Design & Renovation
Renovation that turns an old Kyiv apartment into a premium rental.
An unrenovated apartment in the historic centre earns a fraction of what the street commands. We close that gap: design, permits, construction, handover. The same team finds the tenant when it's done.
65
Renovations completed
12
Years in the market
4–12
Months, typical timeline
How it works
How a Vestor.Estate renovation actually works.
01
We tell you where the money goes
Consultation on the renovation itself: what to prioritize, where to save, what a tenant actually notices. Available from the moment you're considering a property, through to handover.
02
The building decides the design
Location, layout, and the building's character set the direction. Hand over the whole project, or bring us in for a single stage.
03
You see where every stage stands
Fees tied to project stages, with bi-weekly photo updates from the site. Progress and spending stay visible from wherever you are.
The result
What our standard looks like.
Zankovetska 6 in the Lypky quarter: 105 m² in a Tsarist-era building, filmed after its full designer renovation and listed at $3,700 a month. This is the apartment a tenant walks into.
The math
The math on one apartment.
The real numbers from a renovation we completed this year in the historic centre:
$1,590
Per m²
$39
Rent per m²
~3.5 yrs
Payback
11.5%
Yield
All-in yield includes the purchase at $2,450 per m². Across the apartments we manage, occupancy is averaging 93% in 2026, and a finished apartment currently finds its tenant within four to six weeks.
Process
From unrenovated to rented.
01
Assessment & design
We walk the property, define the standard it needs to hit, and produce a plan against a realistic budget.
02
Permits & procurement
Government permissions, housing authority sign-off, and materials sourced before a single wall comes down.
03
Construction & QA
Contractors managed on-site, timeline held, neighbor issues resolved before they become delays.
04
Handover
Finished apartment, checked in person, ready to list. Typically 4 to 12 months from start, depending on scope.
After handover, most owners move straight to property management. The same team that renovated the apartment finds the tenant and runs it.
"I check every renovation myself, on-site, before it ever goes to a tenant. That job is mine."
Sean Almeida, Founder & CEO
Have a property that needs work?
Tell us its condition and address. We'll tell you honestly what it needs to hit our standard, and what it could rent for once it does.
Get in touch
FAQ
Questions owners ask.
Why does a Vestor renovation hold its value longer than a typical one? +
Twelve years of renting to the same kind of tenant tells you exactly what they want and what they ignore. We build the renovation around that: layouts and materials tenants actually use, chosen to hold up rather than to photograph well. That's what keeps an apartment renting well years later instead of needing a refresh after the first tenant leaves.
What does a full renovation cost in Kyiv's centre? +
Between $1,300 and $1,500 per square metre today, materials and labor included. Both went up sharply this year, and we quote against the current market rather than last year's prices. The full budget is presented and approved before work starts.
How long does a renovation take? +
Typically 4 to 12 months, depending on the property's size and starting condition. You get a specific timeline after the assessment stage, not a generic estimate.
Who actually checks the work? +
Sean checks renovations in person: the founder, on-site, before a tenant ever sees the apartment.
How are payments structured, and how is my money protected? +
The budget is approved by you before anything starts. Payments are staged: roughly 20% at the beginning, 10–15% per month as work progresses, and about 20% near the end, when the big items like the kitchen and furniture get ordered. Bi-weekly photo reports keep spending and progress visible throughout, so you always know what was paid for and what got built.
Can you renovate during the war? +
We've completed 11 renovations since the full-scale invasion began. Suppliers deliver, crews work, and the permit offices function. Every rent and occupancy figure on this page is from 2026. The market this page describes is the one operating right now.
What if the apartment doesn't rent after the renovation? +
Across the apartments we manage, occupancy is averaging 93% in 2026. A finished apartment currently finds its tenant in four to six weeks. Before the security situation worsened it was two, and we'd rather plan you around the honest number. Demand for properly renovated apartments in the historic centre still outruns supply.
Can I renovate a property I already own, without buying through Vestor? +
Yes. Renovation is offered as a standalone service for properties in Kyiv's historic centre, independent of how the property was acquired.
What if I only want help with one part of the renovation, not the whole project? +
That's available. Guidance and consultation can be scoped to a single stage: design, procurement, or QA. Bring us in for the piece the property needs.
From the blog
Renovation, from the people doing it.
Blog
What To Know Before Renovating An Apartment In A Historical Building In Kyiv
When it comes to historical buildings in downtown Kyiv, there is a diversity of opinion with regard to their quality and value. Some value investors see the…
January 2021
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Blog
The Story of a Wartime Renovation in Kyiv
There are some clichés that, while obvious, bear repeating because they are so true. And this is especially relevant during these difficult times. The first is…
May 2024
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Blog
Demolition Or Renovation For Kyiv’s Khrushchevky? What To Do With Soviet-Era Apartments?
Kyiv Authorities are developing a plan for the reconstruction of old housing stock, and the first in line will be the “Khruschevky.” The plan includes the…
February 2021
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