Rent agreement guides
Short, practical guides for tenants and landlords in India. General information, not legal advice.
Basics
- How to make a rent agreement online in India: step by stepA plain guide to making a rent agreement online in India: what to gather, what the draft must contain, how to stamp it and who signs.
- Why most rent agreements run for 11 monthsWhy Indian rent agreements are usually 11 months, what changes at 12 months, and how renewal works in practice.
- Rent agreement clauses checklist: 15 things to includeA checklist of the clauses a good residential rent agreement should have, from rent and deposit to notice, repairs and subletting.
Money
- Stamp duty on a rent agreement in India: how it worksHow stamp duty on rent agreements is worked out, why it differs by state, and how to pay it through e-stamping.
- Security deposit rules for rented homes in IndiaHow much deposit is normal, when it must be returned, what can be deducted, and how to protect yourself as a tenant or landlord.
- Rent receipts and HRA: how to claim house rent allowanceHow rent receipts support an HRA claim, what employers ask for, and how the exemption is worked out.
- Rent increase and renewal: what to agree in advanceHow rent increases and renewals work in India and how to set a fair percentage and process in the agreement.
Legal
- Leave and License vs lease agreement: key differencesThe difference between a Leave and License agreement and a lease, why Maharashtra uses the first, and which one applies to you.
- How to register a rent agreement onlineWhen registration is required, what documents you need, and how online registration portals usually work for rent agreements.
- Police verification for tenants: what to knowWhy many cities ask landlords to inform the police about new tenants, what details are needed, and how to prepare.
Tenants
- Tenant rights in India: what every renter should knowCore rights tenants generally have in India: receipts, notice, privacy, fair deposit handling and protection from unlawful eviction.
- Notice period and ending a tenancy: how to do it properlyHow notice periods, lock-in periods and early exits work in a rent agreement, and how to end a tenancy without a dispute.
- Landlord refuses a rent agreement? What to doPractical steps for tenants whose landlord will not sign a written rent agreement, and what proof you can build instead.
Rent agreement rules by city
Pick your city for its state's format, stamp duty basis and e-stamp portal.