What Has Changed in Transaction Security
Over recent years, the legislature has introduced a set of tools to combat fraud in real estate transactions. Most property owners are unaware of them and do not use them — which creates vulnerabilities.
Ban on Transactions Without Personal Attendance
Since August 2019, there has been a mechanism to ban transactions executed using an electronic signature without the owner’s personal attendance. How it works: you submit an application to Rosreestr through an MFC and have a notation entered in the EGRN stating that any transfer of ownership is possible only with the owner’s personal participation.
This protects against a scenario in which fraudsters:
- obtain an electronic signature in the owner’s name (using forged documents),
- complete a transfer of ownership via electronic document management without the owner’s knowledge.
How to activate: submit an application at an MFC or via Gosuslugi. The procedure is free of charge.
Notifications About Transactions Involving Your Property
Rosreestr sends notifications to owners upon any entry concerning their property in the EGRN. Make sure your current email address and phone number are on record in the EGRN.
In addition, you can subscribe to notifications via the Rosreestr personal account — you will receive a message whenever information about your property is requested.
MVD Checks: Verifying the Seller’s Documents
When buying secondary-market housing, it is advisable to:
- Check the seller’s passport via the MVD’s service (mvd.ru → passport verification).
- Request legal-capacity certificates if there is any doubt about the seller.
- Cross-check the details with the EGRN extract: full name, date of birth, and passport number must match.
Notarial Certification and the Notary’s Liability
A notarially certified transaction provides additional protection:
- The notary verifies the parties’ identities, capacity, and genuine consent.
- The notary bears financial liability for errors made during certification (Article 17 of the Foundations of Notarial Legislation).
- In any challenge to the transaction, notarial certification significantly strengthens the bona fide purchaser’s position.
Notarial certification is mandatory for: the sale of shares in real property; transactions involving minors or persons lacking capacity.
Title Insurance
A title insurance policy protects the buyer against financial loss in the event the transaction is declared void or the property is recovered. The premium is approximately 0.3–0.5% of the property’s value per year. Coverage typically spans 3 years (the limitation period for most grounds of challenge).
Read Also
- Russian Supreme Court Review 2026: 5 Key Positions on Real Estate Transactions
- Rosfinmonitoring and Real Estate Transactions: When the Bank Asks for Extra Documents
- Early Lease Termination: A Commercial Real Estate Case
Planning a real estate transaction? Contact us for a consultation — we will verify the legal title of the property and help you structure a safe transaction.