How to check a new build in Kyiv before you buy

Buying a flat in a building that is still under construction is a deal with the future. Here is what we check before recommending a residential complex to a client.

1. Who is building

• Track record. How many buildings the developer has delivered, whether on time, and whether any projects stalled.
• The contracting party. Sales are often run through a separate legal entity — find out how it relates to the complex’s brand and who is liable.
• Court cases. They can be found in Ukraine’s public Unified State Register of Court Decisions.

2. Permits

• Land. The right to the plot and its designated use are recorded in the State Land Cadastre, including the public cadastral map.
• Building permit. Construction documents are published in the Unified State Electronic System for Construction.
• The building’s parameters. The number of floors and sections on site should match the documents.

3. The sales scheme

• Type of contract. Property rights, an investment agreement or a construction financing fund — each comes with its own risks and guarantees.
• Deadlines and liability. What exactly you receive and when, and the penalties for late delivery.
• Payments. A fixed price or one pegged to a currency, and the instalment terms.

4. The building itself

• Progress on site. Compare photos of the site taken a few months apart.
• Construction. Frame, insulation, windows, lifts, parking.
• Resilience. A generator, a shelter, backup power for lifts and pumps — today this is about safety, not comfort.

5. The neighbourhood

Transport, schools and nurseries, how densely the area is being built up and the city’s plans for it all shape daily life and the flat’s value a few years from now.

The checks take from a few days to two weeks. A Mingrand broker will help gather the information and show you the property; we also recommend having a lawyer review the contract.