The Russian State Duma has approved a law shifting the deadline for utility bill payments from the 10th to the 15th of each month. This legislative change, which passed both the second and third readings, is set to take effect on March 1, 2026.

The new law stipulates that payments for housing and communal services must be made monthly by the fifteenth day of the month following the one for which the charges apply.

Previously, the deadline could be altered by the management agreement of an apartment building or by a decision made by members of the Homeowners Association (HOA). However, the new law removes this flexibility, establishing a fixed deadline.

The decision to amend the legislation was driven by the fact that the majority of Russian citizens receive their salaries around the 12th or 15th of the month. This adjustment aims to make it more convenient for residents to pay their bills on time, potentially reducing late payments.

Furthermore, the law mandates that payment documents, including those in electronic form, must be provided to residents no later than the fifth day of the month following the billing period. The previous requirement was to provide the payment documents by the first day of the month.