Is 11-month rent agreement registration mandatory in Maharashtra?

Yes. Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act makes written registration mandatory for all Leave and License agreements, even those under 11 months.

Who pays for Leave and License agreement registration in Maharashtra?

By default, the landlord (licensor) is legally responsible for ensuring registration, though the cost of stamp duty and registration fee is commonly split 50:50 between licensor and licensee.

What is the penalty for unregistered rental agreement in Maharashtra?

Unregistered agreements are inadmissible as legal evidence, and the landlord faces potential prosecution under Section 55 carrying up to 3 months imprisonment or fine.

Leave and License Registration in Maharashtra: Rules, Fees & Stamp Duty (2026)

The short answer

Under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act 1999, every Leave and License agreement — regardless of duration (even 11 months) — must be registered in writing. Failure to register is a criminal offense punishable with up to 3 months imprisonment or a fine. Registration protects the owner by granting legal license rights rather than tenancy rights (see Leave and License vs Rent Agreement).

Stamp duty & registration fee calculation in Maharashtra

Stamp duty for residential Leave and License agreements in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Navi Mumbai is calculated at 0.25% of the total license fee + non-refundable deposit + (refundable deposit x 10% x number of years). The registration fee is fixed at ₹1,000 for urban municipal areas and ₹500 for rural areas.

Online e-Registration & Biometric verification process

Maharashtra provides an official e-Registration portal (e-ASR) allowing landlords and tenants to register agreements from home using Aadhar-linked biometric thumb scanners and webcams:

Draft agreement with license fee, deposit, lock-in period, and notice terms.

Pay stamp duty and registration fees online via GRAS portal.

Execute biometric Aadhar verification for Licensor, Licensee, and two witnesses.

Receive government-approved registered agreement with DR (Sub-Registrar) digital signature within 48 hours.

Police tenant verification in Mumbai & Pune

In addition to registration, Maharashtra requires online police tenant verification via the Mumbai Police / Pune Police Citizen Portal. Submitting tenant details and ID proofs online ensures compliance with local law enforcement directives.

Copyable 11-Month Standard Leave & License Agreement Draft Format

Click the button to copy a standard 11-month Leave & License agreement draft template compliant with Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act:

Copyable Notice Template

STANDARD 11-MONTH LEAVE AND LICENSE AGREEMENT DRAFT

This Agreement of Leave and License is made at [City] on this [Date] day of [Month, Year] between:

LICENSOR (Owner): [Licensor Full Name], Aadhar No: [Licensor Aadhar], Residing at: [Licensor Permanent Address].

LICENSEE (Tenant): [Licensee Full Name], Aadhar No: [Licensee Aadhar], Permanent Address: [Licensee Permanent Address].

1. PREMISES: The Licensor grants license to the Licensee to occupy the residential property situated at [Full Flat / Unit Property Address].

2. TERM: This license is granted for a period of 11 (Eleven) months starting from [Start Date] to [End Date].

3. LICENSE FEE: The Licensee shall pay to the Licensor a monthly license fee of ₹[Monthly Amount] on or before the [Due Day, e.g. 5th] day of each calendar month via UPI/Bank Transfer.

4. SECURITY DEPOSIT: The Licensee has deposited a interest-free refundable security deposit of ₹[Deposit Amount] with the Licensor.

5. LOCK-IN PERIOD: Both parties agree to a lock-in period of [e.g. 6 months]. Neither party can terminate the agreement during the lock-in period.

6. NOTICE PERIOD: After the lock-in period, either party may terminate this agreement by serving [1 Month / 30 Days] written notice.

7. USAGE: The premises shall be used strictly for residential purposes only. Subletting is strictly prohibited.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Licensor and Licensee have signed this agreement in the presence of Witnesses.

Licensor Signature: _______________ | Licensee Signature: _______________

How TenantsFlo helps Maharashtra landlords

TenantsFlo stores registered Leave & License documents, tracks 11-month renewal dates automatically, and manages monthly license fee collections in INR. Try TenantsFlo free.