Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, a written rental agreement protects both sides. The good news: you can create the whole document online for free. The important part most online generators skip is what you do after you download it.
Create the draft online
- Open the free rental agreement builder.
- Choose residential or commercial.
- Fill in the parties, property schedule, rent, deposit, term and notice period.
- Add two witnesses and download the notary-ready PDF.
Then make it enforceable
A downloaded draft is not a registered instrument on its own. To give it legal weight:
- Print it on the applicable non-judicial stamp paper (value varies by state).
- Have both parties and two witnesses sign it.
- Get it notarised; register it at the Sub-Registrar if the term is 12 months or more.
This is why most agreements run 11 months — to stay under the compulsory-registration threshold. See the 11-month rent agreement format.
TDS and police verification
If monthly rent exceeds ₹50,000, the tenant deducts TDS under Section 194-IB at 2% (reduced from 5% w.e.f. 1 October 2024). Many states also require tenant police verification — keep the acknowledgement on file.