Ukraine’s Missing State Housing Policy
Ukraine has no clear state housing policy or dedicated institutions to protect the rights of co-owners in apartment buildings, according to housing and utility expert Oleh Popenko. This void, he argues, creates a fertile ground for monopolists who, under current laws, can charge consumers unjustified amounts for services.
Popenko stressed that the Ukrainian government lacks a specialized housing department, which significantly worsens the situation.
“Let’s be honest: we have no housing policy, no state institutions dealing with this,”he said during an appearance on Yuri Romanenko’s YouTube channel. As an example, he noted that the United States has a separate state-level body dedicated to housing issues—something absent in Ukraine.
Criticism of New Laws and Their Consequences
Popenko criticizes recent laws, which he believes benefit monopolists.
“A nice cover, European-style reforms. But then monopolists came to the Cabinet and drafted a regulation allowing them to charge whatever they want, however they want. And you have no rights,”he stated. According to him, monopolists can demand triple payments if a consumer fails to get their meter verified on time or if the device breaks down. This leads to a massive gap in housing management approaches between Ukraine and developed nations.
Furthermore, the expert noted that service operators and providers now have unrestricted access to internal building networks.
“Our housing policy is barely alive, and all these operators are eyeing it greedily, saying: we want into your building, and we don’t care what you want—we want what’s ours,”Popenko added. This reflects a loss of control by residents over shared property, sparking public concern.
The lack of a clear state policy in Ukraine’s housing and utility sector could lead to a decline in citizens’ quality of life, as monopolists gain increasing authority. The situation demands urgent government action to create mechanisms for protecting consumer rights and ensuring transparency in housing services. With housing remaining a critical social issue, effective reforms are needed to improve housing management in Ukraine.
In light of the ongoing challenges in Ukraine's housing sector, the government is taking steps to address these issues by implementing expert housing panels. This initiative aims to offer a more effective alternative to lengthy court proceedings, potentially leveling the playing field for co-owners and reducing the influence of monopolistic practices in the housing market.