President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed Decree No. 327 "On Improving the Energy Efficiency of Apartment Buildings". This was reported to BELTA by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
The document defines the conditions and mechanisms for the participation of owners of residential and non-residential premises in financing energy-efficient measures to reduce thermal energy consumption in apartment buildings, cut heating costs, and improve the consumer characteristics of such buildings.
According to the decree, the decision to carry out the said measures on a voluntary basis is made by a general meeting of co-owners, if owners holding more than two-thirds of the votes have voted in favour. It is envisaged that the financing of energy-efficient measures may involve the shared participation of the budget and owners, as well as the attraction of other sources for these purposes, including borrowed funds from international credit and financial organizations.
Owners will reimburse the costs only after the completion of works to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings. The reimbursement amount will be determined proportionally to the share of each owner in the total area of residential and (or) non-residential premises.
The decree establishes the procedure for such reimbursement: for owners of non-residential premises built into apartment buildings – in full, in equal monthly installments over 3 years; for owners of residential premises – in the amount of at least 50% of the costs, in equal monthly installments over 10 years. Local executive and administrative bodies are granted the right to extend the reimbursement period for socially vulnerable and low-income citizens up to 15 years.