Guide
Documents required for a rent agreement in India, and when to register it
- Over a year
- Registration is compulsory
- Maharashtra
- Every leave and licence agreement registered
- Witnesses
- Two, in Maharashtra and Delhi
What you need depends on your state and on how long the lease runs. Here is what the law says everywhere, and what Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka ask for.
A real moment
“The broker has the agreement ready and the landlord is free for an hour. Then the registration portal asks for your PAN, an address proof upload and two witnesses, and your friend who promised to come is stuck in traffic.”
Both sides need photo ID and address proof, and registration needs two witnesses in Maharashtra and Delhi. Under the Registration Act, a lease for more than one year must be registered. In Maharashtra, every leave and licence agreement in the areas its Rent Control Act covers must be registered.
The checklist
What to have ready
Last checked against the official sources on 26 September 2026
Landlord and tenant
- Photo IDAadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence. Delhi's registration offices list Aadhaar as compulsory.
- Address proofMaharashtra accepts a driving licence, voter ID, passport or Aadhaar as the tenant's address proof.
- PAN cardCompulsory for both sides in Maharashtra's online leave and licence system.Only if you register in Maharashtra
- Passport-size photosTwo of each party.Only if you register in Delhi
For registration
- Two witnessesEach with their own ID. Karnataka's registration FAQ says any adult who is not a party can be a witness.
- The agreement, in duplicateTwo copies of the document to be registered.Only if you register in Delhi
- The lessor's permissionPermission from whoever leased the property to your landlord.Only if the property itself is leasehold (Delhi)
- Stamp duty and registration feeRates vary by state. Maharashtra works them out and takes payment in its online portal.
Scan each paper once and DigiSafe ticks it off, shows what is still missing, and sends the lot as one PDF or one link.
Tick these off in DigiSafeWhen registration is compulsory
Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka rules
Witnesses and ID, sorted before the day
Over a year
Registration is compulsory
Maharashtra
Every leave and licence agreement registered
Witnesses
Two, in Maharashtra and Delhi
Model law
Model Tenancy Act, adopted state by state
When a rent agreement must be registered
Under section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, a lease from year to year, for more than one year, or with a yearly rent must be registered. Section 18 makes registration optional for a lease of one year or less, which is why you see so many 11-month agreements. Under section 49, a lease that had to be registered and was not cannot be used as evidence of it, with limited exceptions.
Maharashtra: every agreement, registered online
Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act says every leave and licence or tenancy agreement must be in writing and registered, and puts that duty on the landlord. The state's online Leave and License system asks for PAN from both sides, Aadhaar e-KYC with a live photo and fingerprint for everyone, and two witnesses.
Delhi: what the registrar's office asks for
Delhi's district offices ask for the document in duplicate, two passport-size photos of both parties, two witnesses, and ID for every party and witness, with Aadhaar listed as compulsory. If the property is itself leasehold, bring the lessor's permission.
The Model Tenancy Act
The Union Cabinet approved the Model Tenancy Act on 2 June 2021 as a model for states to adopt. As of July 2022, the government reported that Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Assam had revised their laws along its lines. Check your own state's current rules before you sign.
Step by step
- 1
Check your state's registration rules and fees.
- 2
Open Packs in DigiSafe and choose Rent agreement.
- 3
Scan photo ID and address proof for both sides.
- 4
Hide the first 8 digits on any Aadhaar copy you hand over.
- 5
Line up two witnesses, each with their own ID.
- 6
Register the agreement, then scan the registered copy into DigiSafe.
Questions people ask
Does an 11-month rent agreement need to be registered?+
Not under the central Registration Act, which makes registration optional for leases of one year or less. States can differ: Maharashtra requires every leave and licence agreement to be registered, whatever its length.
Who has to register the agreement in Maharashtra?+
The landlord. Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act puts the responsibility for registration on the landlord.
What happens if a lease that must be registered is not?+
Under section 49 of the Registration Act, it cannot affect the property and cannot be used as evidence of the lease, apart from limited exceptions.
Is PAN needed for a rent agreement?+
In Maharashtra's online leave and licence system, PAN is compulsory for both sides. Elsewhere, check with your state's registration office.
Where this comes from
Official sources, dated.
Every requirement on this page comes from the official pages listed here, last checked on 26 September 2026. Rules change and offices can ask for more, so check the official page before you go.
- 1The Registration Act, 1908 (Kerala Registration Department copy)registration.kerala.gov.in
- 2Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999maharashtra.gov.in
- 3IGR Maharashtra: Leave and License registrationleaveandlicense.igrmaharashtra.gov.in
- 4Delhi, DM Central: Registration of documentsdccentral.delhi.gov.in
- 5Karnataka IGR: Kaveri 2 FAQsigr.karnataka.gov.in
- 6PIB: Cabinet approves the Model Tenancy Act (2 June 2021)pib.gov.in
- 7PIB: States adopting the Model Tenancy Act (25 July 2022)pib.gov.in
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