The law No. 11281, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada regarding the nationwide survey of all real estate that can be utilized to provide housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs), represents a significant first step in the comprehensive reform of housing policy in Ukraine, as stated by the initiator of the legislative initiative, the head of the parliamentary temporary investigative commission for the protection of IDP rights, Pavel Frolov, to the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
“Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the issue of providing housing for IDPs has become critical. Citizens affected by Russian aggression, who have been unable to find shelter within the country, are forced to emigrate or return to already occupied territories. The state and communities need tools to address this pressing issue, with the first step being a nationwide inventory of properties that can be used to provide housing for vulnerable categories,” Frolov explained.
As commented on the situation by the director of the Housing Institute, Alina Moskalenko, one of the most challenging problems in Ukraine is the near absence of so-called public (social) housing, which could meet the needs of IDPs and other affected individuals. This is also linked to the fact that this housing stock was privatized in Ukraine following the achievement of independence, and local self-government bodies did not prioritize filling their housing stocks as they did not see any economic benefits in it.
According to her, there are 1,469 territorial communities in Ukraine. The Housing Institute estimates that only 167 of them, or 11.4%, have social housing stock. Nationwide, there are 924 units of social housing, of which only 825 are suitable for living, and 722 are already occupied.
"Currently, 2,515 people reside in social housing. This means that out of nearly 3.4 million individuals whose housing has been damaged or destroyed, of about 4 million IDPs, only 2,515 have the opportunity to live in social housing because such housing is virtually nonexistent,” Moskalenko reported.
Therefore, the top priority is to identify and record nationwide the properties that could become housing for IDPs in the short and medium term.
“Experience from European countries shows that while the relative size of social housing stock varies across countries, it averages 8% of the total number of housing units in the EU, whereas in Ukraine, it is less than 0.01%. The state in general and local communities must approach the resolution of this issue systematically,” Moskalenko emphasized.
According to Frolov, despite the existence of positive practices regarding the use of digital tools for informing and inventorying real estate in European countries, Canada, and the USA, Ukraine has been slow to adopt the beneficial experiences of foreign partners.
“One of the main reasons for delaying a resolution to this issue may have been the disinterest of officials in the transparency of data concerning the real estate market. The adopted law on inventory, which incorporates the best global practices, requires communities to organize the collection of data on all properties that can be used for IDP housing. The information must be provided by state and local authorities, as well as the State Property Fund," he noted.
Based on the collected information, an online platform with an interactive housing map will be created. Special commissions are being established at the local level to conduct surveys of real estate.
Frolov also highlighted that IDPs could potentially gain access to housing owned by the state, communities, or private owners (with their consent) under favorable conditions. With the creation of an interactive map of available housing, they will be able to easily find information about such properties in specific regions. Furthermore, this access will ensure transparency for citizens in the process of obtaining housing when needed.
According to the law text, the Cabinet of Ministers, local authorities, and the State Property Fund have three months to create mechanisms that will simplify the procedure for transferring housing into preferential rental agreements. The inventory will help identify inactive real estate, particularly from educational institutions, state, and communal enterprises. If it has not been used in the past year, it may be repurposed for IDP housing.
"This will increase the number of available properties while eliminating the possibility of such buildings being misused by unscrupulous developers," Frolov explains.
He also noted that the publicity of information regarding available housing will contribute to attracting international technical assistance and donor funding to meet the housing needs of Ukrainians.
“The implementation of the law will be the first step in a large-scale reform of housing policy in Ukraine. IDPs will gain new opportunities for housing, and the country will acquire an effective mechanism for utilizing its resources. The success of this initiative will depend on the prompt actions of the government, local authorities, and collaboration with international organizations, particularly the Housing Institute,” the expert stated.
As reported, as of October 2024, over 4,600 Ukrainians registered as IDPs, and around 4.2 million of our citizens held temporary protection status in EU countries. Housing for more than 3.4 million has been damaged or destroyed.