Costs & deposit
Rent, upfront payments and refund terms.
Ask for two figures in writing: your monthly cost and the total due before move-in.
Every month
- Rent
- Confirm the amount and payment date.
- Maintenance & bills
- Check what rent includes. Ask about utilities and parking separately.
Before move-in
- Deposit
- Confirm the amount, who holds it and the refund terms.
- First rent payment
- Check the dates it covers.
- Agreement & brokerage
- Ask for stamp duty, registration, service fees and your brokerage share separately. Confirm what each fee covers, when it is due and any renewal fee.
- Building & moving charges
- Check who pays each charge and which amounts are refundable.
SortHomes charges brokerage on the flat. Each listing shows the amount and who pays it.
Agree how the deposit comes back.
- Record the amount and who receives it.
- List permitted deductions and how they will be explained.
- Set a refund deadline after returning the flat and keys.
Sharing a flat? Record each person’s contribution and what happens if someone leaves.
Before you pay.
- See the flat.Visit yourself or ask someone you trust.
- Check who you’re paying.Verify the owner’s identity and any agent’s authority.
- Read the token terms.Get what it reserves and when it is refundable in writing.
- Keep a receipt.Record the amount, recipient and purpose, including for digital payments.
Unclear charge? Ask for a written explanation before paying.
Deposit too high?
Ask about a lower deposit or a written payment schedule. Compare both upfront and monthly costs. If borrowing, include repayments in your budget.
Agreement & documents
What to prepare and check before signing.
Read the agreement before signing. Ask for unclear terms to be explained in writing.
Confirm registration.
Ask the owner how registration will be completed, who pays each charge and when you’ll receive your registered copy.
An 11-month term or notarisation is not an automatic substitute for registration. See section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act. Check IGR Maharashtra for the current process and charges.
Know what you’re agreeing to.
- Lock-in
- What might you owe if you leave early, and how is it calculated?
- Notice
- How much notice must each side give? How do you send it, and can it run during the lock-in?
- Costs & repairs
- Check rent increases, renewal fees, repairs, painting and deposit deductions.
- Handover
- Confirm when you get the flat and keys.
Get your documents ready.
Confirm what’s needed, who needs it and why. You may be asked for:
- ID and address proof for each tenant.
- Photos and details for registration.
- Employment or income proof, if requested.
- A previous landlord’s reference, if requested and available.
Tenant information
Check the process for the police jurisdiction covering your flat. Agree who will submit the details and keep the acknowledgement.
Keep your copies. Save the signed agreement, registered copy, acknowledgements and payment receipts together.
Society rules
Building requirements and extra charges.
Understand each charge
Before paying a token, ask for the building’s itemised charges and move-in requirements.
For each charge, confirm the purpose, amount, recipient, refund terms and supporting rule. Separate maintenance, non-occupancy charges and any refundable moving deposit.
Understanding non-occupancy charges
The Maharashtra housing-societies manual describes a limit of 10% of service charges for non-occupancy charges, excluding municipal taxes in the reproduced government order. That is not 10% of rent. See the official manual, pages 38 and 69.
The society’s bill to the owner and the costs allocated in your agreement are separate questions. Check both. If a charge is disputed, seek advice from the relevant co-operative authority or a Maharashtra property lawyer.
Confirm the building’s requirements
Ask for the society’s written rules and required paperwork for everyone moving in.
An owner’s assurance is not the same as confirmation from the society. Resolve any difference before you sign or pay a non-refundable amount.
If you face discrimination or a refusal, keep the messages and ask for the reason in writing. A local lawyer can assess the specific rule and the appropriate next step.
Move-in checks
What to test, photograph and record.
Walk through with the owner or their representative before you unpack.
Ticks are for this visit only; they are not saved.
Agree who fixes each problem and by when. Keep the record with your agreement and receipts.
Find your next flat.
See the rent, deposit and brokerage before you arrange a visit.
Browse flatsAbout this guide
This is general information, not advice on a particular agreement or dispute. Fees, procedures and the rules that apply to a property can change. Check the current official requirements before relying on them.
Official sources are linked beside the relevant guidance. For advice on your agreement or a dispute, speak to a local property lawyer.