Interesting to hear that Russia uses this system. Sweden uses it too. We call it "remote heating" (fjärrvärme). I wonder what other countries use it? England definitely doesn't.

I like it because:
You can have very "slim" discrete radiators instead of big fat ones like in the UK (where each individual radiator generates it's own heat, using electricity).
It doesn't get more expensive because you raise the temperature. In fact, I think the cost is part of the rent or service charge of the flat.
Seems like a more efficient situation to share heating, because everyone needs heating anyway.

The bad thing about it is that in the autumn they sometimes wait too long before they turn it on, so you would like to use the heating but it is not available... Also, in theory, this system is vulnerable - if the heating station doesn't work for some reason, then everybody freezes. I can't remember that happening though. Also I can't remember hearing about pipes bursting. Is that a common problem in Russia?

Large privately owned villas etc usually don't use this system though.

Here in England, they don't even do it on a per-building basis. Everyone is responsible for the heating of his own flat - a lot of hassle, and the radiators are absolutely huge.

Another problem in England is that buildings are not insulated properly. All the heat just disappears through poorly insulated walls and windows. It is not that cold here.. but enough to want to heat the flat. My current flat is in a very nice rather new building which is well insulated though, but that is the exception in England.

In Russia, do you usually use double or triple glass in the windows for insulation? Single glass seems impossible for somewhere so cold!! Here in England, single glass is the rule although many people are adding double glass.

Condominium / condo is not a very European word.. I have only heard it in references to the US and Asia. Nobody in the UK would say that they live in a condo. They would say "flat". I think "condo" usually refers to quite modern blocks of flats: high-end ones. Americans also use "apartment", I think.