New Housing Code amendment clarifies post-divorce housing issues

Reports have circulated on social media claiming that, after a family divorce, a man is legally required to provide housing for a woman. However, amendments introduced by a recently adopted law indicate that this issue is not an automatic obligation but is resolved on the basis of a court decision and an agreement between the parties.

What changes were introduced to the law?

On January 24, 2025, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis adopted a law that was approved by the Senate on February 21 and signed by the president on April 9. The law introduced an addition to the Housing Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is aimed at improving the system of support for families and women.

Under the new provision, when disputes related to the use of residential premises are considered by a court, the court may, based on an agreement between the parties, adopt one of the following decisions:

• to resettle a person who is being compulsorily moved into a home at the initiative of the residential property owner into another residential premises belonging to the owner that has proportionate and appropriate living conditions;

• or to impose on the owner the obligation to pay rent for leased residential premises.

Does this constitute an obligation for the man?

Based on the substance of the law, it can be stated that the claim circulating on social media that “a man must, without exception, buy or provide a home for a woman after divorce” does not fully correspond to reality.

This is because the provision does not apply automatically in all cases. A decision is made by the court separately for each individual case, and the existence of an agreement between the parties is mandatory.

That is, if the home in which the spouses lived is not registered in the husband’s name, or if after the divorce the woman and children face difficulties related to housing, the court may, on the basis of an agreement, impose on the homeowner the obligation to provide another suitable residential premises or to pay the rent.

What does the law guarantee?