Housing and shelter, land and property

HLP rights are essential for  a safe and dignified return, access to assistance, and livelihood recovery. Many returnees face challenges such as destroyed or damaged homes, secondary occupation of property, or loss of ownership documents.

Collect and safely keep any documents that help prove ownership or use of the property. including: title deeds, purchase or sale contracts, utility bills, property tax receipts, court rulings, witness statements, photos of the property, site maps or sketches, or agency attestations in addition to notarized agreements, building permits, and/or civil status extracts (marriage/divorce/birth/death) to establish inheritance lines. Further details can be accessed in the Housing, Land and Propery Guidance accessible via the link below.  

If you have lost the ownership documents, try to obtain an official replacement. If you need help, please feel free to contact Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees

Many HLP claims depend on inheritance verification (deaths, marriages/divorces) and you need legal counseling, please feel free to contact Legal assistance for IDPs and Returnees

1. Safety first: If your property was abandoned for a long time, do not enter it immediate. Check Mine Risk section on the “Protection and Safety” page and confirm if your community or authorities have surveyed or cleared the area or your property. Many HLP incidents occur during rubble removal or agricultural work.  Furthermore, areas with heavy destruction may also have structural collapse risks. If possible, request a basic structural assessment from qualified technicians.
2. Prepare your documents: Gather all available evidence, including IDs and civil extracts. If documents are missing, seek legal assistance to request replacement.
3. Check the current status on the ground: Is the property damaged, occupied by others or under dispute?
4. If the property is occupied: Try to resolve the situation peacefully through mediation where possible. Temporary occupancy agreements or rental contracts may help avoid conflict and protect your claim while administrative steps are underway.
5. If mediation is not successful: Open a formal case with the relevant authority or court (such as cadastral/real estate court/formal conciliation mechanisms) when accessible. Submit copies of documents only and keep the originals. Where offices are partially functioning (extracts only), lodge written requests and keep stamped receipts as proof.
6. Dispute Resolution: Pathways & Expectations:
   1. Community or administrative options: Mukhtar confirmation, local council acknowledgments, mediation agreements or occupancy attestations are often useful first steps and may support later court cases.
   2. Judicial options: courts can adjudicate ownership, boundaries, inheritance or eviction. These processes may take time, so patience and proper documentation are important.

To support returnees, UNHCR and its partners provide housing assistance as part of long-term shelter solutions, through UNHCR supported- community centers. UNHCR also supports the repair of communal basic infrastructure to enhance livelihoods and the basic services to the communities of high return areas.

In order to access this support, returnees will need to approach the closest community center where UNHCR partners will assess the returnee family’s case to confirm eligibility based on defined criteria. If eligible, returnees may receive support to repair their houses which would include moderate structural repairs, doors and windows repairs, electrical works (cabling, installation of lamps, etc.), and water and sanitation work in the residential units, including the common areas, to make the house habitable again. Consent from all right‑holders is needed as it reduces dispute risk.

In many areas across Syria, the public water system is operational and provides access to clean drinking water. However, the quality and availability may vary depending on your location. Many areas receive water through a schedule (for example, once or twice a week), so it’s recommended to have clean storage containers at home. UNICEF and its partners work closely with local water authorities to improve water quality and reliability, especially in heavily affected communities. If you have concerns about water quality, you can contact your local water establishment or ask the community leader for the nearest supported facility.

Basic sanitation services are available in most return areas. These include sewage networks, though functionality can vary by location. In some rural or heavily damaged areas, services may still be under repair or reconstruction. UNICEF supports the rehabilitation of sanitation infrastructure. If sanitation services are not fully functional in your area, local authorities and NGOs are often working to restore them.