Residential Rental Agreement Format & Template

What is a Residential Rental Agreement?

When to use it

• You are letting a house or flat to a tenant, or renting one yourself, and want the terms in writing before the keys change hands.
• The tenancy will run longer than a short stay, or you want state-specific terms for Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.
• You need address proof for a bank account, passport, gas connection or employer records.
• You are renewing an existing tenancy on revised rent and want a fresh agreement.

What you'll need

Keep these details ready — the form asks for them in this order.

How it works

1. 1

   Choose your state and enter the parties

   Names, addresses and ID details of the landlord and every adult tenant, and the full address of the property.

2. 2

   Set the commercial terms

   Monthly rent, due date, security deposit, the tenancy start date and term, annual increase if any, and who pays maintenance, electricity and water.

3. 3

   Agree the conditions

   Notice period, lock-in if any, permitted use, pets, subletting, repairs and the condition the property should be handed back in.

4. 4

   Preview, pay and download

   Read the full draft on screen, pay ₹500 and download it.

5. 5

   Stamp, sign and register if required

   Print on stamp paper (or e-stamp) of your state’s value, sign with two witnesses, and register it where your state or the term requires.

How to make it legally valid

• Stamp duty paid at your state’s rate — usually worked out on the rent and deposit, and paid by stamp paper or e-stamping.
• Under the Registration Act, 1908, a lease of immovable property for more than one year (or from year to year) must be registered with the Sub-Registrar. Some states also require tenancy or leave and licence agreements to be registered or filed with a rent authority whatever their term — check the rule for your state.
• Signatures of the landlord and every tenant on each page, with two witnesses.
• Names, addresses and ID numbers matching the identity documents of each party.
• Tenant police verification where your city requires it — this is separate from the agreement.

Stamp paper. Stamp duty on rental agreements is set by each state and is often calculated on the rent and deposit for the term. Confirm the current value with the stamp vendor, the e-stamping portal or the Sub-Registrar before you print.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving out the deposit amount, or when and how it is refunded — the most common source of end-of-tenancy disputes.
• Letting a tenancy run longer than one year on an unregistered agreement.
• Not listing fittings and furniture handed over, so their condition can’t be checked at move-out.
• Only one tenant signing when several adults will live in the property.
• Paying stamp duty below the rate your state prescribes, which can make the agreement inadmissible as evidence until the shortfall and penalty are paid.