Tenants of Monaco’s state-owned apartments are facing mounting frustration as service charges continue to climb, with many reporting significant increases and delayed notifications for payments.
In several buildings across the Principality, charges for heating, utilities, and communal services have surged in recent years, in some cases doubling or tripling since 2020. Late reminders for these charges have added to residents’ concerns, creating financial strain for many on fixed or modest incomes.
Recent billing for the 2022 period has seen substantial arrears issued, while the next wave of regularisations, covering 2023, is expected to arrive in early 2026. The lag between consumption periods and billing has drawn criticism, particularly when combined with sharp rises in energy costs.
The State Property Administration attributes the increases primarily to higher energy consumption costs in the post-Covid era, alongside broader inflation affecting water, electricity, and gas contracts. Officials also cite rising consumer price indices as contributing factors across all sectors.
To address delays, the Administration has implemented a catch-up schedule to return billing cycles to a standard timeline by the end of 2026. A minimum six-month gap between two billing periods has been set, except for smaller properties where adjustments may be processed more quickly due to lower associated costs.
The Administration maintains that residents may request to spread payments or increase their monthly service charge contributions to reduce the impact of future adjustments.
As the Principality works to balance operational costs with tenant affordability, the issue of rising charges and billing transparency remains a point of tension in Monaco’s public housing sector.
