Updated Legislation on Debt Collection for Housing Services
Ukraine has increased the minimum debt amount required for seizing a debtor’s sole residence due to unpaid utility bills. The new provisions of Law No. 4833-IX took effect on October 23, 2026, raising the debt threshold from approximately 170,000 UAH to over 430,000 UAH. Under these rules, a monthly utility bill of 6,000 UAH would accumulate to more than 430,000 UAH after six years of non-payment.
This legislation also introduces strengthened protections for the primary homes of military personnel and residents living in active combat zones or temporarily occupied areas. On January 30, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the government to eliminate heating charges for those left without warmth due to shelling. Additionally, he signed a law exempting owners of destroyed housing from paying utility fees.
Protections for Debtors
The law cancels fees for managing apartment buildings that have been damaged or destroyed and are uninhabitable. Owners of such compromised properties are exempt from paying certain housing and utility charges while their homes remain unfit for living.
- The government has extended electricity tariffs for households throughout the 2026/27 heating season.
- The special obligations mechanism in the natural gas market will continue until March 31, 2027.
- Gas prices for consumers will remain unchanged during the autumn-winter period of 2026/27.
Andriy Haichenko stated: “Is housing seized over utility debts? There has always been a legal minimum amount below which a home cannot be confiscated. Previously, this was about 170,000 UAH. Considering the war realities, currency fluctuations, and the difficult circumstances faced by our population, we have raised this limit to 430,000 UAH.”
These legislative updates reflect Ukraine’s current economic challenges, including the impact of war and rising living costs. By increasing the debt threshold, the government aims to prevent people from losing their only homes, recognizing the financial hardships many Ukrainians face. Alongside measures targeting military personnel and those affected by conflict zones, these reforms represent efforts to ease the social consequences of the ongoing crisis and support vulnerable groups.