VTsIOM survey: citizens have a positive assessment of notary fees and consider them affordable

Thus, the cost of notarization of the purchase and sale of real estate in Moscow or, for example, in the Stavropol region in 2024 remained the same as it was in 2023. And in the Sverdlovsk region it became lower by 4%. For comparison, according to Rosstat, the cost of AI-95 gasoline in the same Sverdlovsk region in 2024 increased by an average of 5% compared to 2023, and the compulsory motor liability insurance policy increased in price by 13%. In Moscow, the MTPL policy increased in price by 8%, and in the Stavropol region by 7%.

The picture will be even more clear if you look at the dynamics of changes in notary tariffs and prices, say, for the same gasoline over the past seven years. If back in 2017 the cost of a real estate purchase and sale certificate, worth 8 million rubles, was comparable to the cost of 13 refills of a full gas tank (volume 50 liters), then in 2024 — only 11 refills. That is, if “measured” in fuel, then this notarial act has become cheaper by 100 liters of AI-95 gasoline.

The cost of a marriage contract certificate four years ago was comparable to the cost of two dates, including a taxi ride, flowers, two movie tickets and dinner at a restaurant for two. Now, for the money that a notary charges when drawing up a marriage contract, a couple can afford only one date with the specified scenario. This example again clearly confirms that average consumer prices for goods and services significantly outpace notary fees in terms of growth.

Therefore, in general, the cost of notarial actions was the least cited by respondents as a reason for refusing to contact a notary during the VTsIOM survey. It is worth considering that notarial acts are most often in demand among the economically and socially active part of the population. Therefore, the principle when the applicant, and not the average taxpayer, pays for a notarial act is socially fair. The notary office does not receive budget funds and exists solely through payment for notarial acts.

Let us remind you that in the fall of 2023 a new, improved notary tariff system began to operate. Now, for each notarial action, a single notarial fee is charged, consisting of federal and regional parts. The first is directly specified by law, the second is calculated annually according to an economically sound formula approved by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.

The regional tariff is set for each subject of the Russian Federation and takes into account the local cost of living per capita, as well as many other significant parameters and coefficients, in order to ultimately correspond to the real economic situation in the region. As a result, the cost of contacting a notary became even more balanced, and in some cases decreased, primarily for socially significant notarial actions. In addition, there are benefits for various categories of citizens.

It is also worth noting that, according to the results of a survey by VTsIOM, Russians in general have a very high level of satisfaction with the work of notaries. The vast majority (91%) of those who have ever contacted a notary were satisfied, and the majority were completely satisfied. The percentage of those who are satisfied with contacting a notary is equally high, regardless of the period and purpose of the application.

Russians are ready to pay for safe real estate transactions

In terms of citizens’ assessment of the cost of notarial acts, the perception of the costs of ensuring the security of real estate transactions is indicative. In this part, Russians are willing to pay much more than it actually costs to notarize a transaction.

The same VTsIOM survey showed that 63% of Russian residents are willing to pay extra to avoid legal risks when purchasing real estate. In particular, 31% of Russians are ready to allocate 0.5% of the transaction amount for this. A little less – 27% – are ready to allocate even 1% of the transaction amount. Moreover, the share of those who agree to pay twice as much for security guarantees (1% instead of 0.5%) is significantly higher among people who are currently planning to purchase real estate. As experts note, this may be due to a more acute perception of risks.

Another 5% of citizens are willing to pay even 5% of the transaction amount for legal security. Only 11% of respondents are not at all ready to spend money on this; however, they do not currently plan to purchase real estate. The remaining 26% found it difficult to answer, but did not categorically refuse this opportunity.

At the same time, turning to a notary to certify a housing purchase and sale transaction costs even less than the minimum indicated by respondents that they are willing to pay for legal guarantees. For example, a notarized certificate for the purchase and sale of an apartment worth 8 million rubles on average across the country will cost about 30 thousand rubles, that is, less than 0.4% of the price of real estate. For this money, the parties to the transaction receive full legal guarantees, confidence in the legal purity and legality of the transaction, as well as its protection from subsequent challenges.

The survey results also showed: 85% of citizens agree that a notary guarantees the security of a transaction. It is important to note that today the notary is the only specialist in the real estate market who, firstly, is able to provide maximum legal guarantees, and secondly, is responsible for the result of his work with money and fully compensates for damage in the event of his mistake.

Notary fees are also significantly lower than the cost of services of various legal intermediaries, who are not responsible for possible errors and risks (a simple market analysis shows that the cost of their services can be 70–100 thousand rubles). Notaries provide not only a whole range of property guarantees, but also additional convenient services.

Thus, the notary must talk with all parties to the transaction and check whether they understand what they are doing and what legal consequences this will have, thereby reducing the risks of subsequent challenges to the transaction. Conducts a full legal examination of the transaction and checks its participants. It is convenient that notaries today work in a “one window” mode. That is, they themselves receive all the necessary information from state registers, conduct a legal analysis of the transaction, prepare draft agreements, certify transactions and send documents to Rosreestr for accelerated registration of the transfer of ownership rights — in one business day.

In addition, for convenient and safe transactions, you can use a notary deposit. If the seller and buyer are in different cities and it is completely inconvenient for them to meet in one place, the transaction can be concluded and certified remotely with the help of two or more notaries.

Source: website of the Federal Notary Chamber