Why you shouldn't register other people at your own address

Registration at an address often feels like a formality - a stamp in a passport that doesn't really matter. In practice, it gives a person the right to live in the apartment regardless of ownership, and in some cases they can only be deregistered through a court - or sometimes not at all. Here's how permanent registration differs from temporary registration, and why registering someone at your own address deserves real caution.

Permanent vs. temporary registration - the difference

Registration at a place of residence (permanent) is marked with a stamp in the passport and has no expiration date by default. Registration at a place of stay (temporary) is issued for a set term - from a few months to several years - as a separate document, with no passport stamp. Both types grant almost the same right to use the property, but temporary registration has one key advantage for the owner: once it expires, the person can be deregistered without going to court, whereas permanent registration can generally only be ended by a court ruling if the registered person doesn't consent.

Three sources of a lifetime right of residence

The right to live in an apartment indefinitely, regardless of a change of owner, doesn't only arise for someone who declined to take part in privatization - though that's the most common case. Such a right is often written directly into a gift deed: the person giving the apartment away keeps a lifetime right of residence, and that clause remains valid for every subsequent owner. A separate free-use agreement has a similar effect, letting the owner allow a relative to live in the apartment for the rest of their life. If you're buying an apartment where someone other than the owner is officially registered, always request not just the residency register extract but every agreement the registration was based on.

Even temporary registration can create a problem

Temporary registration can be issued for any term, up to several years, and for the entire period the registered person has the right not just to live there but to register their own minor children too, without any further consent from the owner. If the person refuses to deregister voluntarily - say, they're on a long business trip, or simply don't see the need - the owner's only options are to wait out the registration term or pursue deregistration through court.

The risk for landlords who register a tenant temporarily

If a rental is arranged informally while the tenant is given temporary registration, the tax authority has a direct way to match regular transfers to the owner's card against the registered person's name. If undeclared rental income is found, the tax owed is assessed along with a fine that, under Article 122 of the Russian Tax Code, can reach 40% of the unpaid tax if the evasion is deemed intentional. Only register a tenant if the rental is arranged officially.

Why deregistering someone is a real procedure, not a formality

If a registered person isn't cooperating, deregistering them through the passport office at their new address can take several months because of the internal paperwork flow between different MFC branches - even within the same city. That's exactly why, when preparing for a deal, it's worth requiring everyone registered at the apartment to be deregistered in advance, rather than relying on a verbal promise to "deregister after the sale."

How to register someone at your address safely

• Default to temporary registration rather than permanent - it leaves you free not to renew it if needed.
• Cap temporary registration at one year with the option to extend, rather than issuing it for several years at once.
• Never register a tenant if the rental itself is arranged informally.
• Before adding a lifetime-residence clause to a gift deed, consider whether you're ready for that obligation indefinitely.
• If you're buying an apartment with registered residents, require them to be deregistered before the main contract is signed, not after.

Planning to register someone at your address

Describe the situation by phone - we will tell you which type of registration is safer in your case and how to limit the risk.

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