Mass arrests of debtors’ apartments: what to expect in 2026

Recently, a lot of alarming news has appeared on social networks about the possible risks of Ukrainians losing their apartments due to “reloading of state registers”, which is allegedly related to debts or formal errors in documents.

Lawyer Svitlana Krutorogova explained that in Ukraine, property rights have strong legal protection and cannot be automatically canceled. Loss of property rights is possible only through a court decision, while the legislation does not provide for mass “cleansing” of state registers.

Changes in registers, as a rule, concern technical aspects, such as correcting errors in addresses, apartment areas, or co-owner data. In such cases, the owner needs to update or clarify the information, and not worry about losing property.

However, a real threat to property rights can arise only in cases of serious violations that occur when agreements are concluded. This applies, for example, to agreements drawn up without notarization or without the consent of all co-owners. In situations where the court finds such an agreement invalid, the ownership may be reviewed in accordance with the law.

As for debts, the law allows enforcement only in cases involving mortgages or significant debts. Even then, such a decision is made individually by the court. Ordinary utility debts are not grounds for requisitioning housing.

Please note that during martial law, requisition of property is possible only by decision of state bodies and with mandatory compensation to the owner. There have been no mass seizures of apartments so far, and property confiscation is carried out only in extreme cases, such as criminal proceedings or for public needs.

Experts are confident that in 2026, mass arrests or deprivation of housing for Ukrainians should not be expected.