Representatives of the employers’ association “Associations of Condominium Co-owners” accuse the municipal authorities of applying double standards in relation to dwellers’ associations when it is about the areas of which these are responsible. On the other hand, when the eventual privatization of land for dwellers to build up a parking place, for example, is discussed, the administration of the capital city invokes the fact that the land is publicly owned. On the other hand, when these areas are not cleaned or cleared of snow, the municipality imposes penalties on dwellers’ associations.

In a news conference at IPN, representative of the employers’ association Nicoleta Popa said that in the January 21 meeting of municipal officials, district heads said about 170 reports were compiled last week over violation of the cleanup rules. Among those penalized are dwellers’ associations. The Contravention Code envisions fines of 3,000 to 9,000 lei.

The association’s executive director Ianuș Cușnir said the land situated near 99% of the apartment buildings in Chisinau is public property. In such conditions, the dwellers associations are penalized without a legal reason. They are fined because they do not clean snow from the areas that legally do not belong to them.

Ianuș Cușnir also said that if the municipal authorities cannot clean the areas located near apartment blocks, they should transfer them to dwellers. In such conditions, the condominium associations, homebuilding cooperatives or privatized dwelling owners associations could annually agree a budget for cleanup. They cannot do this now as the given land does not belong to them.

The representatives of the employers’ association “Associations of Condominium Co-owners” call on the business entities that were penalized for not cleaning snow from areas that belong to the City Hall to come to them after legal advice if they intend to challenge the fines.