Russia Drops Elderly Seller Mental Checks Over Privacy and Legal Hurdles

Fraudsters won’t face stricter mental checks—but notaries and **realtors** will now bear the burden. How Russia’s property market is adapting to protect vulnerable sellers.

, and Administrator

2025 December 5 . 4:03 AM

1 min read

In this picture we can see a market, in which we can see some stoles and we can see few people are... — In this picture we can see a market, in which we can see some stoles and we can see few people are around.

Russia Drops Elderly Seller Mental Checks Over Privacy and Legal Hurdles

The proposal originally aimed to tackle the so-called 'grandmother scam', where fraudsters trick elderly homeowners into selling property under false pretences. However, Rosreestr ruled out mandatory assessments, citing constitutional privacy protections and medical confidentiality laws. The agency also lacks the authority to access health databases or evaluate citizens’ mental fitness.

The rejection of mandatory mental capacity tests shifts responsibility onto realtors to secure their property deals. Notarization, thorough contracts, and legal oversight remain the primary tools for preventing fraud. Meanwhile, Rosreestr continues to explore administrative measures that balance anti-fraud efforts with privacy settings.