Rent agreement format (India): free 11-month template in Word and PDF
Download the format
A standard 11-month residential rent agreement with the blanks left for you to fill in. The Word file is editable; the PDF is for filling in by hand. The full text is also on this page, below.
Want it filled in for you instead? The free rent agreement generator takes the names, rent and dates and gives you a ready-to-print draft.
Free rent agreement format
11 months · residential · standard clauses · no sign-up.
The full rent agreement format
This is the complete text of the download. Fill the blanks, strike out whatever does not apply, and keep the clause numbering intact.
RESIDENTIAL RENT AGREEMENT
This Rent Agreement is made at ______________ on this ____ day of ______________, 20____, between:
THE LANDLORD: Mr./Ms. __________________________________, son/daughter/wife of ______________, aged ____ years, residing at __________________________________.
(hereinafter referred to as the "Landlord", which expression shall include their heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and permitted assigns)
AND
THE TENANT: Mr./Ms. __________________________________, son/daughter/wife of ______________, aged ____ years, permanently residing at __________________________________.
(hereinafter referred to as the "Tenant", which expression shall include their heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and permitted assigns)
WHEREAS the Landlord is the lawful owner of the premises described below and has agreed to let the same to the Tenant, and the Tenant has agreed to take the said premises on rent, on the following terms and conditions:
1. PREMISES
The Landlord lets to the Tenant the premises situated at __________________________________ __________________________________ (the "Premises"), together with the fittings and fixtures listed in the Schedule below.
2. TERM
This Agreement shall be for a period of 11 (eleven) months commencing from ____/____/20____ and ending on ____/____/20____. It may be renewed thereafter by mutual written consent of both parties, and on renewal the monthly rent shall be increased by ____%.
3. RENT
The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord a monthly rent of Rs. ______________ (Rupees __________________________________ only), payable in advance on or before the ____ day of each calendar month, by bank transfer / UPI / cheque. The rent is exclusive of electricity, water and other utility charges, which shall be borne by the Tenant as per actual consumption.
4. SECURITY DEPOSIT
The Tenant has paid to the Landlord an interest-free refundable security deposit of Rs. ______________ (Rupees __________________________________ only), the receipt of which the Landlord acknowledges. The deposit shall be refunded to the Tenant at the time of vacating the Premises and handing over peaceful possession, after deducting any unpaid rent, unpaid utility bills, and the cost of making good any damage caused by the Tenant beyond normal wear and tear. The Landlord shall provide the Tenant with an itemised statement of any such deductions.
5. MAINTENANCE AND UTILITIES
Society or building maintenance charges shall be borne by the Tenant / Landlord. Electricity, water, gas and internet charges shall be paid by the Tenant directly to the concerned authorities, and the Tenant shall produce receipts on request. Municipal property tax shall be borne by the Landlord.
(Strike out Tenant or Landlord, whichever does not apply.)
6. USE OF PREMISES
The Premises shall be used by the Tenant solely for residential purposes and shall not be used for any commercial, industrial, unlawful or immoral purpose, nor for storing any hazardous or inflammable material.
7. SUBLETTING
The Tenant shall not sublet, assign, transfer or part with possession of the Premises or any part of it to any other person without the prior written consent of the Landlord.
8. REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
The Landlord shall be responsible for major and structural repairs to the Premises. The Tenant shall be responsible for day-to-day minor repairs and shall keep the Premises in good and tenantable condition. The Tenant shall not make any structural alteration or permanent addition to the Premises without the prior written consent of the Landlord.
9. INSPECTION
The Landlord or their authorised representative may enter and inspect the Premises at reasonable hours, after giving the Tenant at least 24 hours' prior notice, except in the case of an emergency.
10. LOCK-IN PERIOD
Neither party shall terminate this Agreement during the first ____ months from the commencement date (the "Lock-in Period"). Should the Tenant vacate during the Lock-in Period, the Tenant shall remain liable for the rent for the unexpired portion of that period.
(Optional. Strike out this clause if no lock-in has been agreed.)
11. NOTICE AND TERMINATION
Either party may terminate this Agreement by giving the other party ____ month(s)' prior written notice. Should the Tenant vacate without serving the full notice period, the Landlord may deduct rent in lieu of the shortfall from the security deposit. The Landlord may terminate this Agreement without notice if the rent remains unpaid for two consecutive months, or if the Tenant breaches any material term of this Agreement.
12. HANDOVER
On expiry or earlier termination of this Agreement, the Tenant shall hand over vacant and peaceful possession of the Premises to the Landlord in the same condition in which it was received, normal wear and tear excepted, together with all fittings, fixtures and keys.
13. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of India, and the courts at ______________ shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or in connection with it.
Schedule of fittings and fixtures
- Ceiling fans: ____
- Lights: ____
- Geysers: ____
- Air conditioners: ____
- Wardrobes: ____
- Kitchen fittings: ____
- Keys handed over: ____
- Other: __________________________________
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have set their hands to this Agreement on the day, month and year first above written.
LANDLORD (name and signature): ______________________
TENANT (name and signature): ______________________
WITNESSES
1. ______________________ (name, address and signature)
2. ______________________ (name, address and signature)
How to fill it in
- Parties: full names exactly as on each person's ID, with permanent addresses.
- Term: the tenancy runs 11 months. A term starting on 1 August ends on 30 June, not 1 July — the anniversary date belongs to the next term.
- Rent and deposit: write each amount in figures and in words. If they ever disagree, the words are what people argue from.
- Maintenance: strike out "Tenant" or "Landlord" so only the one paying remains.
- Lock-in: strike out the whole clause if you have not agreed one. Leaving it with a blank is worse than removing it.
- Schedule: list what is in the flat on the day of handover. This is the list you will settle the deposit against at move-out, so be specific.
Stamp paper, signatures and registration
Stamp it. Stamp duty is set by each state and is payable whether or not you register. In states on the e-stamping network you can buy an e-stamp certificate online; elsewhere, buy physical non-judicial stamp paper from a licensed vendor. If you print onto physical stamp paper, leave the pre-printed top third of the first sheet blank — the Word file lets you add that space, and the generator reserves it for you and tells you whether your state is on the e-stamping network.
Sign it. Both parties sign every page, with two witnesses at the end. Attach a copy of each party's photo ID.
Registration. Compulsory only for a lease exceeding 12 months, which is why this format is for 11. Notarisation is optional.
When the 11 months are up
An 11-month agreement does not renew itself. Either sign a fresh one or a renewal — our guide to renewing a rent agreement in India covers the options. And the deposit clause in this format is written to be settled with an itemised statement: the deposit settlement calculator produces one, and our guide to security deposit rules in India covers what can be deducted.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download a rent agreement format in Word?
On this page. The Word version is a standard .docx file you can open in Microsoft Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice, fill in, and print. There is also a PDF version if you would rather fill it in by hand. Both are free and need no sign-up.
Why are rent agreements in India made for 11 months?
Because of the Registration Act 1908. A lease exceeding 12 months must be compulsorily registered with the sub-registrar, which costs money and takes time. An 11-month agreement stays under that line, so it is valid without registration provided it is properly stamped and signed. It is a practical convention, not a legal requirement in itself.
Is a rent agreement on plain paper valid?
A rent agreement is an instrument that attracts stamp duty, so it should be executed on stamp paper, or with an e-stamp certificate, of the value your state prescribes. An unstamped or under-stamped agreement is very weak evidence if there is ever a dispute. Stamp duty is payable whether or not the agreement is registered.
How much stamp paper is needed for a rent agreement?
It depends on the state and, in most states, on the rent, the deposit and the term, so there is no single figure. Check your state's official stamp portal, or buy an e-stamp certificate at shcilestamp.com if your state is on the e-stamping network. We deliberately do not quote a number, because published figures often contradict each other and an under-stamped agreement is weak evidence.
Do I need to register an 11-month rent agreement?
No. Registration is compulsory only for a lease exceeding 12 months. An 11-month agreement on stamp paper of the correct value, signed by both parties and two witnesses, is enforceable without registration. Some states and landlords register anyway for extra certainty.
Does a rent agreement need to be notarised?
Notarisation is not legally required for an 11-month agreement, though it is commonly done. It is not a substitute for stamping, and it is not a substitute for registration where the term exceeds 12 months.
What should a rent agreement include?
At minimum: the names and addresses of both parties, the address of the premises, the term and its start and end dates, the monthly rent and due date, the security deposit and how it will be refunded, who pays maintenance and utilities, the notice period, rules on subletting and repairs, and the condition the premises must be handed back in. This format covers all of them, plus an optional lock-in and a schedule of fittings.
Can I use this format for a shop or office?
This format is written for a residential tenancy. For a shop or office, use the free rent agreement generator and choose the commercial option, which changes the use-of-premises clause. A commercial lease with a fit-out, a long lock-in or a company as tenant is worth having drawn up by a lawyer.
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