Earlier (Krasnaya gazeta № 236) we published the draft resolution of the Presidium of the Regional Executive Committee on the compulsory consolidation of living space. The draft was sent for approval to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

It will be recalled that the basic points of the draft are as follows:

Excess rooms are considered to be those exceeding the living space allotted according to the current norm to the family of the tenant and provided on the basis of professional occupation and medical condition.

Excess rooms as an entirety are subject to requisition from tenants by administrative order and will be placed at the exclusive disposition of district communal departments for the settlement of productively employed citizens.

With the exception of married spouses and children under 12 years of age, the requisition of excess rooms may not compel persons of opposite sexes to cohabit the same room.

Tenants are granted their choice of rooms remaining to them within the limits specified in paragraph 1, as well as the right within 3 weeks to settle in the requisitioned rooms tenants of their choice, on the condition that said tenants surrender to the district communal department any rooms occupied by them or some other rooms suitable for habitation in exchange for those subject to requisition.

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Yesterday a notice was received from the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs stating that in view of the acute housing shortage in Leningrad, the Commissariat considers it necessary to approve the resolution and its implementation.

Quite soon the draft will obviously be given conclusive consideration by the Central Executive Committee.

New Rules on the Utilization of Living Space

The Department of Communal Management yesterday submitted for consideration by the Presidium of the Leningrad Soviet the draft of the compulsory resolution on residence reconfiguration, the exchange of living space, and voluntary consolidation. Housing departments are reminded that they must under no circumstances oppose intra-apartment reconfigurations that have been sanctioned by the building inspectorate and create new apartments and rooms. Such reconfigurations permit a more concentrated and therefore more rational utilization of living space.

Tenants who undertake reconfiguration at their own expense are entitled to determine the occupation of the rooms produced by the reconfiguration.

It is categorically affirmed that housing departments have no right to obstruct the exchange of living space among productively employed citizens if said exchange is not speculative and the tenants have no outstanding indebtedness to the housing department.

Tenants are permitted to undertake voluntary consolidation of excess room space without the express consent of the housing department, but each new occupant must be allotted no less than 5 square meters.

Translated by Charles Rougle