Rent agreement format

A residential rent agreement in the format used across India: landlord and tenant details, the property and its fittings, an 11-month term, monthly rent and due date, an interest-free security deposit, maintenance and utility bills, a lock-in period, the notice period, tenant police verification and two witnesses. It is written to be printed on non-judicial stamp paper or an e-stamp certificate and signed by both sides.

Templates

• Rent agreement (India) (document): An 11-month residential rent agreement format for India, with rent, security deposit, lock-in, notice period, maintenance, utilities, tenant verification and witnesses, ready to print on stamp paper.
• Rent receipt (document): A house rent receipt in the Indian format for HRA claims, with tenant and landlord names, rental period, amount in figures and words, payment mode, landlord PAN and a revenue stamp space for cash payments.

How to use these templates

1. Agree the basics with the other side first: rent, deposit, start date, lock-in, notice period, who pays maintenance, and the yearly increase on renewal.
2. Open the template and give the AI both parties' details and the property address, for example "2BHK in Wakad, Pune, ₹18,000 a month, two months' deposit, starting 1 May".
3. List the fittings in the schedule, such as fans, lights, geysers, wardrobes and appliances, with their number and condition, and take dated photos.
4. Buy stamp paper or an e-stamp certificate of the value your state requires, print the agreement on it, and have both parties and two witnesses sign every page.

What to check before signing a rent agreement in India

• The 11-month term exists because a lease for more than a year must be registered with the Sub-Registrar under the Registration Act, 1908. For a longer stay, sign a fresh agreement on renewal, or register a longer one.
• Maharashtra is the main exception: every leave and licence agreement there must be registered, whatever its length, and it can be done online with Aadhaar-based e-registration.
• Stamp duty is set by each state and can depend on the rent and deposit, so check your state's rate or ask the stamp vendor. Agree in writing who pays it; it is often the tenant, sometimes split.
• Where a state has adopted a law based on the Model Tenancy Act, 2021, the security deposit for a home is capped at two months' rent. Elsewhere it is whatever you agree, so negotiate.
• Note meter readings for electricity and water on the day you move in, and photograph them. It settles the final bill when you move out.
• Many cities require landlords to submit a tenant verification form to the local police. Do it; it protects both sides and is often needed for other paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

Why are rent agreements made for 11 months?

A lease of immovable property for more than one year has to be registered, which costs more time and money. An 11-month agreement avoids compulsory registration in most states, though not in Maharashtra.

Is a notarised rent agreement valid?

A notarised agreement on proper stamp paper is valid evidence of the terms for an 11-month tenancy in most states. Notarisation does not replace registration where registration is compulsory.

Can I use the rent agreement as address proof?

Often, yes. Banks, gas agencies and many government offices accept it, and the passport office accepts a registered rent agreement. Check the list for the office you are applying to.

Do I need rent receipts if I have an agreement?

For HRA, yes. Employers usually ask for monthly rent receipts, and the landlord's PAN once yearly rent crosses ₹1 lakh. Use the rent receipt template alongside the agreement.

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