In Ukraine, the minimum debt amount beyond which forced seizure of a debtor's sole housing is possible has been raised. Now, as a general rule, an apartment or house cannot be sold to repay a debt if the recovery amount does not exceed 432,350 UAH. Previously, this threshold was about 173,000 UAH.
The new provisions of Law No. 4833-IX came into force on October 23, 2026. The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine explained their application, and Deputy Minister Andrii Haichenko further clarified the procedure for property seizure on the air of a telethon.
According to the law, the protection threshold for sole housing was raised from 20 to 50 minimum wages. The Ministry of Justice gave an example: if monthly utility payments are 6,000 UAH, it would take approximately six years of non-payment to accumulate such a debt.
Exceeding the set amount does not mean automatic seizure of the apartment. According to Haichenko, taking action against sole housing remains a last resort. Initially, enforcement officers try to settle the debt with funds from bank accounts, income, vehicles, and other property of the debtor.
The official emphasized that the law does not introduce a new possibility to take away housing for debts. Such a procedure existed before, but now its application is further restricted. According to Haichenko, after the threshold increase, some real estate objects are already being removed from auctions because their owners' debt amounts no longer allow forced sale of sole housing.
However, restrictions on seizing sole housing have exceptions. In particular, they apply to foreclosure on mortgage collateral, as well as compensation for damage caused by a criminal offense, injury, other health damage, or death.
Additional guarantees are provided for military personnel. During martial law and for one year after its end, special protection of their sole housing applies regardless of the debt amount, under conditions and with exceptions specified by law. To apply this protection, a service member must duly notify about their status.
Separate provisions concern debtors for housing and utility services in territories of active hostilities and temporarily occupied territories. During martial law, the law provides for removal of seizures from property and funds in relevant enforcement proceedings, as well as exclusion of information about such debtors from the Unified Debtors Register.
At the same time, raising the threshold does not cancel the debts themselves. The enforcement service may apply other legal methods of debt collection, including seizure of accounts and property. If a debtor considers the actions of an enforcement officer unlawful, they have the right to challenge them in court.
Based on materials: Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, clarifications of the Ministry of Justice, commentary by Andrii Haichenko
