Renting a home in Russia

This page is for Turkish citizens who will rent a home in Russia. It explains the rental rules in the Russian Civil Code, the security deposit, ending the contract, and most importantly who will complete the migration registration at the rented home and when. For details on migration registration, see R2.1.

• In the Russian Civil Code, residential renting is called a "residential tenancy agreement" (договор найма жилого помещения). The landlord (наймодатель) provides the home to you (наниматель) for a fee so that you can live there.
• The agreement must be made in writing.
• Only an individual can be a residential tenant. Companies may obtain housing through a lease (аренда) or another agreement, but may use it only for individuals to live in.
• The agreement must list the people who will live with you permanently. These people also have equal rights to use the home with you.
• The agreement may be made for a maximum of 5 years. If no term is specified, it is considered to be for 5 years.
• Agreements for less than 1 year are considered "short-term rentals." In these agreements, some tenant rights (for example, priority renewal at the end of the term) do not apply unless the agreement states otherwise.
• Any restriction arising from a rental agreement lasting 1 year or longer is registered in the land registry.

• Landlord:
  • delivers the home vacant and fit for habitation
  • maintains the building and ensures the provision of necessary public utilities, such as water, heating and electricity
• Tenant:
  • uses the home only for living, protects it and keeps it in good condition
  • may not make alterations without the landlord’s permission
  • pays the rent on time. Unless the agreement states otherwise, the tenant pays the utility bills (коммунальные платежи)
• The rent is specified in the agreement and cannot be changed unilaterally. Unless the law or the agreement provides otherwise, payment is made every month.
• Security deposit (обеспечительный платеж): If agreed in the contract, the landlord may take a security deposit. When the agreement ends, if you have no outstanding debts, the deposit is returned to you unless the agreement states otherwise. As a rule, the deposit does not accrue interest.
• After notifying the landlord and obtaining the consent of the people living with you, you may allow guests to stay free of charge. You are responsible for the guests’ conduct.

• As the tenant, you may terminate the agreement at any time with the consent of the people living with you. You must give the landlord 3 months’ written notice.
• The landlord may have the agreement terminated only through court proceedings. The main grounds under the law are:
  • failure to pay rent for 6 months (a longer period may be specified in the agreement); in a short-term rental, missing the payment deadline more than twice
  • destruction or deterioration of the home by the tenant or people for whom the tenant is responsible
• If you end the agreement early, what happens to the security deposit and advance payments is determined by the provisions of your agreement. Read these provisions before signing.

• The owner of the home you rent becomes the receiving party (принимающая сторона) for you. A migration registration notification must be submitted within 7 business days after your arrival.
• Your responsibility is to show the landlord your passport and migration card when you arrive at the home. Once the notification has been submitted, you receive the detachable section of the notification form from the landlord. This section is proof of your registration.
• The landlord submits the notification through one of the following channels: a migration unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a municipal service center (МФЦ), Russian Post or the internet.
• If you have a rental agreement, you may also submit the notification yourself, in person or electronically, with a copy of the rental agreement.
• If the landlord lives abroad (a Russian citizen or foreigner living abroad), you submit the notification in person and attach the landlord’s notarized consent.
• If the landlord is a Russian citizen and both of you have verified Gosuslugi accounts, you may submit the notification online. The landlord gives consent through Gosuslugi.
• People who come to Russia for no more than 7 days and stay somewhere other than a hotel or similar facility are not subject to migration registration.
• Registration is made for the period stated in the notification, but for no more than 1 year.
• If the landlord fails to perform their duties as the receiving party, they may be fined 2,000–4,000 rubles. You may also face a penalty (see R2.5).

1. Check the landlord’s identity and ownership. Ask the landlord to show their passport and an extract from the real estate register proving ownership (выписка из ЕГРН недвижимости). Sign the agreement with the actual owner or with a person holding the owner’s notarized power of attorney.
2. Discuss migration registration in advance. Make sure the landlord agrees to complete the registration. If they do not, remind them that you can submit the notification yourself using the rental agreement.
3. Make the agreement in writing. The agreement should state the rent and payment date, the security deposit and refund conditions, who will pay the bills, the people who will live with you, the term and the conditions for early termination.
4. Prepare a handover report. List and photograph the furniture and any damage in the home; both parties should sign it.
5. Document payments. Pay the rent through a bank or obtain a written receipt for each payment.
6. Complete migration registration within 7 business days and keep the detachable section.
7. When moving, register again at the new address. Once you are registered at the new address, your old registration is automatically cancelled.

• Migration units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (подразделения по вопросам миграции МВД) — migration registration notifications. The Ministry’s website may not open from abroad; you can use Gosuslugi to make an appointment.
• Municipal service centers (МФЦ) — migration registration notifications; find the nearest center on the Gosuslugi map: map.gosuslugi.ru
• Russian Post offices — migration registration notifications (see R2.1)
• In the event of a dispute: rental and deposit disputes are resolved in court; consult a lawyer (see R10.5).
• Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow — 12 7th Rostovsky Pereulok, 115127 Moscow · Consular switchboard: +7 495 994 93 59 (telephone information 14:30–18:00) · Duty line: +7 906 770 11 90

• Making the agreement orally. The law requires a written agreement.
• Taking the keys without discussing migration registration. A landlord who does not complete the registration may expose you to a penalty.
• Losing the detachable section. It may be requested during inspections, at the bank and by the tax office.
• Failing to list the people living with you in the agreement.
• Failing to specify the conditions for returning the deposit.
• Failing to register at the new address after moving.
• Trusting people who “sell registration” for money. Fake registration is a crime.

• Can I complete migration registration myself as a tenant? Yes. If you have a rental agreement with the landlord, you can submit the notification yourself with a copy of the rental agreement.
• The landlord does not want to complete the registration. What will happen? A landlord who fails to perform their duties as the receiving party may be fined 2,000–4,000 rubles. If you are not registered, you may also face a penalty (see R2.5). Think twice before renting such a home.
• What if I stay at a hotel or in a daily rental apartment? Hotels and similar accommodation facilities complete the registration themselves. If you stay in an apartment building, the registration rules are the same as for a rented home.
• What happens to my deposit if I end the rental early? Under the law, you may end the agreement with 3 months’ written notice. The return of the deposit depends on the conditions in your agreement.
• Can the landlord increase the rent unilaterally? No. The rent cannot be changed unilaterally unless permitted by law or the agreement.
• How long is the registration valid? For the period stated in the notification, up to a maximum of 1 year. For your visa and period of stay, see R2.2.

• Russian Civil Code, residential tenancy provisions (Articles 671–688)
• Federal Law 109-FZ, Article 22: who submits migration registration notifications
• Federal Law 109-FZ, Article 20: the 7-business-day period and exceptions
• Code of Administrative Offenses, Article 18.9: penalty for the receiving party
• Gosuslugi: service center map