The Cabinet of Ministers updated the rules for IDPs’ residence in temporary housing: what will change for IDPs

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has made major changes to the Procedure for the Operation of Temporary Accommodation for Internally Displaced Persons. The new rules concern settlement conditions, housing monitoring, grounds for eviction, as well as the responsibilities of displaced persons and authorities.

The government adopted the relevant changes by Resolution No. 930 of September 1, 2023.

Free accommodation and compensation for utilities
As before, internally displaced persons who have left areas of active hostilities or lost their homes due to the war have the right to live free of charge in temporary accommodation. Expenses for housing and utilities are compensated by the state.

The government emphasizes that the new changes are designed to make the IDP accommodation system more controlled and transparent.

New monitoring rules
One of the key innovations was the updated mechanism for verifying the living conditions of displaced persons. Representatives of government bodies, international organizations, public associations, and IDPs themselves can now be involved in monitoring — with their consent.

The results of the inspections will be transmitted to the heads of the places of residence, balance holders and the Ministry of Social Policy. On the basis of such inspections, violations should be eliminated and living conditions should be improved.

Separately, the government has determined a new procedure for including objects in the list of places of temporary residence. Before making a decision, the administration must check whether the object meets the minimum standards.

Contracts and electronic documents
From now on, the right to use housing will arise on the basis of a contract. It must be concluded no later than the day of moving in or within a maximum of 90 days if the person does not have the necessary documents.

The term of the contract will be six months with the possibility of extension.

In addition, during the period of martial law, it is allowed to use digital documents for settlement – an e-passport, a foreign e-passport or an e-Document in the “Diya” application.

What can be evicted for

The updated rules also define new grounds for terminating residence in temporary housing.

Among them:

systematic violation of the terms of the contract;

providing false information;
having one’s own housing;
being absent from the place of residence for more than 60 days without good reason;
excluding the facility from the list of temporary residence places.

Separately, the government has provided a new norm for able-bodied unemployed displaced persons. If such a person does not find a job, register as unemployed, or take other measures to find employment within three months after concluding the contract, this may be grounds for terminating the contract and eviction.

This includes, in particular, the possibility of:

official employment;
registration of an individual entrepreneur;
receiving a grant or microgrant;
issuing a voucher for education;
acquiring the status of unemployed.

After the right to use housing is terminated, a person must vacate the premises within 15 days, unless otherwise provided for in the contract.

Who will have priority
The Cabinet of Ministers has also updated the list of categories of IDPs who will have the priority right to settlement and continued residence.

Among them:

large families;
families with children;
veterans and combatants;
families of deceased Defenders;
persons with disabilities;
pregnant women;
the elderly;
IDPs whose housing was destroyed or damaged.

Separately, the government obliged the administration to notify displaced persons of their relocation no later than four weeks before changing their place of residence, except in emergency situations or inaccessibility of the facility.