The Housing Code is being canceled: what will happen to your non-privatized housing
3 September 14:53
There is panic among Ukrainians: information is being spread online that citizens will be evicted from non-privatized housing, regardless of how many years they have lived there. Komersant found out whether these rumors are true and how much of the information is true.
Actually, these rumors are not unfounded. on July 16, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading Bill No. 12377 “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy.”
What do MPs adopt?
- defining the principles, priorities and objectives of housing policy that will meet international standards;
- replacement of the outdated Housing Code of Ukraine;
- introducing mandatory approval of regional housing strategies based on the State Strategy;
- creating conditions for the development of public-private partnerships;
- formation of a housing stock for affordable rent, as well as a stock of service and social housing;
- providing for affordable mortgages for economically active citizens;
- incentives for investors: the law provides for public-private partnerships, soft loans, tax preferences and the creation of affordable housing operators;
- modernization of the housing stock by establishing minimum requirements for the quality of housing, implementing programs to renovate old buildings and launching pilot renovation projects;
- digitalization of the housing sector through the creation of a unified information and analytical system and an electronic register of applications and affordable housing funds.
All previous laws are repealed
In addition, the draft law provides for: a ban on the alienation of state and municipal housing stock, suspension of privatization of such housing. The draft law contains a small but very important section: “To recognize as invalid”, namely, the Housing Code of Ukraine, adopted in 1983 with all amendments, as well as the Law of Ukraine “On Privatization of the State Housing Fund” of 1992.
“That is, after this draft law is finally adopted and the law on housing privatization is repealed on its basis, and the law itself comes into force after the end of martial law, all those who do not have time to privatize their housing by then may be left without it. No one will take away privatized housing that has already been transferred from state to private ownership,” explains lawyer Maria Levchenko.
In fact, this draft law does not answer the question of what will be done with Ukrainians living in non-privatized housing. However, it is clear that the draft law opens up the possibility of calculating the number of privatized and non-privatized housing in Ukraine.
“That is, a kind of audit will be conducted to understand how much and what kind of housing there is, and then redistribute it. The bill does not say anything about what will happen to people who currently live in such housing. But the same draft law clearly states in Article 24 that if a family member terminates their employment, they are subject to eviction,” the lawyer notes.
Residents of non-privatized rooms in dormitories are to leave
If this draft law is passed, there is a high probability that many residents of dormitories that once belonged to enterprises and organizations will literally end up on the street, said Svitlana Vodiannyk, a realtor.
“There are still dormitories where people have been living for 20-30 years. They once received a room from the company they worked for and were waiting for an apartment. But the company closed down, no more housing is being built, and people still live in dormitories that have changed hands and owners more than once over the years. People have nowhere to go, and most importantly, they cannot privatize this housing. On the contrary, they are trying to evict them in order to redevelop the dormitory into a residential building and sell the finished apartments. You can’t really envy these people, and there are thousands of them,” says the realtor.
Until this bill is finally adopted, citizens still have time to privatize. So, before it is too late, it is better not to delay this process, lawyers advise.
There is little doubt that it will be passed. According to its author, MP Olena Shulyak, draft law No. 12377 is only the first step towards housing reform and a “beacon” for a €300 million tranche from the EU. The timely adoption and entry into force of the Law “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” by the end of December will enable Ukraine to receive more than €300 million under the Ukraine Facility program. This law is one of the indicators for the disbursement of the next EU tranche.
Author: Alla Dunina
