Penza explained how to legally write off debts for housing

To get rid of accumulated municipal debts without breaking the law, you can only one way - through bankruptcy procedure. There are no other legal mechanisms for the complete cancellation of such obligations. This opinion was shared by Dmitry Svishchev, who heads the State Duma commission on housing rights of citizens.

According to his explanations, if debts for housing and communal services were formed before filing for bankruptcy, the court can write them off. However, there is a caveat: new charges for light, water and heating, which appear already in the process of the procedure, fall on the shoulders of the debtor. In addition, if the judicial authority suspects that the person evaded payment on purpose, the write-off will be refused. It is also worth remembering the associated costs – the services of a financial manager cost money.

For debts in the range from 50 to 500 thousand rubles, Svishchev recommends a simplified, extrajudicial procedure through the MFC. If the amount exceeds half a million, there is only one way to the arbitration court, where you will need careful training and the help of a professional lawyer.

Separately, the deputy warned those who hope to simply wait out the three-year limitation period (Article 196 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation), believing that the debt will “burn” by itself. It's a dangerous tactic. During this time, utilities will increase penalties and fines, and can also limit the supply of resources. At the same time, it is useful to know about the term: if the management company did not file a lawsuit on time, it will not be able to recover money for a long time. But there is a catch - any partial payment or signature under the debt recognition document nullifies this period, and the countdown begins again.