Debtors' apartments are often disconnected from the gas network, which leads to inconvenience and complications in everyday life. But what if the gas was cut off in a private house, what to do in such a situation and how to solve it in your favor? If you are the owner of a separate house, then you probably do not want surprises on your site.
We are sure that you do not like strangers, no matter who they are. Find out more about your rights and responsibilities. You will gain confidence that everything will be in order with both the gas supply and your property.
As you study our article, you will become familiar with the provisions of regulations in detail. We have collected important information and presented it in a convenient form. Read everything to the end, and you will know how to act in a given situation.
Who is responsible for gas supply and maintenance of gas equipment in MKD
According to the provisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation, the subscriber is obliged to ensure that the condition of the in-house gas equipment (VDGO) meets the technical requirements, and to promptly conclude an agreement on its maintenance and emergency dispatch support.
The subscriber can be the owner of an apartment in an apartment building or the provider of a gas supply utility service:
- HOA,
- management organization,
- Housing cooperative,
- LCD,
- another specialized cooperative.
VDGO includes:
- gas pipelines of a residential or multi-apartment building, which are connected to the gas distribution network, group or tank cylinder installation, and provide fuel supply to the connection point of gas equipment;
- the equipment itself;
- gas meters.
Gas pipelines in the apartment building up to the first shut-off and control valves on the branches of the intra-apartment distribution from the risers belong to the intra-building gas supply system and are considered the common property of the owners of the premises in the apartment building.
The consumer’s obligation to enter into an agreement for the maintenance of VDGO is provided for in clause 93 of the Rules for the supply of gas to meet the household needs of citizens, approved by .
In accordance with clause 3 of the Rules, gas supply means the fulfillment by the supplier (gas supplying organization) of the obligations specified in the contract. They are expressed as a set of actions to supply natural gas through the gas distribution network or liquefied hydrocarbon gas from a tank or group cylinder installation to the property line of gas distribution (connected) networks.
Find out in more detail what nuances the maintenance of gas equipment has for MKD.
How much does it cost to reconnect?
The amount of costs is determined by the volume of work and expenses incurred by the gas supply company in the process of performing this action. Since there are no generally accepted regional tariffs, the cost of payment is determined by the service organization. All expenses are borne by the debtor.
If there is a clear unwillingness of the owner to resume payment for services within three months, he may face legal proceedings. During the dispute resolution process, the supplier has the right to submit for consideration the issue of termination of the contract. Additionally, in court, the company can recover from the defaulter a debt in the amount of 10 thousand rubles or more.
In no case should the case be brought to court, since in the process of enforcement proceedings an unscrupulous consumer faces additional difficulties, but on the part of bailiffs. These include unexpected visits from employees from early morning until dark at night in order to study the financial condition of the debtor, inventory and seizure of property with its subsequent sale, as well as other troubles.
The legislative framework
Gas supplies to the population and the procedure for maintaining gas equipment in apartment buildings are regulated by the Rules for the supply of gas to meet the household needs of citizens.
Issues related to payment for the maintenance of common property in apartment buildings, including the in-house engineering system that supplies gas to residential apartment buildings, are regulated by the provisions.
The general gas supply policy, powers in the field of regulation of gas prices, guarantees of payment for supplied gas and services for its transportation are reflected in the Federal Law.
Find out more about how to conclude a contract for servicing gas equipment.
Due to the fact that emergency situations are increasingly occurring on the territory of the Russian Federation when residents of apartment buildings use gas, a special bill has been developed and submitted to the State Duma to reduce the risk of their occurrence. The goal of the initiative is to prevent accidents when using gas at home and to pass a law banning gas in apartment buildings.
The document proposes to introduce a ban on the design and construction of apartment buildings that provide for the use of gas in residential premises. It is also proposed to prohibit the gasification of residential premises after major repairs of apartment buildings.
Exceptions are cases when, due to climate conditions, it is impossible to use another energy resource and it is not possible to ban gas in an apartment building without reducing the quality of living conditions.
Why is it necessary to turn off the gas?
The need to turn off the gas supply in an apartment in an apartment building may arise for various reasons:
- departure of residential premises owners on a long business trip;
- intention to make a major overhaul with complete redevelopment;
- moving to another apartment and mothballing the previous home.
Refusal to use gas in an apartment may be due to the desire to equip the kitchen with an electric stove or install an electric boiler or direct-flow water heater instead of a gas water heater.
Procedure for turning off the gas
In accordance with clause 51 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 21, 2008 No. 549 “On the procedure for supplying gas to meet the household needs of citizens,” the subscriber has the right to unilaterally terminate the gas supply agreement. The main condition is full payment to the supplier for the gas consumed and the costs associated with the work to disconnect the gas equipment.
It is possible to re-equip your home and install electric equipment instead of gas equipment if you follow a certain procedure and notify all interested authorities of your decision.
Unauthorized actions are considered a violation of the law, and therefore are fraught with large fines, and if an emergency situation occurs in the house, even more serious consequences.
To prevent this from happening, you should contact competent organizations in advance. An employee of the management company or HOA will tell you how to refuse gas in an apartment building in a legal way.
Who to contact to turn off the gas
If the consumer decides to stop consuming gas in the apartment, it is worth visiting the management company that services the house. There they will explain to him what an application must contain to replace a gas stove with an electric one, as well as how to quickly and easily carry out the shutdown procedure.
The next step is to contact the customer department of the territorial administration of Gorgaz with an application. You need to have with you:
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- a document confirming ownership of the residential premises in which gas appliances are installed;
- receipts certifying the absence of arrears in payment for consumed gas.
Do I need the consent of the management company and all apartment owners?
Before turning off the gas supply to the apartment and switching the housing to electricity supply, you need to obtain permission from the company managing the housing stock to which the apartment building belongs.
In addition, it is necessary to obtain the consent of all owners of the apartment if it is in common joint or shared ownership.
How long does the outage last?
The shutdown process consists of several stages, which include:
- a visit to the apartment by representatives of the gas service;
- drawing up a sketch;
- conclusion of a contract for the implementation of work;
- issuing an invoice for payment.
Then the actual dismantling of gas equipment is carried out, during which certain sections of gas pipelines are cut off and welded tightly.
Usually it takes up to 5 days to approve documents, and up to 20 to wait for the team to leave.
As a rule, simultaneously with the dismantling of gas equipment, the apartment is switched to electricity supply. This procedure also involves a number of actions that will extend the gas shutdown period.
How much does shutdown work cost?
You can get acquainted with the prices for the dismantling of gas appliances on the official website of the territorial branch of Gorgaz at the location of the apartment building in which the apartment being disconnected is located.
The total cost includes payment for the team to travel to the work site, as well as for trimming the lowering of the gas appliance (disconnection from the gas supply).
Choosing a Trimming Tool
Hacksaws and pipe cutters are often used to cut gas pipes. The grinder is used less often. Quite often, gas service workers use electric or gas welding. According to experts, each tool has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Let's take a closer look at them:
- hacksaw for metal . Makes it possible to make a neat cut without soot and other traces of processing. A significant disadvantage is the labor intensity and duration of work;
- pipe cutter Its use ensures the perpendicularity of the cut, a smooth end and the absence of metal filings. The downside is the volume of the tool, which often exceeds the distance between the wall and the pipe;
- Bulgarian _ The advantage is high cutting speed. The disadvantage is the formation of sparks, which require additional protection of surfaces in the work area;
- gas welding and electric welding . With proper preparation, including thorough cleaning of the metal from paint, dirt and rust, the tool provides a high-quality cut. But it is worth remembering that the method is fire hazardous.
An experienced specialist will determine the advisability of using this or that equipment during the first inspection. The choice of tool depends on the skills of the master, the availability of equipment, the location of the pipes relative to the wall, as well as the material of the walls and ceilings.
Even the most compact pipe cutter may be useless if the pipe is laid almost close to the wall. The only way out in this case is to try to bend it a short distance or use another tool
In wooden houses, special protection of walls and ceilings is required when using an angle grinder or gas welder. Flying sparks and high metal temperatures can cause a fire.
Therefore, before work, it is necessary to cover all wooden surfaces with metal sheets.
How to connect an electric stove
Having decided to turn off the gas in the apartment and connect the electric stove, it is worth keeping in mind that installing electrical appliances instead of gas ones is a refurbishment (refurbishment) of residential premises. According to Art. 26 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, these actions are carried out in compliance with the requirements of the law in agreement with the local government body and on the basis of the decision taken by it.
When submitting an application for refurbishment, one of the important documents is a project for the refurbishment of residential premises prepared and executed in accordance with the established procedure.
Since gasified houses are allocated the maximum permitted electrical power, the conversion project must confirm that its increase will not lead to a short circuit and a fire.
Energosbyt specialists will help determine whether it is possible to refuse gas in the apartment and install an electric stove. They will evaluate whether it is possible for the consumer to increase energy consumption and whether the home’s energy network can withstand the commissioning of an electric stove.
You may need to install new wiring at your own expense, otherwise the kitchen equipment will not be replaced. The procedure for replacing the stove must be coordinated and approved by gas service specialists. The fact of replacement is recorded by the housing inspectorate.
Preparatory stage - obtaining permission
First of all, it is necessary to determine whether, from a technical point of view, it is possible to shorten the gas pipe and how to do this. To do this, you need to apply to a specialized organization.
The application is written in free form, indicating the exact address and passport details of the owner.
Since the applicant, by law, can only be the owner of the premises, a gas service employee may ask to see title documents already on the first visit
After receiving a signal from the owner of the premises, the gas service sends its representative to the place. The foreman will listen to the applicant’s wishes, inspect the gas pipeline and equipment connected to it, and issue a verdict. If the customer’s wishes turn out to be contrary to safety standards, he will offer other options.
After finding the optimal solution, the specialist will draw up a diagram showing the condition of the pipe after cutting. Based on this scheme, the gas company will issue a permit and provide an estimate. It will take into account the cost of upcoming work and consumables.
How to connect gas after a shutdown
Disconnection of a subscriber from gas supply can occur not only at his request, but also at the decision of the service provider if the consumer has violated the terms of the contract or has not paid for the gas consumed for 2 months.
The gas supply can be restored only after the reasons that led to the suspension of the service have been eliminated.
Having repaid the debt, the subscriber must come to the supplier’s office and submit information about eliminating the reasons for the disconnection. It is advisable to draw up the application in 2 copies and indicate that all obligations have been fulfilled.
Gas supply, in accordance with paragraph 48 of the above-mentioned Decree No. 549, must be resumed within 5 days from the date the supplier receives a written notification that the reasons have been eliminated.
Payment receipts must be attached to the application. The subscriber pays for all work on disconnecting/connecting gas appliances.
State duty when filing a claim in court
A claim that has a material expression is subject to consideration after payment of the state fee.
Attention! State duty calculator.
Its size depends on the value of the claim:
- up to 20,000 rubles – 400 rubles or 4% of the claim price;
- 20,000 – 100,000 rubles – 3% of the claim price plus 800 rubles;
- 100,000 – 200,000 rubles – 2% of the claim price plus 3,200 rubles;
- 200,000 – 1,000,000 rubles – 1% of the claim price plus 5,200 rubles;
- more than 1,000,000 rubles – 0.5% of the claim price plus 13,200 rubles.
There is no need to pay a state fee for a claim for compensation for moral damage.
conclusions
Gas supply in MKD apartments can be terminated not only by the decision of the service provider, but also at the request of the consumer. In this case, turning off the gas and transferring the apartment to electricity supply is carried out with the permission of the management company and in agreement with all owners of the premises.
The project must also be approved by official authorities. Energosbyt specialists will explain to the applicant whether it is possible to turn off the gas in one apartment in a multi-storey building and switch to electricity supply.
