The passive form of a verb can be used in place of the casual or -masu forms when the speaker wants to show politeness to someone. This level of politeness is not as high as the honorific form, but is still above the others. Note that for いる, the passive form in this case would be おられる.
ピアノ、お上手ですね。いつ始められたんですか。
You're good at piano. When did you begin playing?
先生はテニスをされるんですね。知りませんでした。
Sensei plays tennis? I didn't know that.
へえ。日本では四国に住んでおられたんですか。暖かいし、海もきれいだし、いい所ですよね。
Oh, so you lived in Shikoku in Japan? It's a nice place, it's warm and the ocean is beautiful.
スミス先生は、僕の日本語の先生である森先生を知っておられるそうだ。
I hear that Smith-sensei knows my Japanese teacher, Mori-sensei.
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