Administrator September 2, 2026 18:00

Renting out an apartment can become a good source of additional income. But if the housing is rented by a person who has been included in the list of those not employed in the economy, the owner may have a question: who should pay for utilities and at what rates?

An explanation was provided by the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of Belarus.

Who should pay for utilities

As reported by the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services, according to Article 29 of the Housing Code, the tenant's obligation to pay for housing and communal services arises from the day the lease agreement is concluded. At the same time, for the private housing stock, the tenant pays for utilities only if such an obligation is specified in the contract.

That is, it is important for the owner and the tenant to determine in advance who exactly will pay for utilities and to document this condition.

If the tenant is not employed in the economy, rates may increase

The Ministry reminded about Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 465 of August 27, 2025. If the tenant is simultaneously the payer of utilities in the rented apartment and is included in the list of those not employed in the economy, economically justified rates apply to the entire area of the rented housing and to the entire volume of consumed services.

This concerns, in particular, payments for heating and hot water supply.

There is a way to pay without increased rates

At the same time, full economically justified rates will not have to be applied if the owner and the tenant have agreed to leave the obligation to pay for utilities with the officially employed owner.

"Consequently, if the lessor and the tenant, within the framework of a lease agreement for a residential premises of the private housing stock or in an additional agreement to it, have decided to leave the obligation to pay for utilities with the officially employed owner, then payment at economically justified rates will not be required," the Ministry emphasized.