Anyone selling you a Kyiv apartment without talking about risk isn’t doing you any favours. Here they are, one by one, with what you can check for each.
1. War and damage to the property
The first risk on everyone’s mind, and rightly so. A building can be hit. What to check: whether there’s insurance, exactly what it covers, and whether war damage is explicitly covered. Without a written policy you’ve read, don’t assume you’re covered.
2. Construction delays
In a project still being built, timelines can slip. What to check: the developer’s delivery record, how far construction has actually got, and what the contract says about delays.
3. Months without a tenant
Even a good apartment can sit empty, while property tax and service charges keep running. What to check: budget so you can ride out months with no income.
4. Currency
Prices are usually in dollars, rent may be in hryvnia, and your own costs are in your home currency. Exchange-rate swings change the picture. What to check: what currency the rent is set in.
5. Moving money
The National Bank of Ukraine’s wartime currency rules are updated from time to time. Being able to send money in doesn’t guarantee you’ll get it out on the same terms.
6. Costs you didn’t plan for
Fit-out, furniture, duties, fees and management. What to check: get a written list of every cost before you decide. Every cost, itemised
So why do it at all?
Because Kyiv prices today are very low compared with other European capitals, and some investors are willing to take a calculated risk for that price. It’s a personal call. We don’t promise a tenant, a return or a rise in value. What we do make sure of is that you decide with every risk on the table.
The bottom line
Ukraine isn’t for everyone. If you go in, go in with your eyes open and with money you can afford to leave in place for the long haul.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice.