Analytics

Draft law on protecting the land rights of owners of real estate destroyed as a result of hostilities

05 November, 2025 Newsletters

The Parliament of Ukraine has adopted Draft Law No. 13174, aimed at protecting the rights of owners of real estate destroyed as a result of hostilities. The law introduces new mechanisms that allow such owners to acquire or lease state or communal land plots without auctions, as well as to privatize them free of charge during martial law and for five years after its termination. Additionally, it simplifies planning procedures by allowing land use to be determined in accordance with the purpose of the destroyed property, even in the absence of relevant urban planning documentation.

While the adopted provisions provide some relief for property owners affected by the war, the law also raises concerns. It does not clearly restrict land acquisition rights to the specific plots where the destroyed property was located, which may create opportunities for speculative land privatization in different regions. Moreover, the law does not link the exercise of land rights to the compensation mechanisms established under the Law “On Compensation for Damage and Destruction of Certain Categories of Real Estate”, potentially resulting in unequal treatment of victims.

Overall, Draft Law No. 13174 represents an important step toward restoring the rights of those whose property was destroyed by the war. However, to ensure fairness and prevent abuse, further regulatory refinement is needed — particularly regarding eligibility criteria, inheritance rights, and coordination with compensation procedures.

The full version of the article is available in Ukrainian by the link.

Kind regards,

Views 70