From July 1, 2026, the new Construction Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 253-VIII comes into force, forming a unified approach to regulating the industry and covering the entire life cycle of facilities from design to operation.
As noted by construction expert Dilyara Seitnurova, previously the market was regulated by disparate laws and by-laws, which often led to inconsistency of norms. The new code systematizes requirements and makes them more transparent.
One of the key changes will be an increase in warranty periods. Now the warranty for facilities will be five years, and for structural elements up to ten years.
“Most serious defects, such as cracks, freezing, and structural problems, appear not in the first year of operation, but later. Increasing warranty periods allows for more effective protection of buyers’ interests,” Seitnurova explained.
At the same time, the expert emphasizes that warranty obligations directly depend on the correctness of the housing acceptance procedure. If the act is signed without comments, proving the presence of defects will be much more difficult. In this regard, recording the condition of the facility during acceptance using photo and video materials, as well as drawing up a disagreement act, becomes particularly important.
Another important innovation will be the creation of a register of unscrupulous developers, which will be available on the eGov portals and the relevant ministry. According to the expert, this will increase market transparency and allow buyers to assess risks in advance when choosing housing.
The code also introduces restrictions on adjusting detailed planning projects. Now changes are allowed no more than once every two years and only within the approved master plan.
“This decision is aimed at reducing chaotic development. The practice where development parameters, such as density, number of floors, and functional purpose, were changed for specific projects after approval will be significantly limited,” Seitnurova noted.
According to her, the innovations will increase the level of buyer protection and discipline in the market, but will not lead to a reduction in housing costs. On the contrary, stricter requirements and increased warranty obligations are likely to be factored into the price per square meter.
The expert emphasized that a noticeable effect from the introduction of new norms will not be immediately apparent.
“Improving the quality of construction is a process that takes time. Significant changes will be visible in the perspective of several years, when the code begins to be fully applied at all stages,” Seitnurova concluded.
