Land Lease in 2026: How a Plot Owner Can Protect Their Rights and Avoid Losing Money

For many Ukrainians, an agricultural land plot remains a source of additional income. However, far from every owner knows how much they can actually receive for leasing their plot, whether they have the right to demand a rent review, and how to act if a farming enterprise violates agreements. When a land dispute arises, a lawyer in Kyiv can help review the contract, assess the legality of the tenant's actions, and determine ways to protect property rights. Agreements concluded many years ago require special attention, as the conditions for land use and its market value may have changed significantly since then.

Land is Becoming More Expensive: What the Statistics Show

The Ukrainian agricultural land market continues to operate even under martial law. According to the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre, from July 1, 2021, to March 3, 2026, 334,803 land purchase and sale agreements were concluded in Ukraine for a total area of over 1 million hectares.

Over this period, the average price per hectare increased by 96% in hryvnia equivalent. At the beginning of 2026, it was 64,631 UAH. The highest number of transactions was recorded in Sumy, Poltava, and Vinnytsia oblasts.

The increase in land value does not mean an automatic increase in rent. However, plot owners should take market changes into account during negotiations regarding new contracts.

The results of the state project "Land Bank" deserve special attention. According to the State Property Fund, during 2025, 887 agreements were concluded with auction winners within the project. The average annual sublease cost of one hectare was 17.1 thousand UAH.

These figures cannot be directly applied to private land shares, as they concern different market segments. Nevertheless, they demonstrate how important it is to assess the real economic attractiveness of land before concluding a long-term agreement.

What Terms Must Be Checked in the Lease Agreement

The primary document regulating the relationship between the plot owner and the tenant is the Law of Ukraine "On Land Leasing."

According to Article 15 of this Law, the essential terms of the contract are the object of lease, the date of conclusion and validity period of the contract, as well as the rent with an indication of its amount, indexation, method and terms of payment, deadlines for payment, and liability for non-payment.

Before signing the contract, the owner should check four issues:

• Are the cadastral number, area, and location of the plot correctly indicated?

• What lease term is established, and is the renewal of the contract provided for?

• How is the rent determined, and is its indexation provided for?

• What is the tenant's liability for delayed payments or violation of land use terms?

Particular attention should be paid to the form of rent payment. If the parties agreed on calculation using agricultural products, it is necessary to understand how their value is determined.

Article 22 of the Law "On Land Leasing" stipulates that calculations regarding rent can be made in kind by agreement of the parties. At the same time, such a calculation must correspond to the monetary equivalent of the value of goods at market prices on the date the rent is paid.

Can Rent Be Increased Before the Contract Expires

One common situation: the owner leased out the plot ten years ago, and the established payment today seems too low to them.

Can they demand an increase?

Article 23 of the Law "On Land Leasing" provides for the possibility of revising the rent by agreement of the parties. The owner has the right to propose new terms, but the mere growth of the market value of the land does not mean that the tenant is obliged to agree to any proposed amount.

For example, a citizen transferred a 4-hectare land plot to a farming enterprise. Under the contract, they receive 12,000 UAH annually. After analyzing local offers, the owner learned that other tenants offer higher pay for similar plots.

In such a situation, it is advisable to contact the tenant in writing with a proposal to revise the contract terms. If an agreement is reached, the changes are properly executed.

If the tenant refuses, it is necessary to check the contract provisions regarding the review of payments and the presence of legal grounds for judicial protection. Unilateral termination of contract performance without proper grounds can create an additional conflict.

What to Do If the Tenant Does Not Pay for the Land

Non-payment of rent is one of the most unpleasant situations for a land owner. Especially when the tenant continues to cultivate the plot, harvests the crop, but delays payment.

According to Article 24 of the Law "On Land Leasing", the lessor has the right to demand timely payment of rent.

Article 32 of this Law allows early termination of the contract by a court decision in cases of failure by the parties to fulfill obligations provided by law and the contract, as well as on other grounds established by law.

At the same time, Article 141 of the Land Code of Ukraine defines systematic non-payment of rent as one of the grounds for terminating the right to use a land plot.

To protect their rights, it is important for the owner to keep the contract, supplementary agreements, bank statements, payment documents, and correspondence with the tenant.

If a conflict has already arisen, an online lawyer consultation will help preliminarily analyze the documents, determine the amount of debt, and understand whether there are grounds to demand contract termination.

At the same time, not every one-time delay automatically gives the right to terminate the lease. The nature of the violation, its repeatability, contract terms, and evidence matter.

When a Land Lease Agreement is Renewed Automatically

Many plot owners mistakenly believe that after the expiration of the contract term, the tenant is obliged to immediately vacate the plot.

In reality, the situation depends on the terms of the contract, the date of its conclusion, and the legislation governing the relevant legal relations.

Article 126-1 of the Land Code of Ukraine provides for the possibility of establishing a condition for its renewal in the contract. If there is a corresponding condition and no proper statement on the exclusion of information regarding renewal, the contract may be renewed for the same period and under the same terms.

However, this rule cannot be unconditionally applied to all contracts. Other renewal rules may apply to contracts concluded earlier.

In addition, Article 33 of the Law "On Land Leasing" establishes the pre-emptive right of a proper tenant to conclude a contract for a new term.

A tenant who wishes to exercise such a right must notify the lessor within the period established by the contract, but no later than one month before the lease expiration, and attach a draft contract.

It is important for the land owner not to miss the relevant deadlines and to check whether automatic renewal is provided for by the contract.

Can a Leased Land Plot Be Sold

The sale of a land plot transferred for lease is not prohibited by law.

According to Article 9 of the Law "On Land Leasing", the tenant has a pre-emptive right to purchase the land plot into ownership in case of its sale under conditions determined by law.

At the same time, the transfer of ownership of the leased plot to another person is not in itself a basis for changing or terminating the lease agreement, unless otherwise provided by the contract. This is enshrined in Article 32 of the said Law.

Therefore, a buyer can purchase the land, but does not always get the opportunity to immediately cultivate it themselves.

Before selling, the owner should check the lease term, registered property rights, the presence of encumbrances, and the procedure for exercising the tenant's pre-emptive right.

Such a check is no less important for the buyer. Otherwise, after the transaction is executed, it may turn out that they will be able to use the purchased plot at their own discretion only after the current contract expires.

How to Protect Your Rights Without a Lengthy Court Dispute

Not every land conflict must necessarily end in a trial.

In many cases, the problem can be resolved through negotiations, a written claim, or the conclusion of a supplementary agreement. However, any agreements must be properly formalized.

For example, if a farmer delays rent due to financial difficulties, the parties can agree on a debt repayment schedule. If a dispute arises regarding the amount of payments, it is advisable to reconcile the calculations.

When the tenant refuses to fulfill their obligations, the owner can apply to the court with claims that correspond to the nature of the violation.

One must be especially careful with documents offered for signature by the tenant. A supplementary agreement sometimes changes not only the amount of payment, but also the term of land use or the procedure for renewing the contract.

A land plot is property that has real economic value. Therefore, the owner should check the performance of the contract, the timeliness of calculations, and the terms of its expiration at least once a year. If doubts arise regarding the legality of the tenant's actions, professional lawyer services can help protect property rights, recover debt, or resolve a land dispute. You can learn more about legal assistance and the possibilities of protecting your rights on the website https://group-of-lawyers.com/uk.