Shchuchinsk, 24 October. Residents of a new comfort-class apartment building in Shchuchinsk, Akmola region, have had no heat since the start of the heating season, even though heating has officially been connected and they pay their bills; the developer blames residents who altered the heating during renovations, while the utility says the problem is confined to this building, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing KTK television.
"Since the start of the heating season we haven't had any heat. The radiators are cold. The first two are barely warm, the rest are cold right now," said resident Azamat Zhakupov. He said the temperature in the flat can be kept at about 18 °C only with an air conditioner. Residents heat their homes with electric appliances and pay substantial electricity bills on top of their heating bills.
Denis Simonov, head of the construction company, said a commission had inspected the problem flats and found that many owners had altered the heating during renovations, adding radiators and moving them onto loggias, disrupting circulation. Askhat Ildebayev, director of Zhana Turmys 2020 LLP, said all other buildings heated by the same boiler house are warm, so the cause is being sought in the shut-off valves leading to the building.
It emerged that the building's design includes a special heat pump, but it has still not been installed; why is unknown. The developer promises to install it. Residents hope this will help before the first frosts.
The developer blames the residents, the utility blames the building, and the heat pump required by the design has yet to be installed by anyone.
What it means: Heating does not work in the new building, and each party says everything is fine on its side. The only concrete lead is the heat pump that the developer has promised but not yet installed.
Who benefits: Residents, if the pump is installed before the frosts. The developer, who can shift part of the blame onto residents' alterations. For now, families bear the cost of electric heating.
Background: Shchuchinsk is a town in Burabay district of Akmola region; the building is served by the boiler house of Zhana Turmys 2020 LLP, whose director says its other customers have no complaints.
List of sources used: Tengrinews.kz
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
