Intercom Fee in Azerbaijan: Who Pays and Who Sets It
The short version: Azerbaijan's Housing Code does not name the intercom, so an intercom fee rests on the general rule. Owners pay for maintaining the common property in proportion to their share, and the general meeting (or the MMMC's management organs, where there is one) sets the amount. Below: whose property the intercom is, who pays, how to show it on the bill and how to collect.
This covers the case where a managing organization or an MMMC collects the fee. A separate service company's relationship with residents under its own contracts is outside this article.
Whose property is the intercom
Under art. 35.1 of the Code, objects in a building intended to serve more than one premises, including "birdən artıq sahəyə xidmət edən mexaniki, elektrik, sanitar-texniki və digər avadanlıq" (mechanical, electrical, sanitary-technical and other equipment serving more than one premises), belong to the owners in common shares. The intercom is not named in that list. An entrance intercom serves several flats and falls under "other equipment": that is a reading of the text, not a rule it states, and the building's papers should present it that way.
Who pays
"Çoxmənzilli binanın ümumi əmlakının saxlanması üzrə xərclər binanın sahə mülkiyyətçilərinin hesabına ödənilir" (costs of maintaining the common property of a multi-apartment building are paid by the building's owners; art. 38.1). Each owner's share follows their share in the common property (art. 38.2). Non-use of the premises by owners, tenants or others is no ground for not paying (art. 137.10).
The intercom on the bill
The Code splits what an owner pays into two parts: the charge for maintenance and repair of the premises (which includes managing the building, maintaining the common property and current and capital repair) and the charge for utilities (art. 136.2). Utilities mean water, sewerage, electricity, gas and heat (art. 136.4).
A separate "intercom" line is neither named nor forbidden in the Code. That is a disputed point. The safe course is to put the amount, what it pays for and the month it starts into the decision of the general meeting (or the MMMC organ), and to show the line on the bill with a reference to that decision.
Who sets the amount
- Where there is no MMMC. The general meeting sets the maintenance rate for at least a year (art. 138.4), and owners pay the managing organization (art. 137.6).
- Where there is an MMMC. Its management organs set the members' mandatory payments in line with the Code and the charter (art. 138.5).
- Where nobody sets it. If the general meeting makes no decision, the relevant executive authority sets the amount (art. 140.3).
There is no national tariff and no statutory minimum for an intercom charge.
The calendar
Unless the management contract provides otherwise, the charge for each month is paid by the 15th of the following month against payment documents presented by the 5th (art. 137.1). Unless the management contract provides otherwise, the managing organization must notify owners of a change in the amount, with its legal grounds, 30 days before the new payment document (art. 137.11).
If an owner does not pay
An MMMC may claim in court compulsory recovery of the mandatory payments and full compensation of the loss caused by non-payment (arts. 122.3-122.4). The Code gives this right expressly to the MMMC; a managing organization relies on its contract and general civil law. The Code has no statutory late-payment interest.
How to collect
- The intercom as its own line on every flat's bill, with the amount and a reference to the decision.
- Payment tied to the flat's account, with the intercom debt visible apart from other charges.
- Documents with the resident by the 5th, and a check of who has not paid after the 15th.
What Unitify does
Unitify billing builds charges by category: per flat, per square meter, per resident or as a fixed sum. The intercom goes on each flat's bill as its own line, payments are matched per flat, and the resident sees the bill in the app. Yigim is integrated for payments; MilliÖn, m10, ABB mobile and Portmanat are licensed channels residents already use, not connected Unitify integrations. If the entrances have an intercom with an integration interface (API, SIP), we connect it on request as a project: separate work on your equipment.
See Unitify for Azerbaijan and pricing, or book a demo.
Sources: Housing Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, consolidation in force from 26.12.2025, e-qanun.az/framework/46955, arts. 35.1, 38, 122, 136-138, 140, 137. Code text rechecked on 9 October 2026; recheck for later amendments before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Housing Code name the intercom?
No. The word "intercom" (domofon) does not appear in the Code. Article 35.1 defines common property as objects serving more than one premises, including "mechanical, electrical, sanitary-technical and other equipment serving more than one premises". The Code does not say in terms that an entrance intercom is "other equipment"; that is a reading.
Who pays for the intercom?
Costs of maintaining the common property of a multi-apartment building are paid by the owners (art. 38.1), each owner's share being in proportion to their share in the common property (art. 38.2). Not using a flat is no ground for not paying (art. 137.10).
Who sets the intercom charge?
Where there is no MMMC, the owners' general meeting sets the maintenance rate for at least a year and owners pay the managing organisation (arts. 138.4, 137.6). Where there is an MMMC, its management organs set the members' mandatory payments in line with the charter (art. 138.5).
Can the intercom be a separate line on the bill?
The Code splits an owner's bill into two parts: maintenance and repair of the premises, and utilities (art. 136.2). A third, separate "intercom" line is neither named nor forbidden. This is a disputed point: the safe course is to write the amount and its basis in the decision of the general meeting (or the MMMC organ) or in the management contract.
When is the charge due?
Unless the management contract says otherwise, the charge for each month is paid by the 15th of the next month against documents presented by the 5th (art. 137.1). Unless the management contract provides otherwise, the managing organisation must notify owners of a change in the amount, with its legal grounds, 30 days before the new payment document (art. 137.11).
What if an owner does not pay?
An MMMC may claim in court compulsory recovery of the mandatory payments and compensation of the loss caused (arts. 122.3-122.4). A managing organisation relies on its contract and general civil law.