Ukrainians will be allowed to privatize war-damaged housing to receive compensation

The Cabinet of Ministers has supported a proposal that will allow Ukrainians to privatize state or communal housing damaged or destroyed as a result of the war. After obtaining ownership rights, residents will be eligible for compensation for loss or restoration of real estate. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Community Affairs on Facebook.

Currently, people living in non-privatized apartments or houses are legally tenants. If such property has been destroyed or become emergency due to combat actions, residents cannot receive compensation on the same terms as owners.

Who will be able to privatize damaged or destroyed housing

The government proposes to amend the law "On the privatization of the state housing fund." The new provisions are intended to expand the opportunity for privatization to housing that has become emergency, was damaged or completely destroyed as a result of combat actions, Russian attacks, and other consequences of war.

«People living in non-privatized housing are merely tenants. Therefore, if such housing is damaged or destroyed, they cannot receive compensation like owners do. We propose to change this situation», explained the Minister of Community Affairs, Territories, and Internally Displaced Persons Vitaliy Bezgin.

Legislative changes should also determine the procedure for obtaining ownership rights in cases where it is no longer possible to privatize housing through the standard procedure due to its physical destruction or emergency state.

Why is the privatization of destroyed housing needed

Currently, compensation for damaged or destroyed property can be received by owners whose property rights are registered in the State Register of Real Rights to Real Estate.

As a result, residents of state and communal apartments who had the right to privatization but did not exercise it before the building was destroyed found themselves in a different legal situation.

The proposed changes aim to give such people the opportunity to formalize the property in their ownership, and then use compensation mechanisms for its destruction or damage.

At the same time, the Cabinet's decision does not yet mean automatic acquisition of ownership rights. To launch the new mechanism, corresponding changes to legislation need to be adopted.

Let us remind you, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed bill number 13155, which exempts owners of destroyed housing from paying utility bills.