Signing a rent agreement is routine, but a handful of checks before you sign can save you significant hassle later — especially at move-out.
Verify that the person renting out the property actually owns it, or has documented authority to do so — ask for the title deed, a recent property tax receipt, or a society share certificate. Then read every clause of the draft agreement yourself, rather than skimming and trusting a verbal summary.
Get absolute clarity on the deposit amount, exactly what can be deducted from it (unpaid utilities, damage beyond normal wear-and-tear), and the timeline for its refund after you move out. This should be explicit in the agreement itself — not a verbal assurance.
Check how much notice you (and your landlord) must give to end the tenancy, and whether there's a lock-in period during which leaving early isn't allowed, or comes with a financial penalty. This affects your flexibility if your circumstances change.
Who pays society maintenance charges, who arranges and pays for repairs, and who handles utility connections should all be settled before you move in — not after something breaks.
Take dated photos of the property's condition when you move in, keep every rent receipt, and hold on to your registered agreement copy for the full tenancy — and ideally a while after, in case a deposit dispute surfaces after you've left.
Even in states where registration isn't strictly mandatory for short-term agreements, a registered agreement gives you meaningfully stronger legal standing than a purely verbal or notarised-only understanding, should a dispute ever end up in front of a court or rent authority.
Get your agreement drafted and registered correctly.
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