Rent Agreement Format: Clauses and Sample

A rent agreement format is the standard structure of a written tenancy contract between a landlord and tenant: who the parties are, which property is let, for how long, at what rent, with what deposit, and on what conditions it can be ended. In India, most residential rent agreements are made for 11 months on stamp paper, with two witnesses, because leases longer than a year must be registered.

Below you will find each clause a rent agreement should contain, a filled-in sample, notes on stamp duty and registration, and the mistakes that lead to deposit disputes. This is general information, not legal advice; tenancy law varies by state, so check local rules or ask a lawyer before signing.

Rent agreement format: the clauses

#	Clause	What to include
1	Title, date and place	"Rent Agreement" (or "Leave and Licence Agreement"), date and city of execution
2	Parties	Full names, parent's or spouse's name, ages, permanent addresses, and ID references of landlord (lessor) and tenant (lessee)
3	Property description	Full address, flat or house number, floor, approximate area, parking, and whether furnished
4	Term	Start date, end date, renewal terms
5	Rent	Monthly amount in figures and words, due date, payment method, late fee if any
6	Security deposit	Amount, how it was paid, conditions and timing for refund, permitted deductions
7	Maintenance and utilities	Who pays society maintenance, electricity, water, gas and internet
8	Use of premises	Residential only or commercial; who may live there; no subletting without consent
9	Repairs	Minor repairs by tenant; structural and major repairs by landlord
10	Lock-in and notice period	Minimum period neither side can end the agreement; notice required to vacate (often one month)
11	Rent revision	Increase on renewal, often a fixed percentage
12	Landlord's access	Inspection with reasonable notice
13	Termination and handover	Grounds for termination, condition at handover, key return
14	Dispute resolution	Jurisdiction or Rent Authority, as applicable
15	Signatures	Landlord, tenant and two witnesses with names and addresses
Schedule	Fixtures and fittings	List of items such as fans, lights, geyser, AC, wardrobes, with condition

Sample rent agreement (filled in)

This simplified sample shows how the clauses read in practice. Names and details are fictional.

RENT AGREEMENT

This Rent Agreement is made at Pune on 1 December 2026 between Mr. Rakesh Kulkarni, son of Mr. Vinod Kulkarni, aged 52, residing at 14 Shanti Nagar, Kothrud, Pune (the "Landlord"), and Ms. Ananya Iyer, daughter of Mr. S. Iyer, aged 28, permanent address 22 Lake View Road, Chennai (the "Tenant").

1. Property. Flat No. 302, third floor, Green Meadows Society, Baner, Pune 411045, approx. 650 sq ft carpet area, semi-furnished as per Schedule A, with one covered two-wheeler parking.
2. Term. 11 months from 1 December 2026 to 31 October 2027, renewable by mutual written consent.
3. Rent. Rs. 22,000 (Rupees Twenty-Two Thousand only) per month, payable in advance by the 5th of each month by bank transfer to the Landlord's account.
4. Security deposit. Rs. 44,000 (two months' rent), paid by bank transfer on 28 November 2026, refundable without interest within 15 days of handover, after deducting unpaid rent, unpaid bills and the cost of damage beyond normal wear and tear.
5. Maintenance and utilities. Society maintenance paid by the Landlord. Electricity, piped gas and internet paid by the Tenant as per actual bills.
6. Use. Residential use only by the Tenant and immediate family. No subletting or commercial use.
7. Repairs. Minor repairs up to Rs. 1,000 per instance by the Tenant; structural repairs, plumbing lines and appliance replacement by the Landlord.
8. Lock-in and notice. Lock-in of 6 months. After lock-in, either party may terminate with one month's written notice.
9. Renewal. On renewal, rent will increase by 5%, to Rs. 23,100.
10. Handover. The Tenant will return the flat in the same condition as received, subject to normal wear and tear, along with all keys.

Signed by Landlord, Tenant, and Witnesses 1 and 2 with names and addresses.

Schedule A: 4 ceiling fans, 6 LED lights, 1 geyser, 2 wardrobes, 1 modular kitchen with chimney.

The figures check out: deposit = 2 x Rs. 22,000 = Rs. 44,000; renewed rent = Rs. 22,000 x 1.05 = Rs. 23,100.

Stamp duty, registration and the 11-month rule

Why 11 months?

Under the Registration Act, 1908, leases from year to year, for a term exceeding one year, or reserving a yearly rent must be registered. An 11-month agreement sits below that threshold, which is why it is so common: it avoids compulsory registration, the associated fees and the trip to the sub-registrar's office. Agreements longer than a year should be registered.

State variations

Stamp duty rates are set by each state and are usually a percentage of the total rent and deposit for the term, or a fixed amount. Some states go further; in Maharashtra, leave and licence agreements must be registered whatever their length, and online registration is available. Always check the current rules in the state where the property is.

Model Tenancy Act, 2021

The central government's Model Tenancy Act, 2021 is a template law for states to adopt. It requires tenancies to be in writing and notified to a Rent Authority, and caps security deposits at two months' rent for residential premises and six months for non-residential premises (PRS Legislative Research summary). Whether these rules apply depends on whether your state has adopted them.

Documents to keep alongside the agreement

• Copies of both parties' ID and address proof, and the tenant's police verification where the city requires it.
• A security deposit receipt signed by the landlord.
• A rent receipt for each month's payment, useful for the tenant's HRA claim.
• Dated photos of the property's condition at move-in.
• If any advance rent is paid, an advance payment receipt.

Landlords letting commercial premises to businesses often issue a monthly rent invoice instead of a receipt, showing GST where the landlord is registered. Landlords with several properties can log every rent bill and payment in an invoice tracker spreadsheet so arrears are easy to spot.

Residential vs commercial rent agreements

	Residential	Commercial
Typical term	11 months, renewable	3 to 9 years with escalation, registered
Deposit	Often 2 to 6 months (2 months under the Model Act)	Often higher (6 months under the Model Act)
GST	Generally not charged to individual tenants on residential use	Charged where the landlord is GST registered
Fit-out and signage	Rarely relevant	Separate clauses needed

Common mistakes in rent agreements

• Vague deposit terms. Specify refund timing and what can be deducted.
• No fittings schedule. Without one, handover arguments are hard to settle.
• Cash payments without receipts. Pay rent and deposit by bank transfer, and keep receipts.
• Wrong stamp duty. An understamped agreement may not be admissible as evidence until the shortfall and penalty are paid.
• Missing lock-in or notice period. Either side can be caught out by a sudden exit.
• Not renewing in writing. Staying on after expiry without a new agreement creates uncertainty for both sides.

How to make a rent agreement, step by step

1. Agree the terms first. Rent, deposit, term, lock-in, notice, maintenance and who pays which bills.
2. Draft using the clause list above. Fill in the property description and fittings schedule carefully.
3. Check stamp duty. Find the current rate for your state and buy stamp paper or an e-stamp certificate of the right value.
4. Print the agreement on the stamp paper, or attach the e-stamp certificate as the first page.
5. Sign. Landlord and tenant sign each page; two witnesses sign the final page with their names and addresses.
6. Register if required. For agreements over one year, or where your state requires registration regardless of term, complete registration at the sub-registrar's office or through the state's online system.
7. Exchange copies and receipts. Each party keeps a signed copy, and the landlord issues receipts for the deposit and the first month's rent.

Renewing a rent agreement

At the end of an 11-month term, do not simply carry on. Sign a fresh agreement, or a renewal agreement that refers to the original, with the new rent and dates. Updating the deposit if rent rises, and photographing the property again, keeps the paper trail clean for both sides.

Once the agreement is signed, landlords can bill rent each month with our free invoice generator: add the property, period and amount, set the currency to INR and download a PDF rent invoice without signing up.