Lobbyist Iryna Shapovalova: The Institute of Authorized Persons is a must-have for housing reform

January 3, 2026 was the day when Ukraine officially broke the last “paper chain” with the past.

The adoption by the Verkhovna Rada in the second reading and in general of the draft law No. 12377 “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” is not just another legislative change. It is a complete reset of the rules of the game that we have been waiting for for more than three decades. We have finally consigned the Housing Code of 1983 and the Law on Privatization to history, replacing them with a modern European architecture of housing relations.

What does this mean for you and me?

European logic. The law integrates European Union standards and Article 47 of the Constitution into daily practice. From now on, “social housing”, “revolving funds” and “affordable housing operators” are not textbook terms, but legal instruments of state policy.

Transparency through numbers. The introduction of the Unified Information and Analytical Housing System will finally bring the sector out of the shadows, where manipulations with queues and funds have flourished for years.

Renovation instead of degradation. For the first time, we have clear mechanisms for the comprehensive renovation of outdated housing and attracting international donors under real, legally protected guarantees.

But the main victory is in the details. For me, as a supporter of the systemic strengthening of the rights of co-owners, it was fundamental that the new law not only describe “what” to build, but also answer the question of “how” to manage. That is why we have integrated into the new system the principles that turn a resident from a passive consumer into a market participant.

As a lobbyist for systemic change, I am convinced that the draft law No. 12377 “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” should become the foundation for filling this gap by legitimizing the introduction of the status of an Authorized Person of Co-Owners.

Today, a resident of a building without an HOA is often “invisible” to a service provider or authority. Initiative groups are enthusiastic, but have no legal weight. This creates ideal conditions for abuse by management companies and monopolists. We propose a revolutionary, but proven solution, to give residents the right to elect a legal representative – an Authorized Person – under a simplified procedure. This is not the creation of a new legal entity, it is the delegation of the community’s voice.

The practice of municipal governance clearly confirms the existence of a legitimate community representative who is the main catalyst for improving the quality of service. An authorized person is not just a “public activist” on a voluntary basis, but a legally verified communication entity that acts as a full-fledged party to the dialogue and is endowed with specific levers of influence.

The right to information. Free access to technical documentation and registry data. We have to stop the practice when the owner does not know the condition of his or her property.

Control tools. The ability to sign claims and receive detailed financial reports from service providers. Residents’ money should work for the house, not for paper reports.

Priority in interaction. Authorities must consider the appeal of the Authorized Person within 10 days. This is real decentralization in action.

European Vector and Constitutional Guarantees

Our proposals to the draft law “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” are fully in line with EU standards and Article 47 of the Constitution of Ukraine. Together with our international partners, in particular, with the support of the Norwegian and Swedish Embassies, we have developed mechanisms that make housing management transparent and accountable.

Thus, the Draft Law No. 12377 “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” with a separate section on the Authorized Person is not about bureaucracy, it is about the dignity of the co-owner. We must provide people with a tool that will allow them to protect their homes today, without waiting for years to create condominiums. The time for passive waiting is over. The future of housing policy lies in subjectivity and control. And we will do our best to make these norms become law.

My priority in lobbying for housing reform is to create a “fast track” to legal personality for residents. Legislative consolidation of the status of the Authorized Person is the elimination of the legal vacuum that has paralyzed the management of buildings without condominiums for years. We will finally give people a legitimate instrument of control and representation, turning the resident from a passive observer into a full-fledged customer of services. This is the transition to a truly responsible owner according to the European model.

So let this Law become for every Ukrainian not just a text on paper, but a real key to their own home. My goal as a lobbyist is to make the status of an “Authorized Person” a symbol of a new household culture, where economic calculation and mutual respect reign, rather than indifference. We have built the legal foundation and now we have to build the walls of a new housing system together, where every owner feels the power of his or her voice and the security of their property.

Good luck to the new Ukrainian self-government!

Iryna Shapovalova