In Kyiv’s primary housing market in 2026, apartments with European-style layouts have effectively become the new standard of demand. According to an analytical study by the development company Intergal-Bud, their share of the demand structure is 60–70% depending on the segment, and in certain comfort+ and business-class projects, it already exceeds 75%.
As the company notes, the trend, which began as early as 2022, became firmly established in 2025–2026. While the share of demand for apartments with European-style layouts was about 38% in 2022 and 52% in 2024, it exceeded 60% in 2025 and continued to grow in the first quarter of 2026.
Changes to the “єОселя” state program, which took effect in February 2026, served as an additional growth factor. The new area standards stipulate 52.5 square meters for a family of 1–2 people plus 21 square meters for each additional family member, while the maximum housing area eligible under the program is significantly limited. If an apartment exceeds the established standard by more than 10%, the buyer effectively loses the opportunity to take advantage of preferential financing or is forced to cover the significant difference in cost on their own.
“Classic layouts with long hallways, large unproductive areas, and small, isolated kitchens are becoming economically unviable. Today, buyers value not the number of square meters, but the lifestyle the apartment offers. A spacious kitchen-living room, separate bedrooms, a minimum of hallways, and thoughtful zoning are no longer just a bonus but a basic requirement. “This is particularly noticeable among families who are buying a home to live in themselves, rather than as an investment,” the study quotes Elena Ryzhova, Commercial Director of Intergal-Bud.
According to the company’s data, among the largest category of first-time homebuyers—people under 40—one in two chooses one- or two-bedroom apartments with open-plan layouts ranging from 38 to 60 square meters. The primary motivation is purchasing a home for personal residence. Buyers over 40 are more likely to choose two-bedroom or ergonomically designed three-bedroom apartments ranging from 65 to 85 square meters, where privacy, separate functional zones, and comfort for the whole family remain key factors.
Intergal-Bud estimates that, for the same floor area, a European-style layout provides 15–20% more usable space compared to traditional layouts, and the space efficiency ratio exceeds 85% versus 65–70% in older housing stock. This also means lower costs for repairs, heating, and maintenance.
At the same time, supply is not yet keeping up with demand. According to the company’s analysts, only one in seven apartments in new buildings fully meets the criteria for a true Euro-style layout—a spacious kitchen-living room, separate bedrooms, no “dead” hallways, and logical functional zoning.
The company believes that apartments with excess square footage and outdated layouts have already fallen out of active demand, while compact and functional European-style layouts continue to sell quickly even in challenging market conditions.
According to Intergal-Bud’s estimates, in 2026–2027 the market may face a shortage of high-quality finished housing specifically in the segment of functional comfort-class apartments, which best align with the new demand structure. The company cites the updated terms of the “єОселя” program, the limited number of new projects, rising construction costs, and accumulated pent-up demand as the main market drivers.
“Intergal-Bud” is one of Ukraine’s largest real estate development companies, operating in the residential real estate market since 2003. The company is implementing projects in Kyiv, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Uzhhorod, and other cities. The developer’s portfolio includes dozens of residential complexes, and its main focus remains on the construction of comfort-, comfort+, and business-class housing.
