One of the most significant aspects of crystal chemistry of multianionic oxyhydrides is the possibility of flexible regulation of the composition-structure-function relationships. In the context of competitive configurations of different anions in the crystal lattice, this may afford formation of a number of stable stoichiometric phases without inversion symmetry. In the present work, it is shown that semiconducting layered oxyhydrides with the composition Ln 2 H 4 O (Ln = Y, La) have an attractive potential for the design of novel lead-free ferro-and piezoelectric systems. By means of density functional theory-based computational simulations it is predicted that polar monoclinic and orthorhombic phases of the bulk Ln 2 H 4 O may exhibit exceptional ferro-and piezoelectric properties as well as electromechanical coupling characteristics that are especially suitable for the piezoelectric devices working in a shear mode. It is shown that quantitative estimates of ferro-and piezoelectric characteristics are well matching with the specification data of advanced ferroelectric solid solutions. Thus, our prediction of lead-free piezoelectric systems forms a solid and technologically reliable basis for the development of effective and nonhazardous materials.