How to Choose a Demolition Contractor in Kyiv: 10 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Contract

Demolition is one of the most critical phases in any construction cycle. The professionalism of the contractor determines your project timeline, site safety, and final budget. Kyiv hosts hundreds of companies offering demolition services; their prices and promises often differ dramatically. To avoid costly mistakes, prepare 10 key questions and ask them before you sign anything. Below is a detailed breakdown based on real-world cases from the Kyiv market.

Why pre-screening contractors matters

According to Kyiv’s Municipal Improvement Department, about 18 % of local projects face fines or stoppages due to demolition violations in Kyiv. Penalties reach 300–400 k UAH, and delays stretch into months. A qualified contractor prevents legal and financial disasters, so careful vetting is direct savings.

The 10 questions every bidder must answer

1. Does the company hold a valid high-risk work licence?

Ukrainian regulations classify structural demolition as high-risk. Check the Ministry of Economy’s public register: the licence must list “demolition of buildings and structures” and remain valid for at least three years.

2. Will the contractor supply a work execution plan (WEP) and method statement?

No Kyiv authority will authorise site start-up without these documents. A reputable firm drafts a WEP in-house or via a certified engineer. It must detail phased schedules, equipment layout, collapse zones, waste sorting, and haul-off procedures.

3. What equipment fleet will be deployed?

Excavators with breakers, Brokk robots, hydraulic shears, wheel loaders — ask both model and ownership. If most machines are short-term rentals, timeline risk skyrockets when suppliers miss a delivery.

4. Who is the responsible engineer on site?

Request the chief engineer’s CV. Minimum five years’ field experience and a structural degree are must-haves. Ideally, he can show completed projects of similar scale in Kyiv or the region.

5. How are workers certified for hazardous tasks?

The crew must undergo safety briefings and medicals; crane riggers and operators need NAKS approval. Missing logs or IDs signal high accident risk, which ultimately lands on the client.

6. What civil-liability insurance is in place?

A 5–10 million UAH policy covers neighbour buildings, cars, and utilities. Verify:

• Coverage amount;
• Exclusions;
• Proof of payment (some firms show unpaid “offers”).

7. How is pricing calculated, and what is included?

Request a resource-and-cost breakdown: site prep, demolition proper, waste haul-off, disposal, final cleaning. Ask whether fencing, night-shift permits, and landfill fees are included.

8. Which licensed landfills or recycling plants does the firm use?

Kyiv rules require concrete and brick to go to approved sites. Ask for copies of haulage contracts; missing paperwork may leave you with hefty fines.

9. Will you receive photo/video reports and hidden-work acts?

Reliable contractors specify reporting frequency in the contract—e.g., every 24 hours—and provide KB-2v forms for gas disconnection, cable cuts, etc.

10. What deadline guarantees and penalties are in the contract?

Insert a penalty clause—say, 0.1 % of the contract sum per day of delay—and ensure “lack of equipment” is excluded from force majeure.

Additional checkpoints

Common client mistakes

• Comparing bids only by m³ price, ignoring service scope.
• Accepting photocopies of licences and insurance without seals.
• Leaving “waste haul-off” as a post-factum item, inflating the bill by 30–40 %.
• Signing contracts with no delay penalties.

Conclusion

The deeper you vet your contractor before work starts, the lower the odds of fines, idle machinery, and surprise costs. Use these questions as a checklist and insist on documentary proof.

Ready to get into practice? Contact LLC "BK Demontazhnik" - a trusted dismantling contractor in Kyiv and order a free visit from an estimator engineer today!