A proposed law in Russia could soon require apartment owners to obtain written consent from their neighbors before renting out their properties, potentially leading to legal disputes and practical challenges. The bill, currently under consideration in the State Duma, targets owners who rent out apartments without registering a formal lease agreement with Rosreestr authorities.

The legislation aims to address issues arising from short-term rentals and unregistered long-term leases. If a lease agreement is officially registered, neighbor consent would not be required. The logic behind the bill is that registered leases provide the state with necessary data and protect neighbors, while unregistered rentals lack such guarantees.

However, the initiative has sparked debate and raised concerns about its practicality and potential for abuse. Critics argue that the bill could violate the Civil Code, which grants property owners the right to use, dispose of, and possess their property. Requiring neighbor consent could be seen as an infringement on these rights.

The proposed law also raises questions about enforcement and the potential for fraud. Neighbors may be hesitant to provide personal information, such as passport details, for consent forms, making them vulnerable to scams. The bill does not address situations where neighbors are uncooperative, live in other locations, or have problematic living conditions themselves.

The lawyer Vasily Laskin believes that the bill will not work and has also expressed concerns about the practical implications of obtaining consent, especially in cases where owners live remotely or have shared ownership. He suggests that the law could create a burden on law enforcement agencies and fail to address the core issue of unscrupulous landlords.