On 29 September 2011 in Kyiv City State Administration was held Coordination Board meeting dedicated to the assistance of condominium development in Kyiv.
The meeting was attended by the Head of KCSA O.Popov, first deputy head of KCSA O. Mazurchak, the Head of the Coordinating Board Secretariat O. Beznosyk, the DSA heads, and representatives of civic organizations: the head of all-Ukrainian condominium association M. Konoshevych, the Leader of housing programs of the CN OPORA T. Boiko, the head of Kyiv office of VNGO Civil Network OPORA N. Nakonechna, the deputy head of Homeowners association in Kyiv M. Berezovchuk, the head of VMGO "Democratic Alliance" V. Hatsko.
The meeting considered the reports of civic activists and representatives of local government on condominium situation in the capital, its problems and their possible solution. In particular, the first deputy head of KCSA O. Mazurchak emphasized that local government must settle the question of assistance to organization of meetings, administrative and legal support of initiative groups at administrative level. As for initiative groups’ trainings, according to O. Mazurchak, the power should promote trainings of active residents. According to the deputy, the programs that function today at the Academy of housing and communal services provide trainings for condominium leaders, accountants and, what is the most important, for initiative groups. However, there is lack of understanding for the expediency of condominium development. The first deputy head of KCSA stated that there is serious resistance of housing offices and service providers fortified by spreading leaflets against condominiums, preventing conduction of the constituent assembly, blocking access to the documents and information necessary for organization of constituent assemblies. Moreover, not everywhere constituent assemblies are registered and conducted, and providing information on nonresidential, technical units (attics, basements, which are leased) to condominiums is restrained. O. Mazurchak affirmed that the power should seriously consider this problem and improve the process of condominium creation as well as documentation supply. Besides that, official noted: “Although in small amounts, funds are committed to condominiums. And if they are rationally used this year, we will get larger financial resource for their support the next year.”
Civic representatives have own vision of problems concerning condominium development assistance in Kyiv. Nila Nakonechna, the head of Kyiv office of VNGO CN OPORA stated that “according to the results of Kyiv condominiums’ public monitoring, there are 291 initiative groups of condominium development registered (on 01.07.2011), although only 2 of them managed to register officially.” “This situation shows that attempts of the government to increase the number of condominiums are verbal, as long as there are many bureaucratic procedures that impede Kyiv citizens. Local government, civic organizations, political parties and business owners create different counseling centers to help initiative groups. There are more than 50 of them in Kyiv. Although, as soon as there is no common explanatory base and joint vision of future condominium development, along with free interpretation of legal rules, this initiative do more harm than good. Therefore, the necessity of creation unitary coordination center of the Condominium recourse centers in Kyiv that will perform methodological and educational function is urgent,.”—reckons Nila Nakonechna. Moreover, the representative of OPORA is convinced that “being focused on creating condominiums in 70% of dwelling houses, the power forgets to provide conditions for functioning of existing associations which are still focused on the problem of first major repairs, social protection of low income residents (benefits and subsidies), long-term lending of the surrounding area and relations with monopolists." “This issues are quite complicated, and for it’s solution there must be constant dialogue among the general public and the power. Therefore, adoption of the long-term program for creation and development of condominiums in Kyiv is vital.”- concludes Nila Nakonechna.
Tetiana Boiko, the leader of housing programs of the CN OPORA, accentuated the necessity of informational campaign aimed on forming responsible dwelling owners in Kyiv. It must be leaflets, the enlightening of government’s work in this sphere, training of the Resource centers’ staff. “Kyiv city state administration must determine why it needs condominiums. If they are needed to create responsible dwelling owners in Kyiv, than Kyiv authorities should make following steps: firstly, to start telling the truth that dwellers of the multi-apartment buildings are already co-owners with all rights and responsibilities, no matter if condominium is created or not (to take away plates "The house is owned by ___ district"; secondly, to get an understanding of what condominium is (that it's a mechanism of making decisions, but not the “alternative to housing offices”); thirdly, to solve some of the condominiums problems (to start with, for example from the “Housing service”); and, after all, to promote them” – stated Tetiana Boiko.
After hearing all the comments and recommendations, the Head of KCSA Oleksandr Popov affirmed that he agrees with all that was said and ordered to enter them into the meeting minutes of the Coordinating Board on the promotion of condominiums in Kiev.