No services are provided, work isn't being done, yet payments are made to a deceased woman: Odessa residents are outraged by municipal fraud and debts.

In Odessa, the communal wars between housing and communal services (HCS) and private companies are continuing at such a scale that it could easily be made into a film. Local residents are at a loss as to whom to trust and where to send their money, as the struggle for homes involves forged documents, absurd situations with "dead souls," and even the prosecutor's office.

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On Fontanskaya Road, 45, a true surreal situation occurred, reports "Dumskaya". According to the city hall documents, the residents of the building unanimously elected an authorized person – Lydia R., born in 1937. The catch is: Lydia R. had already died two months prior. Naturally, the residents were well aware of this, and the "meeting" likely existed only on paper.

Money for "Air"

On the neighboring Fontanskaya Road, 7, residents began receiving bills from HCS "Fontansky". No services were seen, no work was done, yet they demanded payment. When the outraged residents sought clarification from the district administration, they were told: "You are serviced by the private company 'Service Plus', not HCS".

This means that HCS was simply collecting money for "air". In their receipts, they cleverly included a fine print clause: by paying the bill, you automatically agree to the terms of the contract. However, lawyers assert that such tricks in the communal sphere are illegal.

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Courts, Police, and Conflicts

The issue of double billing has reached the Economic Court: the company "Service Plus" is demanding that HCS explain on what basis money is being collected from their buildings. The court has given HCS until January 13 to present the documents.

Meanwhile, debts are accumulating in the buildings, both parties are filing complaints with the police, and seeking the truth through the courts. For instance, on French Boulevard, 14, it was discovered that bills were issued based on forged documents. The case has reached the General Prosecutor's Office, and now law enforcement has had to fully engage in the situation.

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How Did It All Start?

The communal war began back in 2020 when the city hall decided to liquidate HCS and hand over the buildings to private management companies. Residents were given a choice: either form a homeowners' association (OSMD) or sign contracts with "new" companies. In some cases, residents' "consent" was simply fabricated on paper.

The main player in the market at that time was the company "Service Plus", which took over the management of 520 buildings. However, in 2023, the former vice-mayor for housing and communal services, Dmitry Zheman, left his position, and the city's policy turned 180 degrees: HCS once again became "reliable".

This led to double billing and a struggle for the buildings. Some management companies, like "Porto-Franco", could not withstand the pressure and shut down. "Service Plus" retained only 300 buildings out of 520 – the rest returned to HCS.

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What’s Next?

Residents continue to receive double bills, city hall says one thing, management companies say another, and the truth gets lost somewhere between court hearings and criminal cases. The question "Who should we pay?" remains the main concern for the people of Odessa.

But one thing is clear: while those at the top divide the buildings and budgets, the residents will have to bear the costs of this entire communal circus.