On Monday the Verkhovna Rada registered bill №16209 “On the Management of the Housing Stock”. The aim of the document is to create a coherent legal framework so it is clear who manages a building, who pays for services and who is responsible for the condition of the property.
Proposed registration tools and management systems
According to the explanatory note, the bill proposes introducing a register of the housing stock and creating a System for the Management of Apartment Buildings with a Register of Management of Apartment Buildings. The system is intended to include data on who manages a building and how payment for services is organised.
The document also provides mechanisms for the transparent appointment of the first manager of a newly built building and guarantees co-owners the right to change the manager at any time. The explanatory note lists ways to implement these tools in practice.
Division of responsibilities and consumer protection measures
The draft law delineates the obligations of the owner, the occupant, the purchaser of a unit in a newly constructed building and the construction client regarding payment for services and the maintenance of property. This is intended to establish clear areas of responsibility among participants in the housing process.
The bill also provides safeguards for consumers. The explanatory note states that such measures are intended to protect residents’ rights during transfers of management and the provision of services.
Developers’ comments and international experience
‘This is another step in transforming Ukraine’s housing policy reform into practical measures for the management, maintenance and preservation of residential buildings,’ commented Serhiy Komnatny, honorary president of the non-governmental organisation Housing Ukraine and former chair of the board of Derzhmolodzhytlo, on LinkedIn.
‘Its development is an important result of our joint work within the TEAM project. Through exchanges with Estonian colleagues, consultations and expert analysis our team worked with the Ministry to develop proposals adapted to Ukraine’s legal framework and housing sector. Estonia’s experience became a valuable benchmark, particularly regarding the responsibility of co-owners with professional and transparent management. The main focus was on adapting the relevant approaches to Ukrainian circumstances,’ he added.
‘Clear responsibilities, responsible management and continuity of service help preserve the value and convenience of housing over time,’ Serhiy Komnatny said.
