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KYC, verification & agreements
How Indian landlords and PG owners verify tenants with consent-based KYC and create digital rent agreements with e-stamping and e-signatures — including why agreements are often for 11 months and when registration is required.
Quick answer
Tenant verification means collecting and checking a tenant's identity with their consent, and often submitting details to the local police where your city requires it. A digital rent agreement is drafted online, e-stamped for the state, and e-signed. Under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, a lease from year to year or for more than one year must be registered — which is why many residential agreements are made for 11 months. Crib offers Aadhaar-based KYC and e-signatures; ManagR by BedR offers tenant KYC with e-stamped agreements.
Two documents protect every tenancy: proof of who the tenant is, and a written agreement. Both can now be done online. Tenant verification collects the tenant's ID with their consent and records it securely. A digital rent agreement is drafted from a template, stamped with the correct state e-stamp, and signed electronically by both parties. PG and rental management apps increasingly bundle both into tenant onboarding.
A valid rent agreement needs the correct stamp duty for the state where the property is located, and signatures from both parties. E-stamping and e-signature services make this possible online. Under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, leases of immovable property from year to year or for more than a year must be registered, so many residential agreements are made for 11 months to keep them outside compulsory registration. The Model Tenancy Act, 2021, published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is a model law that states may adopt; check whether your state has.
FAQs
Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908 makes registration compulsory for leases from year to year or for more than one year. An agreement of 11 months falls outside that requirement, which avoids registration formalities and fees.
Use a KYC flow that works with the tenant's consent — for example, the Aadhaar-based KYC Crib offers. Never collect or store Aadhaar details without consent, and keep them secure.
Many city police departments require landlords to submit tenant details. Rules vary by city, so check your local police's website; software does not replace that obligation.
An agreement with the correct state stamp duty, e-signed by both parties, is generally accepted. Confirm your state's e-stamping and e-signature requirements.
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Independent guide. Product facts come from vendors' official websites; confirm current terms in your demo. Hero photo: “Jayabheri The Summit from Khajaguda hills” by iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
