How to complain about noisy neighbors and tenants: advice from a housing and communal services expert

According to housing and communal services expert Dmitry Bondar, you can complain about noisy neighbors to the management company or the HOA.

You can complain about tenants without even knowing the contact details of the apartment owner; you just need to record the facts of offenses linked to the apartment number.

To submit official complaints to the Criminal Code or State Housing Property Department, you can use the GIS Housing and Communal Services system or the “Government Services.Home” application; electronic appeals have legal force.

MOSCOW, September 6 - RIA Novosti. You can complain about noisy neighbors to the management company or homeowners association (HOA), public figure and housing and communal services expert Dmitry Bondar told RIA Novosti.

“You can, for example, contact the management company or HOA. They have a register of residents, but due to the law on personal data (152-FZ), they do not have the right to simply dictate your phone number. Write a statement to the management organization describing the problem and ask the employees to call the owner themselves and give him your contacts,” said Bondar.

The expert also advised to talk with the chairman of the building’s council, since, according to Article 161.1 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation (Council of an Apartment Building), he works closely with residents and can find out the right phone number for emergency situations.

In addition, the public figure recalled that you can complain about tenants without even knowing the contact details of the apartment owner.

“You don’t have to know who exactly owns or rents the apartment in order to protect your rights to a quiet life. You just need to record the facts of the offenses themselves, linked to the apartment number,” Bondar noted.

According to the expert, finding out the identities of noisy neighbors is the direct responsibility of government agencies, where the affected tenant applies.

“It is best to respond to noise by calling the police, referring to the local law on silence and Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (petty hooliganism). If they litter in the entrance or smoke on the stairs: it is worth writing to the management company, housing inspection or the police, since this is a possible violation of the rules for maintaining common property (Article 36 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation) and the ban on smoking (Article 6.24 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation),” Bondar emphasized.

In case of unsanitary conditions, the appearance of cockroaches or strong odors, the expert recommended complaining to Rospotrebnadzor and, when making a complaint, refer to Article 6.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (Violation of sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the operation of residential premises and public premises, buildings, structures and transport).

“If the tenants continue to interfere with their lives, a complaint to the Tax Inspectorate (FTS) may be triggered. Write a statement of suspicion of illegal rental of the apartment and tax evasion. The tax office very quickly finds the owner and asks him uncomfortable questions,” Bondar added.

As the public figure noted, after the attention of the Federal Tax Service, owners prefer to immediately evict problem tenants and thereby avoid worsening the problems.