10 Important Questions to Ask Your Landlord Before Renting a Home
You've visited the apartment. The rent fits your budget. The location feels right. But before you sign that agreement — pause. Most rental disputes in India don't happen because of bad luck. They happen because the right questions were never asked before moving in. This guide covers the 10 most important questions to ask your landlord before renting — what to ask, why it matters, and what red flags to watch for.
Q1. What Are the Lease Terms and Duration?
This is the foundation. Everything else in your tenancy sits on top of it.
Your lease type defines your rights, your flexibility, and your risk for the entire stay. A fixed-term lease locks both sides into agreed terms. A month-to-month agreement offers more freedom but also more uncertainty — your landlord can end it with short notice.
In India, the 11-month unregistered lease is the standard across most cities. Landlords use this structure to avoid mandatory registration under the Registration Act — it is legal, but it means at month 12, you are renegotiating from scratch with no guaranteed right to stay. If you want to understand the full legal framework, read our detailed guide on rent rules and regulations for tenants and landlords in India.
- Is this a fixed-term or month-to-month agreement?
- Will the agreement be registered or unregistered?
- What happens when the lease period ends — auto-renewal or fresh negotiation?
Q2. What Is Included in the Monthly Rent?
The rent figure you agreed on is rarely the full amount you will actually pay each month.
Electricity, water, society maintenance charges, internet, and parking are often billed separately — and together they can add 15–25% on top of the base rent. Some landlords bundle everything into one fixed figure. Others provide a separate meter and charge actuals. The difference matters significantly over a 12-month lease. For a broader checklist of what to verify before signing, see our guide on 12 things to know before renting a house.
- Are electricity and water billed separately or included in the rent?
- Who pays the society maintenance charges?
- Are there any monthly charges not listed in the agreement?
Q3. Who Is Responsible for Repairs and Maintenance?
This is the single most disputed issue between tenants and landlords in India — and it is almost always because nothing was agreed in writing.
The general expectation: minor day-to-day upkeep falls to the tenant, major structural or appliance repairs fall to the landlord. But without a written clause defining this, "minor" and "major" mean whatever the landlord decides on the day something breaks — which is rarely in your favour.
Get it documented. Plumbing, electrical faults, appliance breakdown — who calls, who pays, and what is the expected turnaround time. All three need answers before you sign.
- Who handles plumbing and electrical issues?
- If a provided appliance breaks down, who bears the repair or replacement cost?
- What is the expected response time when I report a maintenance issue?
Q4. What Are the Security Deposit Terms?
In India, the security deposit is often the largest upfront cost of renting — and the most common source of disputes when leaving.
Beyond the amount, two things matter more: the conditions under which deductions can be made, and the timeline for refund after vacating. Without written terms, both are entirely at the landlord's discretion.
| City | Typical Deposit |
|---|---|
| Bangalore | 5–10 months rent |
| Mumbai | 2–3 months rent |
| Delhi NCR | 2–3 months rent |
| Hyderabad | 2–5 months rent |
| Pune | 2–3 months rent |
- How many months of rent is the security deposit?
- Under what specific conditions can deductions be made?
- How many days after vacating will the full deposit be returned?
Q5. What Are the Move-In Rules, Pet and Guest Policies?
House rules vary significantly across buildings and landlords. Discovering them after move-in causes friction from day one.
Some buildings restrict shifting to specific hours, gates, or elevators. A society NOC may be required before you can even begin moving. Pet and guest policies are the two areas most commonly assumed rather than discussed — and verbal "yes" answers are completely unenforceable the moment any dispute arises.
If pets or regular guests matter to your daily life, get written confirmation — not a nod during the property visit.
- Which entry points and elevators can movers use, and during what hours?
- Are pets permitted — and is this confirmed in the written agreement?
- Are there restrictions on overnight guests or visitor entry timings?
Q6. What Safety, Security Systems and Locks Are in Place?
Ask specifically about what the property and building provide — not general neighbourhood safety.
You need to know: CCTV coverage in common areas, intercom connectivity, security guard availability and shift hours, gated entry protocols, and fire safety compliance. These are not bonus features — they are baseline expectations for a safe tenancy.
On locks specifically: previous tenants, domestic workers, or agents may still hold copies of the existing keys. Changing locks before a new tenant moves in is a basic security step that many landlords skip unless asked. Confirm locks are being replaced — not just re-allocated from another unit — and that you receive every set of keys on move-in day.
- Are CCTV cameras installed in common areas and at entry points?
- Is there a security guard, and what are their shift hours?
- Will the locks be replaced with new ones before I move in, and will I receive all key sets?
Q7. What Is the Annual Rent Increment Policy?
Most landlords in India increase rent by 5–10% annually. Know this before you sign — not when the notice arrives.
An open-ended increment clause — or no clause at all — gives the landlord full discretion to raise rent by any amount, at any time, with no ceiling. The increment should be a fixed percentage or a defined formula, written into the agreement, with a clear timeline.
This matters even more on longer tenancies. A 10% annual increase on a ₹25,000 rent becomes ₹30,250 by year three. Know the number going in.
- By what percentage will the rent increase each year?
- Is the increment fixed, or can it change based on circumstances?
- Is the rent increment clause clearly documented in the agreement?
Q8. What Is the Notice Period and Lease Exit Policy?
Check not just how much notice you must give — but how much notice the landlord must give you.
Standard notice periods in India range from 1–3 months. A fair agreement applies the same timeline to both sides. An agreement requiring you to give 2 months notice but allowing the landlord to ask you to leave in 15 days is not balanced — and it is surprisingly common in standard landlord-drafted agreements.
Also ask about early exit. Job transfers, family situations, and emergencies happen. Understand the financial penalty for breaking the lease before the term ends, whether there is a lock-in period, and whether subletting is an option if you need to leave early.
- How many months notice must I give before vacating?
- How much notice are you required to give me if you need the property back?
- Is there a lock-in period, and what is the penalty for breaking the lease early?
Q9. Is the Property Legally Clear and Free of Pending Dues?
Two separate but equally important checks — both must happen before you sign.
On legal status: Property disputes, co-ownership conflicts, and properties under active litigation are documented risks in the Indian rental market. You have every right to ask for proof of ownership before committing. Ask for the ownership deed, latest property tax receipt, and — for apartments — the society share certificate.
On pending dues: Unpaid electricity bills, water arrears, and society maintenance dues can quietly become your problem after move-in if not cleared beforehand. Do not accept a promise that dues will be settled — ask to see the paid receipts in hand before taking possession.
- Can you share proof of ownership for this property?
- Is the property under any legal dispute or active litigation?
- Can I see the latest paid electricity, water, and society maintenance receipts?
Q10. Are All Utilities and Appliances Working?
Do not assume anything is functional until you have personally tested it — during your pre-signing visit, not after moving in.
Water supply timing and pressure, electrical points and load capacity, every included appliance, gas connection type, and internet feasibility all need to be checked in person. Any non-working item must be repaired or replaced before move-in — committed in writing, not verbally promised during the visit. A structured pre-move survey with your mover before shifting day can catch additional issues early.
What you do not check during the visit becomes your responsibility — or your dispute — the moment you sign.
- Can we do a full walkthrough and test every appliance and fitting before I sign?
- What is the water supply schedule and pressure like for this property?
- Will any non-working items be repaired or replaced before my move-in date, in writing?
Red Flags: When to Walk Away
A good landlord welcomes informed tenants. Evasiveness before you sign is not a personality quirk — it is a preview of the tenancy ahead.
Walk away if the landlord:
Pre-Signing Checklist
Save this. Use it on every property visit before signing anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The questions you ask before signing protect you more than anything you can do after. Every verbal assurance — every "don't worry about it" — is worth nothing without written documentation.
Use the checklist above on your next property visit. It takes 10 minutes. It can save months of conflict.
Once you have found the right home and asked all the right questions, the next step is getting there without the stress. Connect with verified packers and movers for home relocation to make your move safe, hassle-free, and on schedule.