Russian housing and utility arrears arising before the bankruptcy petition is accepted are generally assessed with other pre-existing monetary claims. New charges after that date are current claims: they remain payable durontinue during personal bankruptcy.
Court discharge
A filing alone does not cancel arrears; the completion order matters.
Can utility arrears be discharged?
Completion of asset realisation generally releases the debtor from further performance of creditor claims unless a statutory exception applies. Pre-acceptance housing and utility arrears may therefore fall within discharge. The result is not automatic on filing: the procedure must be completed and the court must apply discharge.
Old arrears and current charges
| Period or claim | Treatment | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before petition acceptance | Pre-existing monetary claim | Verify calculation, period, liable person and creditor filing |
| After petition acceptance | Current claim under Insolvency Law Article 5 | Pay current bills and request a monthly split if disputed |
| Penalties | Follow the period and basis of the underlying charge | Separate dates and calculation |
| Major repairs contribution | Current amounts share the third current-payment priority | Verify ownership and accrual date |
| Sold or third-party property | Ownership or tenancy during the billing period matters | Use title extract, agreement and transfer act |
Article 213.27 places current housing charges, utilities and major-repair contributions in the third priority of current claims. Priority does not convert post-acceptance bills into old dischargeable arrears.
Utility-debt check
Mark the information already separated and evidenced.
Practical sequence
Identify the control date
Use the date the commercial court accepted the bankruptcy petition.
Obtain the account history
Request monthly charges, payments, penalties and adjustments.
Split the periods
Calculate pre- and post-acceptance amounts separately.
Verify the liable person
Match title, tenancy and transfer dates.
Pay current bills
Do not allow new bills to accumulate in reliance on discharge.
Review the completion order
Confirm whether discharge was applied and which claims survived.
Frequently asked questions
Does bankruptcy itself cause utility disconnection?
No. Any restriction follows housing and utility rules, not the bankruptcy filing alone.
Must new bills be paid after a bankruptcy order?
Yes. New charges are current claims and survive to the extent unpaid.
Are penalties discharged?
Their period and legal basis must be identified; old and current portions require separate treatment.
What if the supplier refuses to split the balance?
Request a monthly statement in writing and provide the court order showing the control date.
Does ordinary utility debt pass to a buyer?
Ordinary liability follows the responsible person, while major-repair contributions have special rules. Classify the charge first.
Primary sources
- Insolvency Law, Article 5 — current claims
- Article 213.27 — distribution priorities
- Article 213.28 — discharge
- Housing Code, Article 153
- Supreme Court personal-bankruptcy review, 18 June 2025
Related guidance
Current claims · Non-dischargeable debts · Russian personal bankruptcy
Need to separate utility arrears?
Review periods, account history, current charges and court documents without outcome promises.
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