How to get compensation for destroyed or damaged property

In May 2023, the state program "yeVidnovlennya" was launched in Ukraine. It allows people to receive compensation for damaged or destroyed housing. At the beginning of 2024, housing certificates were also introduced to replace destroyed real estate. Let's take a closer look at the conditions of participation in the program, the amount of compensation, the required documents and the application procedure.

Who is eligible for compensation for "yeVidnovlennya"

Only citizens of Ukraine, owners of damaged or destroyed housing, can apply for financial compensation under the "yeVidnovlennya" program. If the owner of the property is a minor or incapacitated person, the application must be submitted by his or her legal representatives.

Applications from certain priority categories are considered first:

• combatants, persons with war-related disabilities, families of deceased or killed war veterans, defenders of Ukraine
• mobilized during martial law without being granted the status of combatants;
• people with disabilities of groups I and II;
• large families;
• foster parents, foster parents of family-type children's homes, foster caregivers;
• orphans and children deprived of parental care;
• guardians and trustees.

If the property has several co-owners, their consent must be attached to the package of documents.

You should not count on compensation if the homeowner is subject to sanctions or has a criminal record for a crime against the national security of Ukraine. This also applies to his or her heirs.

Conditions for participation in the "yeVidnovlennya" program

The conditions for participating in the "yeVidnovlennya" program differ depending on whether the property was damaged or completely destroyed.

The main conditions for receiving assistance in restoring damaged housing are as follows

• the apartment or house was damaged due to hostilities after February 24, 2022;
• the property is located in an unoccupied territory where hostilities are not ongoing (if the property was previously located in the occupied territories, but the occupation or hostilities have ended as of the date of application, you can become a participant in the program);
• the property is subject to restoration, according to the results of the commission's assessment;
• the owner has not yet carried out the repairs on their own at their own expense.

The program is open to owners of apartments in apartment buildings, private houses, rooms, and other residential premises. The compensation can be used to purchase construction materials and pay for repair services.

The maximum amount of compensation for apartment owners is UAH 350,000, and for house owners - UAH 500,000. If the commission orders a payment of UAH 200,000 or more, this amount will be divided into two parts. During the first payment, the owner of the damaged property receives 70% of the amount, and the balance during the second payment. To receive the remaining balance, you will also need to submit a report on the construction materials purchased and the work performed through the Diia app.

If the housing was destroyed, the conditions for participation in the program are as follows

• the property was destroyed due to hostilities after February 24, 2022;
• the apartment or house is located in the territory that was not occupied before February 24, 2022 (for now, the service is available only to homeowners in the unoccupied territory without active hostilities, but in the future, compensation will be available to all);
• the housing is completely destroyed and cannot be restored, according to the results of the commission's assessment;
• the property has an owner, i.e., the applicant has ownership of the property (currently, compensation is available only for property with one owner, but the program will soon be available for housing with several co-owners).

The compensation program for housing destroyed due to the war is divided into two categories: a certificate for the purchase of a new house and cash payments for independent construction. A participant can apply for one of the two categories. The second one will take effect in the near future.

If compensation in the form of a certificate is chosen, a special commission will review the application and analyze the information received. The amount of the certificate is calculated according to the formula approved by the Cabinet of Ministers (available on the official website). The certificate can be used to purchase real estate in the primary or secondary market, as well as to invest in an object under construction. The certificate can be used to purchase an apartment, a private house, a room, or other residential premises.

If an applicant decides to receive a cash payment and wants to rebuild a destroyed private house on their own, they will be able to apply for participation when the second phase of the program begins.

How and where to get compensation for damaged property

To receive assistance in case of damage to your home as a result of the war, you need to take the following steps:

1. Apply for the Damaged Property service in the Diia app or on the diia.gov.ua portal.
2. Open a "yeVidnovlennya" account in a bank that is a partner of the program. You can do this online in the bank's application or offline at a bank branch.
3. Submit an application for payment to Diia.
4. Allow the local government commission to inspect the property to calculate the amount of compensation.
5. Wait for the decision to be entered into the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property.
6. Receive money on the "yeVidnovlennya" card.
7. Submit a report on the funds used through the Diia app.

You can pay with the money received only for a certain category of goods in the list of stores and companies that participate in the state program. Payment will not be accepted if the business is registered in another category. The funds received must be used within 12 months if the amount is up to UAH 200,000. If the compensation exceeds UAH 200,000, the period is extended to 18 months, but the amount of the first payment must still be spent within a year.

How and where to get compensation for destroyed property

If the property is completely destroyed, the algorithm of actions is similar to the previous one, but there are significant differences. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Submit a report about the destroyed property in the Diia app or on the diia.gov.ua portal, if not done earlier.
2. Submit an application for payment for the destroyed property in the application.
3. Wait until you receive a housing certificate (you will be notified of its readiness in the Diia app).
4. Find suitable housing for purchase (apartment, private house, room, or other type of property).
5. Submit an application to Diia for booking funds under the certificate and wait for the booking to be confirmed.
6. Conclude the transaction with a notary, indicating the certificate as a payment method. The reserved funds will be credited to the real estate seller's account.

The certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of its receipt. An owner who has received a housing certificate for destroyed property agrees to refuse funds from future reparations.

What documents are required to participate in the "yeVidnovlennya" program

You can apply for participation in the state program "yeVidnovlennya" not only through the application, but also at the ASC (Center for Administrative Services) or at a notary. This requires an identification code, passport, and e-mail. If the applicant belongs to a privileged category, he or she must have supporting documents.

If the application is submitted by an authorized person, he or she must have a notarized power of attorney. It is also important to note that in order to submit an application, the ownership of real estate must be registered in the State Register of Property Rights.

As of September 2024, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have already applied for participation in the "yeVidnovlennya" program and have already received financial compensation for housing restoration or a housing certificate for the purchase of new real estate. Realtors of the Mayak real estate agency are always ready to help with the selection and purchase of an apartment or house in Kyiv and Kyiv region, in particular with the help of a housing certificate. The agency has its own notary and a professional team of lawyers who will help resolve any issues with documents.