You're reading: Artem Muliavko’s quest to find an affordable place to rent in capital

Rivne native Artem Muliavko, 18, recently found a job as a chef in one of Kyiv’s Japanese restaurants. But unlike his successful job search, finding a place to live in Ukraine’s capital is more of a challenge.

“I have been looking for an apartment for rent for already two months,” Muliavko said. “Initially I wanted a nice flat, but now I wouldn’t even refuse just a room.”

Muliavko lives with friends and is hoping to find a one or two-room apartment to share for Hr 3,000–5,000 ($115-$190) rent a month.

“We just want to find any flat somewhere,” Muliavko said.

The supply of rental properties is high — for those who can afford it. But many can’t.

That, in a nutshell, describes Kyiv’s home rental market.

Slow price rise

As of mid-May, 16,500 apartments are available for rent in Kyiv, says Oksana Vengrovska, a PR manager of Olx, Ukraine’s largest online classified ads website. Most of the apartments — 11,000 — are for long-term rent while there 5,000 ads featuring short-term rents and only 250 ads for hourly rental apartments.

Artem Muliavko prepares meals in the kitchen of one of Kyiv’s Japanese food restaurants. Muliavko, native of the western Ukrainian city of Rivne, has been unsuccessfully searching for an apartment to rent in Kyiv for two months already. (Courtesy)

Artem Muliavko prepares meals in the kitchen of one of Kyiv’s Japanese food restaurants. Muliavko, native of the western Ukrainian city of Rivne, has been unsuccessfully searching for an apartment to rent in Kyiv for two months already. (Courtesy)

But despite many rental proposals, it is not easy to find an inexpensive apartment in Kyiv, real estate agent Nina Synytsya says. The lowest price for a one-bedroom apartment near a remote metro station in Kyiv is Hr 4,500, Synytsya says, adding that “in this case it would be a flat in poor condition with old Soviet era furniture.”

Tetyana Ripka, another real estate agent, says that an average rental price for a cheap one-room apartment is Hr 6,000 while an apartment with better costs Hr 10,000 on average.

A one-bedroom apartment with a babushka-style interior is Hr 7,000–8,000 per month while a similar apartment in good condition would cost Hr 15,000–17,000 a month.

A two-bedroom apartment in poor condition is on average Hr 9,000–10,000 per month while the rent of a two-bedroom flat in excellent condition is nearly Hr 24,000.

Muliavko dreams of more affordable prices in Kyiv but, despite his expectations, residential rental prices in Kyiv only increased during the past year, Vengrovska of Olx says.

Thus, the prices for long-term rent for a one-room apartment increased by 7 percent — from Hr 6,258 a month last May to Hr 6,707 this year. The rental price for a one-bedroom apartment rose by almost 11 percent — from Hr 8,577 to Hr 9,490. A two room flat was rented last year for an average of Hr 11,515 while this year its rental cost is Hr 11,915.

Market trends

Kyivans between the ages of 25–40 are looking for apartments to rent, Synytsya says.

“Neither students nor internal migrants from Donbas or Crimea look for apartments because people simply don’t have the money,” she explains.

Real estate agents say that the number of people renting flats in the suburbs of Kyiv increases as the rental prices are cheaper there. For instance, in Vyshneve, a city 14 kilometers west of Kyiv, the price for a one-room apartment in good condition ranges from Hr 4,500–6,000.

Real estate analyst and chief editor of Stolichnaya Nedvizhimost (Capital’s Real Estate) analytical website Zakhar Fedorak says that demand for apartment rental in Kyiv’s satellite cities is growing primarily because of an increase in the number of apartment buildings.

New constructions, recent renovations and good infrastructure are among the reasons that people want to rent apartments in towns around Kyiv.

“It takes on average the same time to get to Kyiv from a satellite city and from a remote district but the rental prices outside Kyiv are slightly lower,” Fedorak said. “With the same budget one can rent bigger and better place than in a remote city district.”

Ripka agrees, saying that another trend is that people try to rent flats not far from their work.

Iryna Hudz recently rented a one-bedroom apartment for Hr 7,000 near a metro station to have a shorter commute to work. It was important for her to rent a flat with good repair and a pleasant landlord. Both her expectations were met. “My landlord is a very pleasant person who has willingly made concessions during our discussion about the conditions of apartment rent. He even agreed to half the rental price if I buy furniture or technical devices for the flat,” she said.

Rental market prospects

The Kyiv’s rental market is still busy and the rental prices do not scare off potential tenants, says Ripka who often happens to have up to 15 property viewings per day in Kyiv. Fedorak says that “the demand for rent in Kyiv will remain high, as the number of high-quality and adequate offers is not catching up with the demand. Even neglected housing with an (average) price easily finds its tenants.”

Both real estate agents and experts agree that rental prices in the capital will not rise over the next year. The real estate market is a marker of the economy. If salaries don’t grow and the purchasing power of Ukrainians remains low then landlords won’t be able to raise rental prices. Fedorak does not “see any reasons for any changes in Ukraine’s rental market (in the nearest future).”