Property 12 Oct 2026 9 min read

Rent agreement format: free sample for India with clause checklist

A free residential rent agreement format for India, the clauses landlords and tenants should agree on, and why most agreements run for 11 months.

Accellaw Editorial

A rent agreement (also called a lease or leave-and-licence agreement) records the terms on which a landlord lets a property to a tenant. A clear written agreement settles the questions that cause most landlord-tenant disputes before they arise: how much the deposit is, when rent rises, who pays for repairs, and how either side can end the arrangement. Below is a residential rent agreement format you can adapt, followed by a checklist of what to agree on.

Why most rent agreements are for 11 months

Under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, a lease of immovable property from year to year, or for a term of more than one year, must be registered at the sub-registrar's office. An unregistered lease that should have been registered cannot be relied on to prove its terms in court. Agreements of 11 months fall outside the compulsory registration requirement, which is why they are so common. They still need to be stamped under your state's stamp law, and some states require or encourage registration of every rental agreement, so check the local rule.

Clauses to agree on

Parties and property — full names, addresses and the exact property description, including parking and fittings.
Term and start date — usually 11 months, with how renewal will work.
Rent — amount, due date, mode of payment and late-payment terms.
Security deposit — amount, and when and how it will be refunded, including permitted deductions. Some states that have adopted the Model Tenancy Act cap deposits, so check yours.
Rent increase — the percentage on renewal, commonly 5–10%.
Maintenance and repairs — who pays society maintenance, minor repairs and major structural repairs.
Utilities — electricity, water, gas and internet: who pays and in whose name.
Use — residential use only, number of occupants, pets, and no subletting without consent.
Lock-in period — a minimum period neither side can exit, if any.
Notice period — usually one month from either side.
Inventory — a list of furniture and appliances and their condition at move-in.
Handover — the condition the property must be returned in.

Free rent agreement format (residential)

Format — adapt to your facts

RENT AGREEMENT This Rent Agreement is made at [city] on [date] BETWEEN [Landlord's full name], son/daughter/wife of [name], aged [__] years, residing at [address] (the "Landlord"), AND [Tenant's full name], son/daughter/wife of [name], aged [__] years, permanently residing at [address] (the "Tenant"). WHEREAS the Landlord is the owner of the residential premises at [full address of the property, including flat number, floor and building] (the "Premises"), and has agreed to let the Premises to the Tenant on the following terms: 1. TERM: The Premises are let for a period of 11 (eleven) months from [start date] to [end date]. The term may be renewed by mutual written consent, with the rent increased by [__]% on renewal. 2. RENT: The Tenant shall pay a monthly rent of ₹[amount] (Rupees [amount in words] only), in advance on or before the [5th] day of each month, by [bank transfer / UPI] to the Landlord's account [details]. 3. SECURITY DEPOSIT: The Tenant has paid the Landlord an interest-free security deposit of ₹[amount] (Rupees [amount in words] only) by [mode], receipt of which the Landlord acknowledges. The Landlord shall refund it when the Tenant vacates and hands over the Premises, after deducting any unpaid rent, unpaid bills and the cost of repairing damage beyond normal wear and tear. 4. MAINTENANCE AND BILLS: The Tenant shall pay electricity, water, gas and internet charges for the term as per actual bills. [Society maintenance charges shall be paid by the Landlord / Tenant.] Minor day-to-day repairs shall be done by the Tenant; structural repairs shall be done by the Landlord. 5. USE: The Tenant shall use the Premises for residential purposes only for [himself/herself and family], shall not sublet or part with possession of the Premises, and shall not make structural changes without the Landlord's written consent. 6. ACCESS: The Landlord may inspect the Premises at a reasonable time with prior notice to the Tenant. 7. LOCK-IN AND NOTICE: [There shall be a lock-in period of __ months.] After that, either party may end this Agreement by giving [one] month's written notice. 8. HANDOVER: On expiry or termination, the Tenant shall hand over vacant and peaceful possession of the Premises in the condition in which it was received, subject to normal wear and tear, along with the fittings listed in the Schedule. 9. POLICE VERIFICATION: The Tenant shall provide identity documents for tenant verification as required by local authorities. 10. STAMP DUTY: Stamp duty on this Agreement shall be borne by [the Landlord / the Tenant / both equally]. SCHEDULE OF FITTINGS [List furniture, appliances and fittings with their condition, e.g. 2 ceiling fans, 1 refrigerator, 3 beds] IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have signed this Agreement on the date above. Landlord: ______________ Tenant: ______________ [Name] [Name] Witnesses: 1. [Name, address, signature] 2. [Name, address, signature]

Stamping, signing and registration

Print the agreement on stamp paper of the value your state requires, or buy an e-stamp certificate and attach it. Both parties and two witnesses should sign every page. Keep copies of both parties' identity proofs with the agreement. If the term is longer than 11 months, or your state requires registration, register it at the sub-registrar's office, where both parties (or their authorised representatives) usually need to appear.

Commercial premises

Shops and offices need more than a residential format: permitted business use, fit-out works, signage, GST on rent, longer lock-ins and escalation over several years, and who pays property tax. Leases for commercial premises are often longer than a year and so must be registered.