Short answer: Choosing commercial premises is not only a location decision. Before signing a lease, a business should identify the intended use of the space, verify the person offering it, check the property and access arrangements, and make the rent, term and handover conditions clear in the documents.
Start with the business use
Define the activity that will be carried out in the premises before comparing locations. The practical requirements can differ significantly for an office, retail space, workshop, professional services, storage or a client-facing operation. The proposed use should be compatible with the property, its available utilities and the building’s operational rules.
Check who is entitled to let the space
Under the general rule in Article 608 of the Civil Code, the right to let property belongs to its owner, unless another person is authorised by law or by the owner. Ask for documents that show the lessor’s authority and compare the premises described in the draft agreement with the actual property and available property records.
If a representative signs, check the authority and the scope of the document on which that authority is based.
Make the premises identifiable in the agreement
A lease is an agreement under which the lessor provides property for a fee for temporary possession and use, or for temporary use. The agreement should identify the premises clearly enough for the parties to know what is being transferred. For a building or structure, the Civil Code contains specific lease rules; the applicable form and registration requirements depend on the agreement and its term.
Record the rent and the treatment of operating costs, utilities, maintenance, repair, access, signage, fit-out and subletting in a way that matches the business plan. A broad advertising description is not a substitute for agreed contractual terms.
Inspect and document the handover
Before starting operations, inspect the premises, take note of the condition and any visible defects, and document the handover. Article 655 of the Civil Code links performance of the duty to transfer a building or structure to providing it for possession or use and signing the relevant transfer document, unless the law or the agreement provides otherwise.
Practical checklist
- Match the planned business activity to the premises and the building rules.
- Verify the lessor’s ownership or authority to grant the lease.
- Identify the exact premises, access, utilities and condition in the documents.
- Agree rent, additional payments, term, repairs, fit-out and exit arrangements.
- Document inspection and handover before operations begin.
Official sources
- Civil Code of the Russian Federation, Article 606 — lease agreement
- Civil Code, Article 608 — person entitled to let property
- Civil Code, lease of buildings and structures
- Civil Code, Article 655 — handover of a building or structure
Review the lease before signing
For a focused legal review of the space and the draft agreement, request an initial consultation.