Create a legally valid rental agreement in minutes — customized for your state
A Rent Agreement (also called Rental Agreement or Lease Deed) is a legally binding contract between a landlord (lessor) and tenant (lessee) that defines the terms and conditions of renting a residential or commercial property. In India, most rental agreements are drafted for 11 months to avoid mandatory registration under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908.
Under Indian law, any lease agreement exceeding 12 months must be compulsorily registered with the Sub-Registrar's office. An unregistered agreement for a period longer than 12 months is not admissible as evidence in a court of law under Section 49 of the Registration Act.
These are two distinct legal instruments under Indian law:
LawCentral AI automatically generates the correct format based on your selected state — Leave & License for Maharashtra, and standard Rent Agreement for other states.
Stamp duty varies by state and is mandatory for a valid agreement. Here's a quick reference:
| State | Stamp Duty | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 0.25% of (rent + deposit) | ₹1,000 |
| Delhi | 2% of avg annual rent | ₹1,100 |
| Karnataka | 1% of rent + deposit (min ₹500) | ₹500 |
| Tamil Nadu | 1% of rent + advance | 1% of annual rent |
| Uttar Pradesh | 2% of annual rent (₹10 min) | Varies |
| Gujarat | ₹100 (up to 60 months) | ₹250 |
| Telangana | 0.4% of (rent × months) | ₹1,000 |
| West Bengal | 0.25% of annual rent + security | ₹100–₹500 |
* Rates are approximate and may change. Verify with the local Sub-Registrar's office or state e-stamping portal.
Many Indian states now offer online registration of rent agreements. Here's the general process:
Maharashtra online registration: Use the eRegistration portal at the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) website. Both parties need Aadhaar-linked biometric verification.
An 11-month rent agreement is generally valid without registration under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908. However, in Maharashtra, even leave & license agreements must be registered under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999. Unregistered agreements above 12 months are not admissible as evidence in court.
In Maharashtra, stamp duty for a leave & license agreement is 0.25% of the total rent plus deposit for the agreement period. For example, for a monthly rent of ₹15,000 and deposit of ₹45,000 over 11 months, the stamp duty would be approximately ₹538. Registration fee is ₹1,000.
Yes, LawCentral AI offers a free rent agreement generator that creates legally valid agreements customized for any Indian state. Simply fill in the details above, and the AI generates a professional agreement you can download as PDF or Word document.
A rent agreement is typically for a shorter period (up to 11 months) and can be renewed. A lease deed is for longer periods (usually 1 year or more), must be compulsorily registered, and provides stronger rights to the tenant under the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
Yes, e-stamping is legally valid and accepted across India. It is available through the Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL). E-stamps are tamper-proof, easier to verify, and can be purchased online or from authorized vendors.
If the tenant defaults on rent, the landlord can issue a legal notice under the applicable Rent Control Act. After the notice period (usually 15–30 days), the landlord may file an eviction petition before the Rent Controller or Civil Court. The agreement should clearly specify late payment penalties and consequences.
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