When the roof leaks and the budget disappears: how residents discovered the cost of transparency.
A modern home is a complex engineering structure. It encompasses not just the foundation, load-bearing walls, and roof, but also systems for cold and hot water supply, gas pipelines, sewage, and electricity, in short, the infrastructure that should provide comfort and reliability for its residents.
Residents of the house on Buyuk Ipak Yuli Street encountered two issues: the roof started leaking, and the surrounding area – entrances and sidewalks – was poorly maintained. In a common scenario, the residents reached out to the management company for assistance but received an unexpected response: “there is no budget, we have spent a lot of resources on your house, but we cannot specify how much, please submit a written request.”
Following this reaction, the residents submitted a request to the district hokimiyat and the prosecutor's office asking for help in obtaining a financial report from the management company Chinara Service for the year 2020 and the first three quarters of 2021, to review all expenditure items for the house.
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Management of Multi-Apartment Buildings” (Law No. ZRU-581) stipulates that homeowners' associations (HOAs) and management companies must report to the homeowners about all their expenses and incomes. According to Articles 9 and 45, the reporting must be transparent and accessible to all residents. Article 34 of this law also emphasizes the need for an annual budget for the maintenance of common property and a report on its execution.
However, in practice, management companies often evade providing reports or demand additional written requests, even though this information should be available upon the first request.
Response from Government Authorities
In response to the appeal, in December 2021, a commission from the city inspection under the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services visited the building and the office of the Management Company. Inspectors found that the requirements to provide reports had indeed not been fulfilled in accordance with the law. The company Chinara Service was recommended to urgently report on the expenditures for each residential building separately, as well as on the completed works for the specified period.
Other legal violations were also identified by the commission. The management company immediately began repairs on the roof and tidied up the surrounding area. Importantly, they reported to the homeowners about their income and expenses.
What to Do If the Management Company or HOA Chair Fails to Fulfill Their Duties Properly
If you encounter indifference and irresponsibility from the management company or the HOA chair, follow these steps:
- Gather evidence. It is crucial to document all details of the violations. If you are not provided with a report or if additional documents or fees are requested, keep a written record of all demands.
- Contact the relevant authorities. If your request is not met, reach out to district or city inspections, as well as the prosecutor's office. State all facts, referencing Law No. 581, so that your appeal is processed accordingly.
- Utilize virtual reception services. Online resources, such as https://pm.gov.uz/, allow you to submit written requests to government authorities without the need for a personal visit. This speeds up the complaint review process.
- Monitor the response. After submitting your request, keep track of official replies and the timelines for their execution. If no resolution is reached regarding your issue, you have the right to file a follow-up complaint regarding inaction.
Transparency and accountability of management companies are not merely technical requirements, but fundamental conditions for creating comfort and trust in multi-apartment buildings. Every homeowner has not only the right but also a justifiable expectation to understand where their contributions go, what work is being done, and how effectively the issues of the building are being resolved.
When reporting is concealed behind a veil of silence, troubling questions arise: what is hidden behind the lack of data? Negligence? Carelessness? Or perhaps, misuse of funds?
If the management company avoids dialogue, it is a signal for action. In such cases, homeowners have the right to contact government oversight authorities. After all, transparent management is not a luxury but a necessary condition for ensuring that a house truly remains a place where one wants to live.
Links to Legislation:
Law “On Appeals of Individuals and Legal Entities”
Law “On the Openness of Activities of State Authorities and Administration”
Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Management of Multi-Apartment Buildings”
Resources for Documenting Appeals:
Virtual Reception of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Service for Collaboration of City Services in Tashkent – Xalq Nazorat
Marat Smagin,
columnist for Anhor.uz