FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Tenants and landlords ask about the same things: how to set up the agreement and for how long, what happens with the money, how to move out and how to resolve a dispute. The answers below are short and general; for your own conflict, treat them as a starting point for thinking, not a ready-made recipe.
Before the keys are handed over, any awkward question sounds natural. After you move in, the same question starts to sound like a complaint.
Agreement and term
Does the agreement have to be in writing?
Yes. Under Article 674 of the Russian Civil Code, a residential tenancy agreement is made in writing. This protects both sides.
What if the agreement does not state a term?
Then the agreement is deemed concluded for five years. A tenancy agreement cannot run longer than five years (Article 683).
How is a short-term agreement different?
An agreement for up to one year is called short-term. Some of the rules in Chapter 35 do not apply to it: for example, the tenant has no priority right to a new agreement under Article 684.
Does the landlord have to give notice about renewal?
Yes, if the agreement is not short-term. No later than three months before the term ends, the landlord must offer the tenant renewal on the same or other terms or give notice of refusal (Article 684).
Money and utilities
Is a "pledge" the same as a security deposit?
In everyday speech, what people call a "pledge" or "deposit" is usually the security deposit. In the Civil Code it is a way of securing an obligation (Article 381.1), and the return terms are best written directly into the agreement.
Who pays for utilities?
That is up to the parties. What matters is to write in the agreement which charges the tenant pays, which the landlord pays, who submits meter readings and how payment is confirmed.
How do I prove the rent has been paid?
Keep receipts or transfer statements that show the period and purpose of each payment. Cash handed over without a receipt is hard to prove later.
Do I have to pay tax on letting a flat?
Income from letting a home is taxable in Russia. How the tax is paid depends on the landlord's status, so check the details on the Russian Federal Tax Service website.
Moving out, disputes and scams
How can I move out early?
The tenant may terminate the agreement at any time by giving the landlord three months' written notice, and if other people live permanently with the tenant, with their written consent (Article 687).
My security deposit is not being returned. What should I do?
First, calmly discuss the reason and check the report and inventory. If you cannot reach agreement, send a written claim; court is the last resort, and before going there it helps to show your documents to a lawyer.
How can I tell the person letting the flat is not a scammer?
Ask for proof of ownership and a passport, or a power of attorney from a representative, and check that the details match. Do not transfer money before the viewing and before the agreement is signed.
Can the landlord come in without warning?
The rules for visits are best written into the agreement in advance: in which cases and with how much notice the landlord may come. If there is no such clause, agree on it in writing.
Related sections
- Guides
Step-by-step checklists: verifying the owner, the handover report and inventory, utilities, breakdowns, guests and pets, ending the lease and getting the deposit back.
- Examples
Hypothetical situations: a prepayment "for a viewing," a broken appliance, a withheld security deposit, renewal, a room in a shared flat.
- Basics
What residential tenancy is, what each party is expected to do, how long an agreement can last and which payments it should cover.
- Glossary
A glossary of renting terms: landlord, tenant, short-term tenancy, handover report, security deposit, encumbrance.
Sources
- Russian Civil Code, Chapter 35 "Tenancy of Residential Premises"
- Russian Civil Code, Article 381.1 "Security Deposit"
This guide summarizes Chapter 35 of the Russian Civil Code, "Tenancy of Residential Premises," and Article 381.1 on the security deposit. The rules change from time to time, so before signing, check the current version on the official legal information portal and the text of your own agreement, and if a dispute arises, talk to a lawyer.