Problems of determining the system of forms, methods and means of housing rights’ civil protection

The article is focused on studying theoretical and legal principles for building a coherent system of forms and methods of protecting housing rights. Researching the issue of the system of civil forms and methods of protecting housing rights allows us to conclude that housing law is a part of civil law; and housing legal relations and housing rights are the type of civil legal relations and civil rights. The author has substantiated that establishment of housing rights as a subject matter of civil protection has an important practical significance, since it provides an opportunity, in particular, to distinguish between purely civil and housing disputes. Such a distinction must be taken into account for the correct application of material and procedural legislation in the process of legal enforcement. The nature of the relationship impacts on the possibility of applying the appropriate mechanism of legal protection of subjective right. The author believes that in case of rights violation and occurrence of a housing dispute, the action algorithm should be as follows: 1) in case of the housing right violation one should choose the appropriate form of protection; 2) further one should indicate the most effective method of protection; 3) the claim must be embodied in an appropriate mean of protection (lawsuit, complaint, statement). Protection of housing rights of citizens in Ukraine can be divided into jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional forms of protection. The protection of the rights of the subjects of housing relations in the court occupies the main place among the jurisdictional form of protection; it has the universal character, is guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine and is the most suitable for resolving disputes on the protection of housing rights of citizens. Choosing a specific form of protection of housing rights of citizens is pre-conditioned by the legal nature of the housing rights. The list of the methods to protect the housing rights of citizens in Ukraine is not provided in the current Housing Code of Ukraine. Therefore, in case of a housing dispute, one should be guided by the norms of the Civil Code of Ukraine (the Art. 16). The specified methods of protection of civil rights are implemented in certain means of protection. The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 plays an important role in the regulation of relations on administering the justice in housing matters. On the basis of the essence of the ECHR case-law and the doctrine on the nature of the ECHR judgments, one should conclude that such judgments are also important for the formation of the doctrine of housing law and have a precedential character in the resolution of housing disputes within civil legal proceedings. The possibility of applying the mediation procedure in regard to housing disputes is also particularly relevant. Considering the specifics of housing disputes, it is possible to offer the specifics of the mediation’s application in relation to housing disputes. Online mediation is advisable to be used in this area.