No queues and paperwork: new electronic system will provide housing for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians
17 June 20:21
It is planned to solve the housing problem of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who need to improve their living conditions and are on long-term housing waiting lists using a special electronic system. This was reported by Olena Shulyak, chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, head of the Servant of the People party, "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to her, the newly created system will select the best housing program for each family. The bill on this system is expected to be considered by the parliament in the near future.
Why the housing issue has become urgent
Shulyak explained that the housing issue has become particularly acute due to the war. People have lost their homes, fled their cities and towns, and found themselves in temporary shelters or simply homeless. Internally displaced persons need help as soon as possible: they are already looking for housing for temporary or permanent residence. This issue has become a national concern, so the government is putting all its efforts into creating a transparent mechanism to provide housing for every family in need.
Electronic system as the main tool for providing housing
We are talking about the draft law No. 12377 “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” registered in January this year. Its adoption is a requirement of the Ukraine Facility program, under which Ukraine receives €50 billion from the EU until 2027. The deadline for the final adoption of the draft law is the 4th quarter of 2025.
“The adoption of this draft law is the beginning of a large-scale housing reform aimed at launching the process of resolving the housing issue for hundreds of thousands of citizens who have been waiting in housing waiting lists for decades,” Shulyak explained.
The Ukraine Facility is a financial support program for Ukraine from the European Union for 2024-2027. It is aimed at maintaining macrofinancial stability, economic recovery, and reforming its key sectors.
Numbers, algorithms and selection criteria
The MP pointed out that one of the important points of the new draft law is the creation and launch of a digital tool that will help solve housing problems individually.
We are talking about an electronic register of applications and the Unified Housing Information and Analytical System. The system will analyze and compare applications with the level of income, availability of owned housing, social status (IDP, person with a disability, disabled person) and will be able to offer the most appropriate housing option. This includes social housing, service housing, financial and credit mechanisms, as well as housing that can be rented on a social lease, i.e., at a price significantly lower than the market price.
The role of local government
At the same time, Shulyak pointed out, the system will be used by local governments to understand the situation on their territories, manage local housing funds, improve housing provision, and more accurately predict the needs of their communities.
This approach will allow us to finally abandon the housing waiting lists. This is an opportunity to create a transparent and efficient housing system, taking into account current needs, income levels and any dynamic changes, especially during the war, when people are forced to change their place of residence,” added Olena Shulyak.
Open information and data verification
It is planned that the system will be open and contain all the data on the existing state housing stock and the housing stock of territorial communities, which will be transferred to electronic form after a large-scale inventory. Certain steps have already been taken: the implementation of Law No. 4080-IX on the inventory of potential housing for internally displaced persons has begun.
Read also: Social housing for rent may appear in Ukraine: will it change the real estate market?
The next step is social housing
It is worth noting that the draft law No. 12377 should go through all stages of consideration in the near future. Its final adoption in the second reading should take place by the end of the 4th quarter of this year. The next step in the housing reform should be the adoption of a draft law on the social housing fund, the deadline for which is set by the Ukraine Facility for Q4 2026.
Housing reform is an issue that has been long overdue. But since this process has been postponed for years, it is still moving somewhat slowly. The war has only exacerbated the situation, revealing all the weaknesses of the housing system. Now, thanks to the Ukraine Facility and the support of international partners, the authorities have every opportunity to move on to a practical solution to this problem,” Shulyak summarized.
What else does the draft law “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” say?
Clear principles of housing policy. The state will build its housing policy on European principles: transparency, equality, fairness, barrier-free access, social integration, and the ability of everyone to have a home.
Development of the State Strategy for Housing Policy. The government will create a comprehensive program (the State Housing Policy Strategy) that will define the goals and mechanisms for providing housing for years to come.
Public-private partnership. The project relies on cooperation between the government and business to help resolve housing issues faster and improve investment, including from international partners.
Formation of the housing stock. The housing stock will be divided into private, state and local. Social and public housing will be provided to those who need it most.
Rent will be based on everyone’s ability to pay. Citizens will pay for housing depending on their official income and financial situation. This will be ensured by subsidy mechanisms.
Cooperative construction. The project will allow people to unite in housing and construction cooperatives to improve their living conditions together.
Setting housing standards. The state will determine the minimum requirements for the quality of housing to ensure a decent standard of living for people.
Financial mechanisms. A housing lending and financing program will be created with the help of the state or local administrations. This will make it easier for people to buy home ownership.
Industry development and cooperation. The state will strongly encourage private activity in the construction and improvement of the housing stock.
Old acts will become invalid. The new law will abolish the old Housing Code and the law “On Privatization of the State Housing Fund” to put all the rules on a new, modern basis.
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