Bill No. 15579: Leasing State Properties for Displaced Persons’ Temporary Housing
On September 17, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada approved Bill No. 15579, which removes obstacles to leasing state-owned houses and dormitories at nominal rates for temporary accommodation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The leases are provided not directly to displaced individuals but to the government or local authorities. Housing is offered rent-free for up to one year, with the possibility of extension. Priority access is given to families with children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.
Key Legal Amendments
This legislation revises the 2019 law on leasing state and municipal property (Law No. 157-IX) by eliminating the previous ban on allocating entire buildings for IDP housing until January 1, 2028. Under Government Resolution No. 205, the transfer of state buildings for temporary IDP housing has been permitted since February. These properties are leased to communities, local governments, or municipal institutions rather than to IDPs themselves.
Nonprofit and charitable organizations benefit from a lease rate of 0.01% of the standard rent, while budgetary institutions and state-owned enterprises pay a symbolic fee of just 1 hryvnia per year per property. To qualify for housing, displaced individuals must hold official IDP status and submit an application to the city, town, or village council, or to a local administrative service center (CNAP). Required documentation includes:
- A passport or other citizenship proof;
- Registration certificate confirming IDP status;
- Taxpayer identification code;
- Documents verifying family composition;
- Proof of priority eligibility.
Irina Polyakova emphasized, “There are empty state houses and dormitories that have been closed for years. International partners willing to invest in their renovation exist, and sadly, so do the people displaced by war who have nowhere to go.”
The groups prioritized for housing allocation include:
- Families with children;
- Pregnant women;
- Individuals with disabilities affecting work capacity;
- Elderly people whose homes have been destroyed;
- Those with disabilities and other complex circumstances.
Decisions about housing assignments are made within one working day. Residents are prohibited from privatizing, exchanging, subdividing, or subleasing the provided accommodation.
Early eviction can occur under several conditions:
- Receiving alternative housing;
- Loss of IDP status;
- Submission of false information in the application;
- Repeated violations of housing rules;
- Damage to property;
- Absence from the property for more than half the lease term;
- Ongoing unpaid utility bills.
If a permit to move in is not collected within 30 days of approval, the housing may be reassigned to the next eligible applicant.
At the time of the bill’s passage, the president had yet to sign it into law, but lawmakers aim to house thousands of families before winter. Irina Polyakova highlighted, “This housing is temporary, meant to support people as they rebuild their lives. The state provides shelter and respite, not permanent ownership.”
By adopting this bill, Ukraine advances its commitment to assisting internally displaced individuals affected by the ongoing conflict. As the number of people needing temporary shelter continues to rise, these new measures are poised to significantly improve living conditions. Additionally, the law facilitates partnerships with international donors ready to fund renovation projects of vacant state buildings. This approach reflects a broader government strategy to create supportive environments for displaced persons and expedite their integration into new communities.