Is it worth buying apartments in 2023 – Business – Kommersant

What is an apartment, is it possible to register in them and is it worth buying – in the material “Kommersant”.

The difference between an apartment and an apartment

Apartments are de jure commercial spaces that are often used as residential spaces.

pros

1. Apartments are sold cheaper than apartments – by an average of 10-30%.

2. Due to their relatively low cost, it is more profitable to rent them out than apartments.

3. There are no strict restrictions that are imposed on redevelopment in residential premises.

4. No overhaul fees.

5. As a rule, apartment complexes are built in areas with developed infrastructure.

Minuses

1. It is impossible to issue a permanent registration.

2. Utility payments are higher than in apartments, on average by 15–30%.

3. Property tax is also higher: for a residential apartment – 0.1% of the cadastral value, for apartments – 0.5-2%. However, the cadastral value of the apartments is lower, so in practice the difference may be insignificant.

4. The builder is not obliged to comply with the building codes necessary for the construction of residential premises, as well as to improve the adjacent territory.

5. Apartments cannot be purchased at the expense of maternity capital, you cannot receive a tax deduction from them, there are no benefits for paying utility bills.

6. Bailiffs can take the apartment to pay off the debt, even if this is the only housing.

Dmitry Ilyin, CEO of the law firm ARIUM:

“All apartments can be conditionally divided into “bad” and “good”. “Bad” ones are those that were built in violation of building codes for residential premises (insolation, ventilation, sound insulation, and so on) or built in violation of urban planning regulations, for example, in places not intended for temporary residence of citizens. Such apartments are illegal and subject to demolition or refurbishment. “Good” apartments are those that are created in compliance with the requirements, but due to their formal status, they exclude the possibility of registering citizens in them at the place of residence, have restrictions on the use of social infrastructure, and also require increased costs for their maintenance and taxes.

Is it possible to register in the apartments

Apartments are classified as commercial premises, therefore, unlike apartments, you cannot get a permanent residence permit in them. However, it is possible to issue a temporary registration.

Important! For registration, the apartments must have the status of a hotel type. It will not be possible to register even temporarily in the premises of administrative and business purposes.

What is the difference between a studio and an apartment

A studio apartment is a one-room apartment in which there is no partition separating the kitchen and the room, but there is an isolated bathroom. Unlike apartments, it belongs to residential premises, therefore, the same rules and requirements apply to it as to ordinary apartments.

Types of apartments

Aparthotel

In fact, this is an apartment with hotel service. Here you can stop for a short time, cook food. There is a reception where you can contact with various questions: for example, order cleaning in the room. Some aparthotels provide meals.

Profitable house

As a rule, this is a house built specifically for renting out housing. Unlike apart-hotels, rooms are rented for a longer period (from one month).

Condominium

This is a property that is jointly owned and operated by several owners. Apartments in a condominium can be bought for yourself or rented out.

Multifunctional complex

The type of apartment that most resembles an apartment. They can be lived in, resold or rented out.

Will the apartments be converted into housing stock

Now the apartments have no legal status. In November 2020, the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation proposed to ban their construction. At the same time, the department explained that they intend to assign the status of residential premises to already built apartments.

In April 2021, a draft law was submitted to the State Duma, which proposes to legalize their construction, introduce the concept of a “multifunctional building”, extend the Housing Code to apartments and allow registration.

Is it worth buying an apartment

The bill “on apartments” was withdrawn from consideration at the end of 2021, and its further fate remains unclear, Dmitry Ilyin, CEO of the law firm ARIUM, said:

“If you are only going to buy an apartment, then you should pay maximum attention to the study of permits, design and other documentation (necessarily with the involvement of professionals). In addition, future costs should be calculated. If everything suits you, then you can take it, and if the law “on apartments” is adopted, you may even win.”

Artem Kosenok; group “Direct speech”