On 17 July 2026, amendments* to the Procedure for Providing Housing Assistance to Certain Categories of Internally Displaced Persons who previously resided in temporarily occupied territories entered into force. If you or your family members plan to use a housing voucher, here are the key changes to be aware of.
Housing vouchers can now be used as a down payment on a mortgage
A housing voucher may now be used to cover the initial down payment under a mortgage agreement for purchasing a home. In this case, the purchase agreement must include the bank account details to which the assistance funds will be transferred—either the seller’s account or the lender’s account, if предусмотрено by the mortgage agreement.
Housing vouchers can no longer be used to repay an existing mortgage
An important change is that housing vouchers can no longer be used to repay existing mortgage payments. While using the voucher for the initial down payment remains possible, it may no longer be applied toward an already active mortgage loan.
Changes to the transfer of claims against the Russian Federation
As before, recipients of housing assistance transfer to the State the right to seek compensation from the Russian Federation for damage caused by their forced displacement. The amendments clarify that this right is transferred on the day the assistance funds are credited to the account of the property seller or the lender.
Notaries will record additional information in the State Register
When certifying a property purchase agreement, the notary will simultaneously:
- impose a five-year restriction on the sale of the home purchased with a housing voucher;
- enter information into the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property, including details about the purchase agreement, the seller, the property, the amount paid through the housing voucher, and other required information;
- if the property is purchased together with a land plot, record information about the land plot;
- if the housing voucher is used as the down payment on a mortgage, additionally record information about the mortgage and loan agreements, the lender, and the account to which the funds are transferred.
Eligibility criteria have been narrowed
Applicants are no longer eligible for housing assistance if they or their family members already own housing that was purchased using an outstanding mortgage loan.
What does this mean for IDPs?
If you plan to use a housing voucher, make sure to check in advance:
- whether you meet the updated eligibility requirements;
- what purposes the housing voucher may now be used for;
- which documents must be completed when purchasing a home.
If you have questions about eligibility or the use of a housing voucher, you can contact the UNHCR Hotline for IDPs at 0800 307 711 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.).
* The amendments were introduced by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 794 of 17 June 2026, amending Cabinet of Ministers Resolutions No. 856 of 2 August 2022 and No. 1176 of 22 September 2025.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.