Since April 2026, amendments to Ukrainian legislation protecting owners of damaged or destroyed housing from utility charges have come into force. These changes are introduced by the Law of Ukraine “On the Specifics of Charging for Housing and Utility Services and Other Payments in Connection with Damage to or Destruction of Real Estate Property.”
What does the law regulate?
The law regulates the calculation and payment of housing and utility services, as well as other legally required payments, in cases where real estate has been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities, terrorist acts, or sabotage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
The law takes into account the real circumstances faced by millions of Ukrainians after 24 February 2022 and introduces the following key provisions:
- termination of utility and other related charges if a property has been destroyed;
- suspension of charges for damaged housing during the period when it cannot be fully used;
- cancellation or reduction of apartment building management fees if the building is unfit for living.
As a result, people are no longer required to pay for services they cannot actually use.
These provisions will remain in effect throughout the period of martial law and for two years after it ends or is cancelled.
What is the legal basis for suspending utility payments?
The legal basis for exemption from utility payments, their suspension, or the cancellation or reduction of building management fees is an official inspection report.
Local government executive bodies or military administrations must send notifications to the property owner, utility service providers, the building manager, condominium associations, or housing cooperatives. The document must specify the category of damage, the date of destruction, the housing restoration period, or confirmation that the property was destroyed beyond repair.
In addition to directly exempting citizens from payments, the law also addresses several other issues, including:
- the obligation of apartment building managers to provide separate reports on services delivered for each building;
- procedures for settling utility debts accumulated after 24 February 2022, including in temporarily occupied territories;
- mechanisms for resolving debts of utility sector enterprises for goods and services accumulated during the occupation period.
The law also expands the powers of condominium associations and housing cooperatives. They will be able to revise contribution amounts or fully exempt owners of destroyed housing from paying them.
When and how will the provisions be implemented in practice?
The law entered into force on 15 April 2026. At the same time, the Government has three months to adopt the necessary secondary legislation and align existing resolutions and other regulatory acts of central executive authorities with the law.
In practice, the provisions will become fully operational after the Government approves the relevant secondary legislation.
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.