Russian Real Estate Terms

When you buy, sell or inherit property in Russia, the papers use words like EGRN, kadastr, DDU, DKP, zalog and obremenenie. EGRN is the state property register, DKP is a sale and purchase contract, DDU is a contract for a flat in a building under construction, and obremenenie is any encumbrance on the title. This glossary explains these and related terms for owners and buyers abroad.

It was prepared by attorney Elena Petrova. The terms come from the Civil Code, the law on state registration of real estate and 214-FZ on shared construction.

Registers and Identifiers

EGRN (ЕГРН) is the Unified State Register of Real Estate. It records owners, areas, encumbrances and the cadastral value.

Vypiska iz EGRN (выписка из ЕГРН) is an extract from the register. Since 2023 the owner's name is shown to third parties only with the owner's consent.

Kadastrovy nomer (кадастровый номер) is the unique cadastral number of a plot, building or flat.

Kadastrovaya stoimost (кадастровая стоимость) is the state valuation used for tax purposes.

Rosreestr (Росреестр) is the federal agency that runs the register and records transfers.

Contracts

A DDU must be registered with Rosreestr. Under 214-FZ the buyer's payments are usually held in an escrow account until the building is completed.

Encumbrances

Obremenenie (обременение) is any restriction registered on the title.

Zalog (залог) and ipoteka (ипотека) mean pledge and mortgage. The lender can sell the property if the debt is not paid.

Arest (арест) is a seizure imposed by a court or bailiff. The owner cannot sell while it stands.

Servitut (сервитут) is an easement, such as a right of passage over a neighbour's plot.

Ownership Types

Pravo sobstvennosti (право собственности) is full ownership.

Obshchaya dolevaya sobstvennost is shared ownership in fixed fractions. Co-owners generally have a pre-emptive right to buy a share offered to outsiders.

Sovmestnaya sobstvennost is joint ownership without fixed shares, typical for spouses.

Privatizatsiya (приватизация) is the transfer of state or municipal housing into private ownership.

Transaction Steps

Zadatok (задаток) is an earnest deposit that secures the deal.

Avans (аванс) is an advance payment that is simply returned if the deal fails.

Akt priema-peredachi is the handover certificate.

Perekhod prava is the transfer of title, which takes effect on registration in EGRN, not on signing.

Bankovskaya yacheyka and akkreditiv are a safe deposit box and a letter of credit used to settle the price.

Construction and Land

Zastroyshchik (застройщик) is the developer under a DDU.

Razreshenie na vvod v ekspluatatsiyu is the permit to put a building into operation.

Kategoriya zemel is the land category. VRI is the permitted use of a plot, which limits what may be built on it.

Checking a Russian Property from Abroad

Order a fresh EGRN extract, ask for the title documents and check the seller in court and bankruptcy databases before paying. A past gift or inheritance in the chain deserves a closer look.

Attorney Elena Petrova carries out these checks remotely and reports in English.

The main channel of communication with the attorney is email: attorneypetrova1@gmail.com.