Russians Began To Move Into Garages

Because of the high cost of apartments.

Against the backdrop of rising real estate prices in Russia, the number of offers to sell and rent garages adapted for living is increasing, according to the Russian Guild of Realtors, writes The Moscow Times. The founder of the Russian Guild of Realtors, Konstantin Aprelev, confirmed that such offers are increasingly appearing on the market. "This is a gray market. Because, God forbid, a person in this garage will burn, the owner will go to jail. In fact, these premises are not adapted for living, and naturally, it can only happen without any clear legal contractual relations," the expert explained.

On popular online platforms you can find hundreds of such objects for purchase and rent. The largest number of such offers is in the Krasnodar region and the Moscow region. So, in Adler, a two-storey garage of 100 square meters. m offer to rent for 40 thousand rubles per month. The description includes a kitchen with a gas stove, a washing machine, a boiler, air conditioning, a warm floor and a closet.

Similar offers appear in Moscow. In the center of the capital for 8.2 million rubles you can buy a garage object, converted into an apartment: two bedrooms, modern finishing and even its own sauna. There are also more budget options on the outskirts for 3-4 million rubles.

Aprelev says that the most liquid garages near the railway platforms: often these are already two-storey buildings with water and minimal amenities, where people live for months, although legally such premises are still garages. The expert notes that this is the cheapest segment of the market, competing with summer houses and apartments that do not have the status of residential premises.

Realtor Alla Georgieva reminded that by law you can not use a garage as housing, because it does not meet the established standards. She warned that for the use of the garage not for its intended purpose, the owner may face a fine of 0.5-1% of the cadastral value of the site, but not less than 10 thousand rubles. In some cases, the structure can be demolished or even seized. "It is impossible to live in the garage, it is impossible to register, it is impossible to be attached to the polyclinic at this address," she emphasized.

For many it becomes the only chance to get their own housing in Moscow, as the price of such premises is much lower than the cost of an ordinary apartment. In 2025, the growth of prices for primary housing within the boundaries of the "old" Moscow turned out to be a record for the last five years, according to the report of the company "Metrium" . Annual growth amounted to 29% - this is the maximum value for the entire analyzed period. In absolute figures, the average cost of a square meter in the "old" Moscow for the year increased from 619 thousand to 800 thousand rubles. In 2021 the cost of housing on average increased by 21%, in 2022 - by 5%, in 2023 - by 15%, and in 2024 - by 17%.

The cost of housing continues to increase. Last month, the average price per square meter in Russian cities increased by 0.8% - up to 131,451 rubles. The most noticeable growth was recorded in the Moscow region (+3.5%, up to 162,374 rubles per square meter). In Moscow, the cost per square meter increased by 1.9%, to 426,858 rubles/sq. m, and in St. Petersburg - by 1.5%, to 257,084 rubles/sq. m.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com