The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations helps to adapt Ukrainian legislation for building renovation

26.05.2025

Press release
26.05.2025

In May of this year, the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKÜL) launched a development cooperation project “Together for Effective Apartment-Building Management in Ukraine (TEAM 2025)” with Ukrainian and Estonian partners, the aim of which is to support the reform of the Ukrainian housing sector and contribute to the modernization of legislation on the management of apartment buildings. The implementation of the one-and-a-half-year project is supported by the Estonian Center for International Development (ESTDEV). “This is a cooperation between Estonian and Ukrainian legal experts, within the framework of which we analyze legal solutions for the management of the housing stock of the two countries. We also share the experience of Estonian legislation and introduce best practices and examples of draft laws in the housing sector to our Ukrainian colleagues,” explained Urmas Mardi, member of the board of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations and head of the legal department. The project is being implemented in cooperation with partners in Ukraine: the NGO Housing Ukraine and the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

The project will result in proposals from the Estonian-Ukrainian expert working group for the preparation of draft laws on the management of residential buildings in Ukraine. As part of the project’s study program, study visits of Ukrainian experts to Estonia will take place, and experiences will be shared at international seminars in Estonia and Ukraine.

“Modernization of legislation on the management and renovation of apartment buildings is an important part of Ukraine’s reconstruction work. The innovations will help to more clearly define the rights and obligations of homeowners and establish technical requirements for renovation work. Estonia is sharing its experience in housing reform to support Ukraine in developing a legally clear and efficient housing sector,” said Mardi, who said that the project’s results will reach the vast majority of Ukrainian residents. “More than half of Ukraine’s population lives in apartment buildings. The reconstruction and modernization of apartment buildings also requires relevant legislation.”

There has been friendly and close cooperation between the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations and Ukrainian housing organizations and housing experts. For example, the project “Towards Ukraine’s Residential Reconstruction: A Capacity-Building and Cooperation Programme for Housing Recovery in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Zhytomyr”, implemented from May 2023 to October 2024, supported the reconstruction of residential areas damaged by the destruction of the Ukrainian war in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Zhytomyr, helping to prepare the initial tasks necessary for financing the reconstruction of apartment buildings and developing a model for the management of apartment buildings after reconstruction. As a result of the activities, at least two descriptions of the renovation process of apartment buildings and the development of joint activities in the housing sector were prepared in each project area, the development of which took into account Estonian experience in the reconstruction of apartment buildings and the Estonian model of apartment associations in organizing the joint management of apartment buildings. “We also supported the establishment of a new Ukrainian housing organization and initiative, Housing Ukraine, in 2019, and signed a memorandum of cooperation confirming further cooperation,” recalled Andres Jaadla, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations.

“The Estonian experience is exceptionally important to us. The housing policy implemented in Estonia, years of experience in the reconstruction of Soviet-era buildings and the operation of housing associations give us the opportunity to develop a sustainable Ukrainian housing policy,” emphasized Serhii Komnatnyi, Honorary Chairman of the Ukrainian housing organization Housing Ukraine.

 

Press release by: Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations
www.ekyl.ee

 

Spokespersons:
Urmas Mardi, Member of the Board and Head of the Legal Department of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations
Tel: +372 50 15077
E-mail: urmas.mardi@ekyl.ee

Andres Jaadla, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations
Tel: +372 520 3987
E-mail: andres.jaadla@ekyl.ee