Apartments for internally displaced persons: is it true that the state will take away private housing for displaced persons?

Alarming rumours are spreading online about the possible transfer of empty flats to displaced persons, causing many property owners to worry about their assets. We have investigated what the state housing programme for internally displaced persons actually entails and why it does not apply to private property. Find out what is really happening and who will actually be affected by the changes

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Social media is buzzing with rumours that Ukraine is going to start taking empty flats and houses from people to house internally displaced persons (IDPs). These posts have got property owners worried, especially those who are temporarily abroad or not living in their homes. Let's examine whether there is cause for concern.

Will private housing be confiscated?

The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development has officially denied this information.

There is no question of confiscating private property — property rights are protected by the Constitution, and no decisions have been made to allow private apartments to be transferred to displaced persons without the owner's consent.

Even if a person has not lived in an apartment for a long time or is abroad, the state has no right to take it away. Reports of the transfer of ‘housing in which no one lives’ arose due to a misinterpretation of the programme.

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What kind of housing is actually being prepared for IDPs

The project only concerns state- and municipally-owned buildings that have been unused for years. They are planned to be renovated and converted into housing for displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.

As a rule, these are former dormitories, administrative or social premises. The project is being implemented with the support of the international organisation Habitat for Humanity, which is helping to assess and prepare the properties for habitation.

Where will the programme start?

The first stage will be a pilot project and will take place in the Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions. There, they will conduct an inventory of vacant buildings, check their technical condition and determine which ones can be converted.

At the start, they plan to inspect about 60-70 properties, after which they will prepare reconstruction projects and cost estimates. If successful, the programme will be expanded to other regions.

Why the rumours started

The documents used the term ‘empty buildings,’ but social media started interpreting it as any flats without residents. As a result, the information got distorted and turned into claims about the alleged confiscation of private property.

When dealing with real estate transactions, it is advisable to consult real estate lawyers at Visit Ukraine, who can help you check the tax implications before signing the contract and avoid mistakes that could result in fines or unnecessary audits.

Reminder! The state is changing its approach to housing policy: the usual queues are becoming a thing of the past, and free flats are no longer common practice. The new housing reform law introduces digital accounting, social rent and clearly defines who can count on state-funded housing and who will receive alternative support mechanisms. Find out who will retain the right to free housing and what options are now available to other citizens.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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