RUSSIAN LAW · UPDATED 19 SEPTEMBER 2026
Commercial premises must suit both your customers and the legal requirements of your business. Before paying a deposit, verify leasing authority, technical suitability and the full contractual cost.
Leasing authority
Check the owner or authorised lessor; for a sublease, review the head lease and required consent.
Operational suitability
Permitted use, access, capacity and sector requirements must fit your business.
Exit costs
Review the deposit, fit-out, indexation and early-termination consequences.
Your route, step by step
- 1Check the propertyEGRN and leasing authority
- 2Check business suitabilityActivity, access and utility capacity
- 3Agree the termsCharges, fit-out and exit
- 4Record handoverDefects and meter readings
Who can sign as landlord
Civil Code Article 608 allows the owner or a person authorised by law or the owner to lease property. A lessor not named as owner in the EGRN is not automatically unlawful, but must demonstrate authority. For a sublease, review the head lease, its term and required consent.
Compare current EGRN information with the address, cadastral number, area and plan. A leased part must be clearly identifiable. Check a representative’s power of attorney and, for a company, signatory authority and necessary corporate approvals.
Can the business actually operate there?
An advertisement describing “unrestricted use” does not authorise every activity. Cafes, clinics, shops and offices face different ventilation, accessibility, fire, sanitation and licensing requirements. Compare the requirements of your actual activity with the documents and physical condition before signing.
Check electrical capacity, water, drainage, heating, internet, access hours, deliveries and signage. Agree who obtains approvals, pays for conversion and bears the risk that the business cannot open.
Calculate the total cost
Add utilities, operating charges, tax components, security, parking and maintenance to the base rent. The contract should identify included costs, supporting evidence, indexation and change-notice rules. A rent-free period does not necessarily waive utility charges.
Clarify the legal purpose of the security payment, permitted deductions and repayment date. Replace an oral promise to use it for the final month with a written term.
Fit-out, duration and exit
Allocate routine and major repairs, approval of works and ownership or compensation for improvements. Not every repair is automatically reimbursable. Inseparable improvements depend on consent and contract terms; alterations may also need regulatory approval.
Check state-registration requirements for the particular property and lease term, early-exit grounds, notice and liability. At handover, record defects, photographs, meter readings and keys. Use an equally clear documented return procedure when the lease ends.
Before paying an advance
| Question | Request | Agree in writing |
|---|---|---|
| Who may lease it? | EGRN, authority, head lease for subletting | Authority to grant possession |
| Can the business open? | Plans, utility capacity, technical records | Use and approvals |
| What is the total cost? | Breakdown of charges | Indexation, deposit and utilities |
| What happens to fit-out? | Scope and budget | Consent, reimbursement and restoration |
| How can you leave? | Termination terms | Notice and financial consequences |
Before you act
Ticks are a personal reading aid and are not sent to the website.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-owner lease the property?
Yes, with proper authority. A sublease also requires review of the head lease and applicable consent.
Are repairs always reimbursed?
No. The type of improvement, consent and contract terms matter. Agree the position before work begins.
Does the lease automatically permit signage?
No. Check signage approvals and rules for the facade and common property separately.
Related guidance
Legal sources (Russian): Civil Code, Part 2. This guide concerns Russian law. The outcome depends on the documents and facts of the case.