People should join together and register associations of apartment building co-owners in order to decide how to manage their courtyards. This would also help them avoid situations when a new block of flats is raised in their courtyard without their permission. The recommendation comes from the Employers’ association of apartment building co-owners associations.

Ianus Cusnir, a representative of the association, summoned a press conference at IPN on Wednesday, December 20. He explained that 17 years have passed since the Law on co-ownership of the housing fund came into effect, which allows people to register associations of co-owners. However, where such associations haven’t been registered, the city hall or the judges can issue construction permits for new apartment buildings in the people’s yards. Then the people are unhappy and start to protest.

According to Cusnir, where an association of co-owners is registered, it’s the tenants and not the authorities who manage the land adjacent to the block. Thus, they can decide whether to allow one company or another to raise a new building in their yard. „There are a lot of benefits. We get ownership of the block’s land and can stop the construction of new buildings. We can raise a fence, keep other people out or arrange a safe playground for kids”, explained Cusnir.

Alexei Raeţchi, another representative of the association, says that construction companies specifically target block yards without co-owners associations, so that they can raise new blocks there. Raising a new block in the yard of an old one makes it easier for them to connect the new building to water, sewage, heat and gas networks. Moreover, the nearby area usually already has the necessary infrastructure, doesn’t require a lot of investment and fits the potential customers’ wishes.

Currently, there are four types of organizations that manage the housing fund in Chisinau. Municipal enterprises for housing management (IMGFL) oversee 1559 blocks (43% of the total). Owners’ associations of privatized buildings (APLP) manage 1006 blocks. Construction cooperatives (CCL) control 105 blocks. Co-owners’ associations are the newest form of administration. According to Cusnit and Raetchi, there are around 650 associations of this kind in Chisinau.