Articles & Publications
Real Estate
Property transactions, registration, non-resident sellers, ownership rights, and housing disputes.
Selling a Garage Without Land Survey in Russia
Russian law allows selling a garage without a land survey — if the plot is cadastre-registered. Two scenarios, three risks, and a plan for sellers.
Early Lease Termination: A Commercial Real Estate Case
A major retail chain left early and withheld the deposit, leaving hidden defects. Contract audit and negotiations saved the owner two million rubles.
Buy, Renovate, Sell: Cutting Tax from 3M to 20,000 Rubles
Bought an old house for renovation, planned to sell before the five-year mark. Documenting reconstruction costs reduced the tax from 3 million to 20,000 rubles.
Realtor vs Lawyer: Who Actually Owns Your New Property
Realtors find the apartment and close the deal. Lawyers make sure you keep it. Seven checks your agent skips — and each one can cost you your home.
Family Consent at Property Closing: Does It Really Help?
After the Dolina case, agents demand letters from the seller's relatives. Those letters carry no legal weight. Here is what actually protects a buyer.
Title Insurance in Russia: What It Covers and When to Use It
On the secondary market, hidden risks hide in the ownership history, not in the seller's passport. Title insurance protects your property rights, not the walls.
Babushking: 4 Ways to Protect a Resale Property Purchase
Elderly sellers win court cases to reclaim sold apartments, leaving buyers with nothing. Four tools that strengthen your position as a good-faith buyer.
Russia's Garage Amnesty Extended to 1 September 2031
Garage amnesty (Federal Law No. 79-FZ) was extended to 1 September 2031 in August 2026. Owners of pre-2004 cooperative garages may register title for free.
Non-Capital Structures on a Land Plot
A gazebo, greenhouse, shed, or bath house may be placed on a plot without a building permit — but only if it matches the land's permitted use type and...
Selling Russian Property as a Non-Resident
Case study: a Turkish tax resident selling Moscow commercial property. Standard NDFL rate: 30%. With a double tax treaty applied correctly: 0%.
Temporary Registration in Apartamenty: CC RF Ruling No. 4-П
CC RF Ruling No. 4-П of 3 February 2026 permits temporary registration in non-hotel apartamenty. Permanent registration in such properties remains unavailable.
Permanent Residents: 7 People Who Can Never Be Evicted
Russian law permanently protects certain residents from eviction, even if the property changes hands. Seven categories to check before buying resale property.
Russian Supreme Court Review 2026
The Supreme Court's July 2026 real estate review: five positions on good-faith purchasers, seller mistakes, and when courts can void a completed transaction.
You Bought a Plot, But It's Forest Land
A buyer acquired a residential plot, registered ownership, started building — and received a notice from the prosecutor.
Abandoned Dacha: When the State Can Reclaim Your Plot
Since 2024, Russia has intensified land monitoring. The state can compulsorily acquire unused agricultural land, IZhS plots, and misused parcels.
Lifetime Right of Residence
You bought an apartment — and someone lives in it who cannot be evicted, either by court order or any other means. This is a lifetime right of residence,...
Hidden Risks in Secondary Market Property
You bought an apartment on the secondary market — and two years later a previous owner comes forward with a claim to it.
Noisy Neighbour: Three Legal Steps That Actually Work
Your neighbour makes noise at night, carries out renovation work at prohibited hours, or keeps several dogs. Talking hasn't helped.
The Management Company Pays
The attic lock in the building was broken — teenagers climbed onto the roof and pushed metal sheeting onto cars below. The court ordered the management...
Rosfinmonitoring and Real Estate Transactions
Buying or selling property? A bank may demand you explain the money source. We explain which transactions Rosfinmonitoring monitors and how to prepare.
New Real Estate Transaction Safety Mechanisms in 2026
The state has been steadily introducing tools to protect against fraud in real estate transactions: bans on transactions without personal attendance,...
Registration After Apartment Merger: Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court examined a complaint about denial of residence registration after several small apartments were merged into one.
Bona Fide Purchaser
A bona fide purchaser who paid fair value cannot lose their home if fraud occurred earlier in the title chain. How the Dolina-Lure case changed Russian law.