Harmonization of the Legislation of Ukraine in the Field of Housing Stock Management with European Union Law: a Comparative Legal Analysis

Abstract

The article provides a comparative legal analysis of the legal foundations of Ukraine and the European Union in the field of housing stock management. It identifies the key features of housing stock management in the EU, including a strategic approach, integration of technical, financial, social, and legal aspects, ensuring housing quality, building modernization, and energy efficiency.

The study emphasizes that housing stock management constitutes an independent category within law, economics, and public administration. It is shown that housing stock management is divided into public (state) and commercial management.

The main characteristics of the public housing stock include its public-legal nature; focus on the formation and operation of residential real estate; adherence to the principles of legality, efficiency, targeted use, transparency, and social justice; and ensuring a balance between the interests of the state and its citizens. State management of the housing stock is one of the key directions of housing policy. The object of public management is the housing stock of Ukraine, while the object of commercial management is an individual residential property.

The following characteristics of commercial housing management are highlighted: private-law nature; presence of its own organizational and legal forms of implementation; legal certainty for co-owners regarding the operation of an individual apartment building, defining the purpose of managing shared property, establishing house rules to create proper living conditions for residents; and joint responsibility of co-owners.

Taking into account the features of forming strategic directions of EU housing policy, the following directions for housing stock management are proposed to ensure effective harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with EU standards: develop a national strategy for energy efficiency of the housing stock; strengthen the role of the state in social housing provision; distribute management powers between state housing management and private-law housing management; ensure the participation of public institutions in housing stock management.