval, etc. The issue is easier to resolve in the private sector, but it is more difficult legally and technically to complete this step in an apartment building.

The costs of disconnecting and reorganizing the heating network will fall on the shoulders of the subscriber who wishes to disconnect.

When permission from other residents is not needed

There is no need to obtain owner permission if the elements of the central heating system have not previously been identified as common property of the building. In this case, the approval of other residents of the house is not required. Of course, even here we do not mean unauthorized shutdown. It will be necessary to obtain permission from organizations competent in this matter.

Any intervention in central engineering networks requires changes to the technical documentation. Section III of the technical passport of an apartment building must contain detailed data on heating systems. Any intervention in the system - dismantling radiators, installing additional equipment - requires mandatory changes to the technical passport, since the law defines such actions as reconstruction.

It is easier to turn off the heating if the residents of the entire house express such a desire. Then the procedure is carried out by reconstructing the general water circuit of the house. To implement such a project, the consent of the general meeting of homeowners and project documentation that has passed all the necessary approvals will be required.

How to do this in an apartment building?

Clause “l” of Article 33 of the Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2011 No. 354, expands the rights of the consumer with contractual provisions. Any contract contains a clause on the possibility of its termination, and you can always find a reason for refusing the services of the heat supply organization.

However, according to industry regulations, disconnection from the heating plant is possible only in relation to the building as a whole, and not its individual part. Therefore, to refuse centralized heating in an apartment building, you will need to use one of the options presented in the table.

When permission from other residents is not needed

There is no need to obtain owner permission if the elements of the central heating system have not previously been identified as common property of the building. In this case, the approval of other residents of the house is not required. Of course, even here we do not mean unauthorized shutdown. It will be necessary to obtain permission from organizations competent in this matter.

Any intervention in central engineering networks requires changes to the technical documentation. Section III of the technical passport of an apartment building must contain detailed data on heating systems. Any intervention in the system - dismantling radiators, installing additional equipment - requires mandatory changes to the technical passport, since the law defines such actions as reconstruction.

It is easier to turn off the heating if the residents of the entire house express such a desire. Then the procedure is carried out by reconstructing the general water circuit of the house. To implement such a project, the consent of the general meeting of homeowners and project documentation that has passed all the necessary approvals will be required.

Refusal in favor of individual heating in the apartment

From a legal point of view, the procedure for abandoning central heating in favor of an individual heating system is as follows:

1. Preparation of documents:
   registration certificate for the apartment;
2. ownership documents;
3. consent of all persons living in the apartment.
4. Selection of an autonomous heating source in accordance with fire safety requirements and operating standards.
5. Obtaining a technical opinion on the possibility of carrying out such re-equipment.
6. Development of a reconstruction project with calculations confirming the preservation of the functionality of the heating plant without a disconnected subscriber.
7. Filling out an application.
8. Obtaining permission to carry out work.

Technical aspects of the issue

Having received the necessary permits, you can begin the technical implementation of the project. Dismantling of elements of the old heating system should only be carried out by specialists. Of course, you can cut the batteries yourself, but it’s better not to risk it. After dismantling the old system, all that remains is to install autonomous heating. In general, the implementation of such a project is no different from the installation of boiler equipment in country houses and cottages.

Despite the fact that such work, as a rule, does not cause difficulties, you should know a few nuances regarding the installation of heating systems specifically in apartments:

• To install autonomous heating in apartments, as a rule, wall-mounted boiler equipment is used. Such a boiler is located above the level of the radiators, so it is impossible to ensure natural circulation of coolant in the system.
• There are two ways to ensure forced circulation - by installing a circulation pump or a modern boiler, in the body of which all the necessary elements are already installed. These are pumping equipment, a safety group and an expansion tank. The second method is preferable.
• The type of boiler must comply with the law, that is, have a closed combustion chamber and automatic safety systems. The coolant temperature should be no more than 95 degrees, and the pressure in the system should be no more than 1 MPa.
• It is better to choose aluminum radiators for autonomous systems. They are not only reliable, but also have good heat dissipation. Plastic pipes are well suited for the piping system - they are inexpensive and easy to install.
• The wiring is selected based on the characteristics of the apartment. It is easier and cheaper to make a single-pipe Leningrad wiring with parallel connection of radiators. The optimal type of wiring from an operational point of view is radial, but it cannot always be implemented in apartments with low ceilings, since the floor will have to be raised.

Disconnecting batteries from central heating
When disconnecting an individual apartment from central utility networks, it is not always possible to completely redo the wiring. In most cases, it is not possible to shut off the riser, so only radiators can be disconnected from the circuit. This method of disconnection has its own nuances.

The apartment will still receive heat from the sun loungers and risers of the central system, and you will have to pay for it. The presence of common water circuit pipes in an apartment is always considered residual heating, and by law you must pay for it. This problem does not happen in houses where risers were originally installed in the entrance. In practice, such a water circuit does not occur very often.

Radiators can be connected with or without bypass. In the first case, the coolant will circulate through the bypass, which allows you to turn off some of the batteries. Such systems have proven themselves well with single-pipe wiring with parallel connection of radiators. After all, a reduction in the number of the latter leads to an increase in the temperature of the coolant in the system. Connecting batteries without using a bypass is actually a way to plug the circuit. This method can be used in risers.

Declaration of refusal

An application for refusal of services from a heat supply organization as a document does not have a unified form. Climatic conditions in the Russian Federation do not imply a complete abandonment of heat supply; we are usually talking about replacing central heating systems with local units. However, this procedure will already be considered reconstruction and redevelopment, therefore the form of the application is determined by the regulations in force in this area.

Form

The application form was approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated April 28, 2005 No. 266 and is a form that contains all information about the object, its owners, attached documents, etc.

How to write correctly?

When making an application, you will need to enter the following information into the form:

• the name of the departmental committee of local authorities authorized to resolve issues of refurbishment of premises;
• personal and contact details of the applicant;
• information about the exact address of the redevelopment object and its owners;
• expected duration and mode of repair work;
• information about living adult household members with a note indicating the presence of notarized consent from each of them;
• listing of attached documents with details (if any) and the number of sheets occupied;
• date of filing and signature of the applicant.

Download application

Since the application form is regulated by federal regulations, the form to fill out is available here.

After downloading, you can print it out and fill it out by hand, or enter the necessary information (except signature) on your computer, and only then print it out.

Debt collection for heating

Debt collection for housing and communal services is an integral part of the work of management companies, HOAs and RSOs. However, it is difficult to understand the nuances of the procedure on your own. Management companies, before using radical measures to turn off heating, are required to comply with the pre-trial format for resolving the dispute.

First of all, a notice of the presence of arrears is sent - as a rule, the text is indicated on the payment receipt. If there is no payment from the owner, a claim is filed.

In addition to the required details, the text of the document contains the following information:

• legal grounds for claims;
• legal consequences in the form of accrual of penalties in accordance with Article No. 155 of Part No. 14 of the Housing Code of Russia.

In this case, the debtor can react in different ways - ignoring, counterclaiming, complaining about the absence of batteries in the apartment, etc. In each situation, experts recommend consulting with a lawyer about the legality of the requirements of the Criminal Code or RSO.

But if the claim is legitimate, then the debt should be paid in order to avoid litigation, since by decision of the authorities the company has the right to forcibly collect the arrears.

Statute of limitations

An example of calculating heating fees according to PP 354.
When a debt collector goes to court against the owner of an apartment with a debt, he must comply with the limitation period. This period is 3 years from the date of the last payment. In this case, for each payment the time is calculated separately. If the plaintiff misses the specified period, the defendant has the right to file a petition to apply the statute of limitations.

Collection of heating arrears from pensioners and orphans

The Russian Housing Code does not provide for exemption from utility bills for pensioners and orphans. Article No. 155, clause No. 11 of the Housing Code also establishes that non-use of an apartment is not grounds for non-payment of bills. Elderly persons have the right to apply to social authorities to receive benefits in the amount of 50% of the amount of receipts for housing and communal services.

On 04/06/19, Russian Government Order No. 656-r came into force, which, along with Federal Law No. 48, regulates that representatives of orphans are obliged to take steps to preserve the housing of the ward. Thus, the guardian must take care of the child’s property and prevent its value from decreasing.

Additionally, a representative of a minor has the right to facilitate the extraction of profit from such property. Consequently, payment for heating and other utilities is carried out at the expense of the child’s income. Debt collection proceeds in the standard manner.

How to legally refuse?

Refusal of the services of a heat supply organization requires a large amount of preliminary work:

• obtain the consent of neighbors;
• receive a positive opinion from the service organization;
• order a refurbishment project;
• coordinate it with the gas (if necessary) and fire services;
• wait for a favorable response from the redevelopment commission.

The wait for a fully completed package of documents can last for several months, not counting financial costs.

It is impossible to refuse central heating due to long-term non-residence of people in the apartment and for the purpose of recalculation, since heating is a public service that is not turned off even if a debt arises. You will also have to pay for the heat supply of entrances and basements as general house needs (clause 86 and clause 88 of the Rules according to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2011 No. 354).

Why is it necessary to approve a new heating system project?

No organization will give permission to switch to individual heating without its design. It will not be possible to draw up a project on an independent basis and without an engineering education. It is best to seek help from a specialized institution.

The project must meet the following requirements:

• Show the role of a certain area (apartment) in the overall heating system of the house (when switching to individual heating);
• Possibility of equipping an apartment with a heating boiler from a fire safety point of view;
• Calculations for residual elements of central heating (sunbeds and risers), for which you will have to pay in the general manner, despite the transition;
• Thermohydraulic calculations.

Only if all of the above calculations fit into acceptable standards, can the finished project be submitted for the approval procedure. If the prepared document does not comply with the standards, the individual will receive a refusal.

Certificate of refusal

Until 2011, after re-equipping the heating system, it was necessary to submit an act of abandonment of central heating, drawn up in the presence of the owner, management company and a representative of the resource supply organization. However, after the approval by the Government of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2011 No. 354 of the Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings, heating fees are not recalculated.

Charges for general house needs and heating of apartments occur at a single rate, regardless of whether the radiators are operating in a given room or not. The only way out in such a situation to reduce payments (it will not be possible to refuse completely) is to install an individual heat meter at the heating plant with subsequent transfer of zero readings to the Unified Center.

Thus, abandoning central heating is a time-consuming procedure complicated by bureaucratic delays. In an apartment building, this option may not be feasible at all, since it will require consent from all residents of the building. And it will not be possible to refuse heat supply services in order to save utility bills.

Alternative heating options. The reality and consequences of this step

The main argument that guides the owner of an apartment who wants to disconnect from the heating plant and install autonomous heating in his home is independence. A characteristic feature of our country is the rapid change of seasons. Summer ends quickly; the heat accumulated in houses during the warm period quickly evaporates. For many of us, waiting for the heating season to officially begin is associated with discomfort. There is still quite a lot of time before the date for turning on the centralized heating, but the apartment is already cold and not comfortable. There is a way out, and it just suggests itself.

Your own autonomous boiler can solve such problems once and for all. But how can you turn off the central heating in your apartment so that you can independently decide when, how much and what to pay for? All these issues require careful analysis and a competent approach. The main problem is a huge bureaucratic work. To once and for all refuse the services of a regional energy company, you will need a lot of permits and related documentation.

* The legislation in this case takes a neutral, dual position. On the one hand, the Law does not prohibit us from refusing centralized heating services, but the disconnection itself entails a lot of legal formalities. Difficulties for residents who are ready to install autonomous heating in their homes are associated with the technical nuances of landscaping apartment buildings. To make it clearer, you can imagine your house in cross-section. Numerous pipes, risers, coils, radiators, shut-off valves and heat meters form a single complex network. From a theoretical point of view, it is possible to switch off, however, from a technical point of view, this is a real engineering problem.

Any unauthorized intervention in the system can lead to disruption of the entire complex as a whole. Switching off one apartment from a single heating system will require re-equipment of the entire network and is associated with a large amount of engineering and technical work.

Important! All costs for the reconstruction and reorganization of the centralized heating system of an apartment building, associated with disconnecting one subscriber from heating, fall on his shoulders.

The entire system, in accordance with legal norms, is part of a single property complex, which belongs to an apartment building. The composition of the property of a residential building, its functionality and performance are determined by the homeowners. The conclusion is that decisions to make changes to the centralized heating system are made collectively. This requirement is clearly stated in the Housing Code. Disabling one apartment is an individual decision. However, unauthorized shutdown without obtaining the appropriate permits and approvals is punishable by law. In some cases, such actions on the part of the apartment owner may be classified as a criminal offense. Any work related to utility networks in an apartment building must be carried out by specialists, guided by the appropriate permits, technical specifications and design.

Decision is made. How to disconnect from the heating plant

In this case, it is necessary to build on the provisions set out in the “Rules for the provision of services for centralized water and heat supply”, which are approved by the Government Resolution. In accordance with the rules, you have the right to refuse the services of the energy company in the supply of heat and hot water. The refusal procedure is based on the provisions of the existing agreement between the apartment owner and the heat supplier company. Any contract can be terminated. True or fictitious reasons for terminating a contract for the supply of hot water and heating can always be found. Today, most companies operating in the heat supply market systematically violate contractual terms, not to mention neglecting existing sanitary norms and rules.

If you decide to abandon centralized heating, then you will find the following:

• carry out, at your own expense and on your own, the re-equipment of the system to provide adjacent residential premises with heating and hot water supply in full;
• carry out work to restore normal operation of ventilation and drainage systems in adjacent apartments.

All work is provided for by the relevant SNiPs (41-01-2003, 23-02-2003 and 31-01-2003). It is prohibited to carry out technical work without the consent of neighbors and other residents of your home.

Industry Orders and Directives become a significant obstacle to realizing your desire to become independent from service providers.

This situation is a widespread phenomenon and significantly limits our legal rights to dispose of our property. We become dependent on the wishes of other homeowners in an apartment building, who are satisfied with the state of things, and they do not intend to make changes to the existing situation for various reasons. If you seek protection of your owner's rights through the court, there is a chance to win the case, however, this procedure can take a lot of time. Arguments for refusing to issue a disconnection permit may include technical reasons that explain the impossibility of carrying out disconnection work without disrupting the functionality of the entire central heating and hot water supply system.

Heat suppliers are monopolists in the heat supply market, who try by all means to maintain their sphere of influence over the housing stock.

Collective shutdown

Usually there is only one entrance at the elevator hub. If it has hot water connections, the elevator is not completely disconnected, but only from the heating system, while the valves are closed with plugs and sealed.

To correctly perform a collective shutdown, do the following:

1. Organize a meeting of residents at which a decision on disconnection will be officially made and recorded in the minutes.
2. Initiate the creation of a conciliation commission in the local administration and submit to it an application to disconnect the facility from the CSO, attaching the minutes of the residents’ meeting.
3. If the application is approved, the commission must provide the representative of the residents' association with a list of organizations from which it is necessary to obtain technical conditions (TS) for the development of the project. Note that a positive decision is not at all mandatory: if the reorganization may negatively affect the work of the central distribution center or the gas supply system does not have sufficient capacity, the commission has the right to refuse it. The only way out in such a situation can be to re-equip the system, paid for by the residents, because of which the process has stalled.
4. Next, you need to order a project from a design organization, to which all collected specifications are transferred.

The finished project must be approved by organizations servicing utility networks. Here is their list:

• heating network: checks whether the implementation of design solutions will lead to a deterioration in the operation of the heat supply system;
• gas facilities: makes sure that when connecting all the gas equipment provided for in the project, the gas supply system will not be overloaded;
• architectural management: the visa of this institution means that the installation of coaxial chimneys will not disturb the appearance of the architectural monument;
• housing organization: confirms the safety of the technical solutions proposed in the project in relation to load-bearing structures and the technical possibility of disconnecting the facility from the central heating system.

If the project also provides for electric heating, it should be approved by the energy sales office.

Then you need to enter into an agreement with a licensed construction and installation organization to carry out all the work provided for in the project. After checking the correctness of their implementation, representatives of all mentioned organizations must give permission for commissioning.

Can the batteries be turned on again if it gets colder?

All centralized heating systems in all settlements of the Russian Federation operate on the same principle. After lengthy preparation, which takes place in the off-season, they are turned on. At the end of the season, on the date specified by the municipality, they are switched off. Reactivation immediately after deactivation is not possible.

In some cases, thermal power plants and boiler houses can be switched in periodic heating mode. This mode involves changing the temperature in heating systems at different times of the day. For example, at night the power increases, during the day it decreases.

Central heating is turned off based on the decision of the municipality.
Residents of apartment buildings connected to it cannot influence the temperature in the radiators of their apartments. In most regions of the country, heating is turned off between April 20 and May 10. Useful article? Rate and share with friends!

Heat shutdown in regions

The capital of the Russian Federation is located in the central region, for this reason the heating season ends in April or May . The exact dates are approved by municipality representatives every year.

The final decision on this issue is reflected, for example, on the website of the mayor of Moscow. The table shows the period during which heat is supplied to apartment buildings in the regions.

The exact dates change annually depending on the weather.

How to properly shut off a battery

The answer to the question of how to turn off the heating battery is extremely simple - just close one tap, leaving the second open. But which tap should you turn off?

As we understand, water is supplied to the heating riser from below.

Let's consider the options:

• The top tap is closed and the bottom tap is open. If repair work is carried out at the neighbors below or in the basement, or on the branch that supplies the house, the coolant will be drained and your radiator will be empty. If it is steel or cast iron, it will cause corrosion.
• The bottom tap is closed and the top tap is open. Regardless of any repairs, the radiator will be full.

So, we have learned how to shut off the battery for the summer season: to do this, close only the lower ball valve.

When cold weather sets in, watch for announcements at the entrance about the beginning of the heating season. Then close both ball valves so that no debris gets into the radiator - let it all pass through the bypass. In this case, there is no risk of battery rupture with the taps closed - in one or two days, sufficient pressure will not be able to form inside the radiator. During this time, the apartment will also not have time to freeze, especially since the room will be slightly heated from the riser.

How to turn on the radiator? There is nothing complicated about this - just open both ball valves and the coolant will begin to circulate normally through the switched on radiator.

On the first day of turning on the heating, when you hear the murmur of water in the system, do not rush to open the ball valves

The next day you can open them using the Mayevsky tap to release air. Attention! If you live on the top floor, you must have an air vent installed on your radiator. This will avoid the formation of air pockets due to which the heating device does not perform its functions.

Conclusion

Knowing how to close a radiator, you can decide how to prepare for the new heating season in the summer.

For this you will need:

• Ball Valves;
• bypass;
• air vent.

The work of installing bypass and ball valves must be done by professionals with the assistance of a plumber who will shut off the water in the riser. Please note that welding and related equipment will be required.

Emergency heating battery replacement

Ball valves and bypass are an option:

• ensure the safety of your batteries from corrosion and contamination;
• do not suffer from the heat during sudden warming during the heating season;
• ensure safety in the event of an emergency - if the radiator fails, it can be disconnected from the system, while the neighbors will not suffer from a flood or lack of heat;
• at any convenient time, replace the old radiator with a new one;
• Remove batteries for washing or painting.
• successfully use modern radiators with a thermostat without disturbing your neighbors.

A competent approach to organizing apartment heating is a concern for comfort and safety.

Video on the topic:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PDCStRPzG8g

What is required to shut off heating devices?

If it’s hot in the apartment or you need to disconnect the radiator without calling a plumber to shut off the entire heating riser in the entrance, it is important that:

• Between the supply pipe and the return pipe there was a vertical jumper - a bypass; it is through it that the coolant flow will pass without entering the installed battery after you turn it off. The absence of a bypass automatically means that you are cutting off the flow to the entire riser.
• American ball valves must be installed on the supply and return pipes between the bypass and the heating radiator. They are the ones who make it possible to disconnect.
• Ideally, an air valve is installed at the radiator inlet.

Attention! Ball valves cannot be used to regulate the flow of coolant if you want to reduce the heating of the batteries! This valve is a shut-off valve; its use for other purposes leads to destruction of the valve and leaks. Based on the above, if there is no bypass, but ball valves are installed, the battery can be dismantled independently for repair or replacement, but not during the heating season

Based on the above, if there is no bypass, but ball valves are installed, the battery can be dismantled independently for repair or replacement, but not during the heating season.

Heater with installed bypass

The bypass (jumper) is mounted parallel to the radiator and is usually a pipe whose diameter is equal to the diameter of the supply pipes or one step smaller. If you plan to shut off the radiators after the heating season or install a radiator with a thermostat, be sure to take care of installing a bypass. Otherwise, your actions will lower the temperature of the coolant and your neighbors.

Proper disconnection of radiators

The owner of a private house with an autonomous heating system has the opportunity to turn off the boiler at any time, depending on the weather outside or based on other considerations.

For those who live in houses with central heating, questions about how to turn off the radiator usually arise in two cases:

• if the weather is warm outside and the central heating has not yet been turned off, since the heating season has not officially ended;
• if necessary, replace, repair or paint the radiator, repair the wall behind the radiator.

In this case, one should take into account this point: there is always a coolant inside the battery. It is drained only in case of repair work in the system. This is due to the fact that the main part of the heating devices installed in old houses, as well as the intra-house wiring, are made of steel

This is due to the fact that the main part of the heating devices installed in old houses, as well as the intra-house wiring, are made of steel.

The liquid inside the heating battery contains a certain amount of oxygen in dissolved form, which over time completely reacts with the metal, as a result of which corrosion stops.

You cannot leave the system or a separate heating device unfilled for a long time - moisture remains on the inner surface of the steel or cast iron battery, which does not evaporate for a long time in a confined space. This significantly accelerates the corrosion process. Thus, the coolant is drained only in exceptional cases.

Is it possible to turn off the heat before the official deadline?

If apartments are heated using common building equipment, then the heating may be turned off before the official end of the season. It is enough for the owners of the premises to arrange a meeting where the appropriate decision will be made.

If the house is heated by a centralized system, which is managed by the Thermal Power Plant, then it will not be possible to turn it off before the officially announced date under any circumstances.

The maximum duration of absence of heat in houses during the heating season is regulated at the legislative level. The rules are stated in section 6 of the first appendix of the RF PP No. 354:

• no more than 24 hours per month;
• no more than 16 hours at a time, at temperatures from 12 oC to 18 oC;
• no more than 8 hours at a time, at temperatures from 10 oC to 12 oC;
• no more than 4 hours at a time, at temperatures from 8 oC to 10 oC.

The following situations are exceptions:

• accident or threat of its occurrence;
• natural disasters;
• identification of illegal connection to the system, as a result of which its stable operation is jeopardized;
• Legislative order to deactivate the heating system.

In all other cases, for each hour of inactivity of the heating system during the season, residents receive a discount on the cost of the service in the amount of 0.15%. The temperature in the apartment during the heating season should not fall below 18 degrees.