Secondary housing rental in Kyiv is getting cheaper: what affects the real estate market?

During 2024, apartment rental prices in Kyiv increased by more than 30% in all areas and types of housing. However, in January 2025, the situation on the market began to change: rental prices for old housing decreased significantly.

Usually, January is the least active month in the real estate rental market, when demand drops to a minimum. However, the beginning of 2025 turned out to be special. In conditions of frequent air raids and shelling, tenants began to massively choose apartments in new buildings, while interest in old housing fell significantly.

As Oksana Kovtun, head of the Kyiv branch of the Association of Real Estate Specialists of Ukraine, explains, this trend is associated with three key factors. The first and most important is safety. Monolithic-frame houses, which are characteristic of new buildings, are more resistant to destruction in the event of shelling. In addition, many new residential complexes have underground parking lots that are used as shelters.

The second important aspect is saving on utilities. In new buildings, unlike the old housing stock, there is no centralized heating, which allows you to significantly reduce costs. In addition, tenants appreciate the comfort offered by modern residential complexes: guarded areas, landscaping and modern infrastructure.

Apartments with renovations, new furniture and appliances are in particular demand. As Kovtun notes, renting a one-room apartment in closed residential complexes in Teremki, Holosiiv or in the Shevchenkivskyi district (excluding Lukyanivka) costs from 14,000 to 20,000 hryvnias per month. Two-room apartments are rented at prices from 16,000 hryvnias and higher. At the same time, demand remains low in areas that are more often affected by shelling, such as Lukyanivka.

The old housing stock has found itself in a less favorable situation. According to Kovtun, due to low demand, the search period for tenants has increased significantly. While apartments in new complexes are rented out in 1-2 days, old housing often remains on the market much longer.

Thus, the real estate rental market in Kyiv demonstrates a clear shift to the priority of safe and comfortable housing in new residential complexes. This reflects not only the current situation in the country, but also a change in the preferences of tenants, who prefer quality, security and modern living conditions.