How to Rent Out Your House in India
Renting out a house or flat takes less than most owners expect. Here's the whole process, from setting the rent to handing over the keys — none of which needs a broker.
In short
Set a rent that matches similar homes nearby and agree a deposit. Take clear photos and list the home free — on Razorent it takes about two minutes, and tenants message you in the app, not on your phone. Meet and check tenants, sign an 11-month rent agreement, complete police verification where your state requires it, and hand over with photos and meter readings.
Step by step
- 1
Get the paperwork ready
Keep proof of ownership (the sale deed or a property tax receipt) and your ID to hand — a careful tenant may ask to see them. If you live in a housing society, check its rules on tenants, pets and bachelors, and whether it wants a no-objection letter or a move-in fee.
- 2
Set the rent and the deposit
Look at what similar homes nearby rent for — same size, same furnishing — or check the median for your city in the India Rent Index. Deposits vary by city: one to three months is common in the North, and Bengaluru often asks for more. Under the Model Tenancy Act, 2021, in states that have adopted it, a home's deposit is capped at two months' rent. In much of South India a lump-sum lease is an option too.
- 3
Fix the small things and take good photos
Fix what a tenant notices in the first five minutes: dripping taps, dead switches, peeling paint. Clean thoroughly, then photograph every room in daylight, plus the kitchen, bathrooms and the view. The same photos are your record of the home's condition when the tenant moves in.
- 4
List it where tenants look
Listing on more than one site costs nothing. On Razorent it's free, takes about two minutes, and tenants message you in the app, so your number isn't handed to everyone who browses. Say what's included — furniture, parking, water supply, power backup — and who you'd like to rent to; clear details mean fewer wasted visits. A “To-let” board on the gate still works for local tenants. See the free rental listing sites compared.
- 5
Talk to tenants, then meet them
Chat first, then meet. Ask what they do, how long they plan to stay and who will live there. Check a government ID, and for salaried tenants an office ID or offer letter. Razorent doesn't run background checks, so this part is yours.
- 6
Sign a rent agreement
Put everything in writing: rent, deposit, maintenance, the notice period, any lock-in, the yearly increase and who pays for which repairs. Most Indian rentals use an 11-month agreement, which avoids the registration that longer tenancies need. Stamp duty and registration rules vary by state. You can make one free with our rent agreement generator.
- 7
Complete police verification
In many states, registering your tenant with the local police is the landlord's legal responsibility. Several state police services accept it online. It costs the tenant nothing and protects you.
- 8
Hand over the keys properly
Walk through the home together. Note the meter readings, list the furniture and appliances, and photograph everything with dates. Both of you sign the list. It makes settling the deposit at move-out quick and fair — the move-in checklist covers the details.
- 9
Once the tenant is in
Give rent receipts when asked — your tenant needs them to claim HRA, along with your PAN if the rent is over ₹1,00,000 a year. Rent is taxed as income from house property, after a standard 30% deduction. On Razorent, mark the listing as rented: it leaves search and stops taking messages, and nothing is deleted, so you can relist in one tap when the tenant moves out.
General information for Indian residential rentals, not legal or tax advice. Stamp duty, registration and police verification rules vary by state.
List your home in about two minutes
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