Question 1

How does the Rent Maker drafting and review process work?

Accepted Answer

You start by filling out our 7-step guided questionnaire covering property details, parties, financial terms, and clause preferences. You can preview the assembled clauses and estimated stamp duty for free. When you are ready, you pay ₹499 to submit the draft. Our in-house legal review team checks your draft, clarifies any ambiguities with you, and delivers the finalized editable Word document (.docx) and Compliance Action Guide (.pdf) to your dashboard within 24 hours.

Question 2

How long does it take to complete the guided wizard?

Accepted Answer

Most customers can complete the guided wizard in about 20 minutes, depending on the complexity of the property and terms. You can pause, close your browser, and resume anytime without losing your progress.

Question 3

What files do I receive after my agreement is reviewed?

Accepted Answer

You receive two deliverables: (1) your settled agreement as a fully editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) tailored to your state's laws, and (2) a custom Compliance Action Guide (.pdf) that calculates your exact stamp duty, provides official state e-stamping links, and explains signing and registration formalities step by step.

Question 4

Does the ₹499 fee include stamp duty or registration fees?

Accepted Answer

No. ₹499 is Rent Maker's professional legal review and document service fee. Government stamp duty and Sub-Registrar registration charges are statutory taxes payable directly to the respective State Government. Your custom Compliance Action Guide calculates your exact stamp duty and provides links to authorized state e-stamping portals.

Question 5

How long until I receive the final agreement?

Accepted Answer

Standard legal review and final document delivery is completed within 24 hours. If any clarification is needed on party names or custom terms, we reach out directly via your dashboard thread before finalizing.

Question 6

Why is almost every Indian rent agreement made for 11 months?

Accepted Answer

Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908 makes a lease from year to year, or for a term exceeding eleven months, compulsorily registrable. An eleven-month term therefore falls outside that requirement in most states, saving the registration fee and a visit to the Sub-Registrar Office. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are the notable exceptions — there, registration is required regardless of the duration.

Question 7

Is an unregistered agreement useless in court?

Accepted Answer

Not useless, but severely weakened if it was required to be registered. Under Section 49 of the Registration Act, an instrument that ought to have been registered but was not cannot be received as primary evidence of the lease, although it may be admitted for collateral purposes. An agreement for a term within the permitted unregistered limit (such as an 11-month term in non-mandatory states) remains valid and enforceable when properly stamped.

Question 8

How is stamp duty on a rent agreement calculated?

Accepted Answer

In most states, stamp duty is calculated as a percentage of the total rent payable over the term plus the security deposit. Maharashtra applies 0.25% to the total rent for the term plus 10% of the deposit for each year. Karnataka and Delhi apply specific statutory slabs. Our compliance engine automatically applies the correct formula for your property state.

Question 9

Who pays the stamp duty and registration charges?

Accepted Answer

Statutory law does not mandate which party must bear the cost; it is a matter of contractual agreement. In practice across India, stamp duty is commonly shared equally (50-50) between the landlord and the tenant, or borne entirely by the tenant in certain metropolitan markets. Your Rent Maker agreement allows you to record this clearly.

Question 10

What can lawfully be deducted from a tenant's security deposit?

Accepted Answer

Only sums actually due under the contract: unpaid rent, pending utility bills (electricity, water, gas), unpaid society maintenance dues, the cost of repairing verified damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and rent for any unexpired lock-in period if vacated prematurely. Normal wear and tear from reasonable daily use cannot be charged to the tenant.

Question 11

Can I use Rent Maker for a rent-controlled property?

Accepted Answer

No. This service must not be used for premises governed by local statutory rent control legislation (where standard rents, eviction protections, and statutory tenancies override contractual terms). Those tenancies require bespoke advice and litigation representation from a local advocate.

Question 12

How much notice must be given to end the tenancy?

Accepted Answer

The agreement governs the notice period. In India, one to two months of mutual written notice is standard for balanced agreements. Landlords typically also have a shorter 15-day remedy period if the tenant commits a material breach or defaults on rent payment.

Question 13

Do I need to deduct TDS on rent?

Accepted Answer

An individual or HUF tenant paying monthly rent exceeding ₹50,000/- must deduct 2% TDS under Section 194-IB of the Income Tax Act and deposit it with the Government using Form 26QC. In addition, the landlord's PAN is required by the tenant's employer if annual rent exceeds ₹1,00,000/- for claiming HRA tax exemption.

Question 14

Is Rent Maker a law firm?

Accepted Answer

No. Rent Maker is a legal-technology platform and documentation drafting service, not a law firm. Using Rent Maker does not create an advocate-client relationship. Every draft is reviewed and settled by our in-house legal team for consistency and clarity before delivery.

Questions renters and property owners ask