Causes of debt of the population for payment of housing and utility services

Abstract

This study is aimed at clarifying the main reasons for the formation of consumer debt to pay for the services of housing and communal services. The subject of the study is the opinion of consumers about the quality of services and factors that reduce their payment. The purpose of this study is to identify the main reasons for non-payment of housing and communal services by consumers. To achieve the goal of the study, the following tasks were solved: the assessment of the quality of services was determined; the degree of consumer awareness was assessed; the main reasons for non-payment of services were identified. The research methodology was based on a sociological survey of consumers. For this, a quota proportional sample was used among consumers of housing and communal services in the city of Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region. The study was door-to-door with a given route. As a result, the following causes and factors affecting the occurrence of arrears in payment for services were identified: regular increase in tariffs; discrepancy between the price and the quality of services; lack of information about the rights and obligations of consumers in this area; low level of communication between consumers of services and performers; high need for meetings of owners of premises with representatives of housing and communal services; low income. The results of this study are of great theoretical significance for the development and formation of programs for the socio-economic development of individual municipalities, as well as for the development of strategic programs for the development of enterprises in the sphere of housing and communal services. The practical significance lies in the fact that the main stakeholders of this market, using the described methodology, can repeat the study to identify the main factors in quantitative terms that reduce the pace of sustainable development of housing and communal services and municipalities.