AZE.US
Homes without official ownership documents will not be connected to the gas network for now, as Azerbaijan’s gas distribution authorities say there has been no change in the rules despite growing public discussion around the issue.
The debate intensified after reports circulated that homes lacking formal title documents could still be supplied with gas if residents held municipal paperwork or a power of attorney. That raised hopes among many families who have spent years living in undocumented homes without access to natural gas.
One resident said her family has gone through two winters without gas because their home has no formal property extract. She said she was repeatedly told that without official documentation, the property could not be connected, adding that one electricity bill for heating reached 259 manats.
To clarify the issue, local media contacted Azəriqaz Production Union, the relevant state body. The agency said there is currently no new rule, regulation or formal decision allowing undocumented homes to be gasified.
That means the reports spreading on social media do not, at this stage, have an official basis.
Experts say municipal papers or a notarized authorization do not amount to full legal proof of ownership. In their view, any move to extend gas access to such homes would require either a dedicated state program or a specific decision by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
They also warn that the problem is not only legal but technical and safety-related. Many undocumented homes were built in restricted or hazardous areas, including under high-voltage lines or in zones where construction should not have been allowed in the first place.
According to specialists, the issue built up over decades as some illegal construction was ignored, while in other cases residents were later left without formal recognition of property rights. That has created entire neighborhoods that physically exist but remain outside the legal and utility framework.
For that reason, experts say a broad move to connect undocumented homes to the gas system is not possible without addressing both ownership rights and safety requirements.
Residents are being advised to rely on official statements and treat unverified claims circulating online with caution.