The New People party proposes removing the administrative penalty for living without registration
A proposal from the New People faction would abolish the administrative duty tied to living at an unregistered address, and the bill has been forwarded to the government for feedback. The note circulating in political circles indicates that the measure aims to rethink the current regime while keeping an eye on practical enforcement. The information is reported by Kommersant.
Under current rules, residents who do not register at their actual place of residence face fines ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 rubles. Landlords can be fined 2,000 to 5,000 rubles, and legal entities up to 750,000 rubles. In federal cities, the penalties tend to be higher. These penalties create a broad incentive structure that can affect millions of households, businesses, and property owners across the country.
From the bill’s explanatory note, the authors reference sociological surveys showing that around one in five citizens rent housing. Official statistics from recent years indicate that in 2017 roughly a quarter of Russians under 30 lived outside of permanent or temporary registration places. The current authors from New People argue that the real share may be higher, reflecting ongoing shifts in where people actually reside.
The initiative’s authors acknowledge that for registering public services on the State Services portal, individuals must provide their true residence. They argue that if a person does not live at the registered address, this situation constitutes an administrative offense in practice, even if the formal requirements are not fully aligned with daily living patterns.
Additionally, deputies highlight what they view as a cumbersome bureaucratic process surrounding permanent and temporary registration. They call for simplification and greater accessibility in how citizens declare and verify their place of residence.
“A voluntary reporting procedure could ensure citizens have clear information about where they live,” stated a New People deputy in the State Duma, adding that law enforcement already has mechanisms to locate individuals when necessary. The remark underscores a push toward more flexible, customer-focused administrative practices while maintaining necessary accountability.
Recent private sector analysis from Cyan.Analytics suggested that the cost of renting long-term flats in Russia has softened somewhat, a trend that some observers say reflects broader shifts in housing markets and mobility patterns.