Quick answer In Mohali, Zirakpur and the rest of the Tricity, most rent agreements run for 11 months so that registration is not compulsory (it is for leases over one year). The agreement still needs stamp duty, usually as an e-stamp. Landlords must also get the tenant’s police verification done — police in SAS Nagar, Chandigarh and Panchkula have booked owners who skipped it.
Renting out a flat in the Tricity is simple, but three things trip landlords up: the length of the agreement, the stamp duty on it, and tenant police verification. Get them right and you protect both your property and your deposit.
11 months or longer?
| 11 months (most common) | More than one year | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Not compulsory | Compulsory at the sub-registrar office |
| Stamp duty | Yes, on the rent for the term | Yes, generally higher as the term is longer |
| Registration fee | None | Payable |
| Renewal | New agreement each year, usually with a rent increase | Built into the agreement |
| Best for | Most residential lets | Commercial lets and long stays |
Whatever the length, sign the agreement before the tenant moves in and before any deposit changes hands.
Stamp duty on the agreement
A rent agreement is a legal document and must be on stamp paper of the right value — in practice an e-stamp certificate bought online or at an authorised centre. Stamp duty is worked out on the rent for the term, and in Chandigarh also on the security deposit. Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana each set different rates, so confirm the current figure for your property before buying the e-stamp.
Make it in minutes Our free rent agreement template covers Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana, includes state-specific clauses such as police verification, and prints with an e-stamp reference line. For shops and offices, use the commercial rent agreement.
Tenant police verification
District authorities across the Tricity require landlords to get their tenants verified by the police. It is enforced: in 2022, Mohali police issued hundreds of show-cause notices to house owners and booked some of them, and in 2025 Chandigarh police booked property owners in Burail after a verification drive.
- Collect the tenant’s details — ID proof, a recent photo, permanent address and phone number.
- Apply online or in person — in Punjab, through the Punjab Police PP Saanjh portal, or at the local police station or Saanjh Kendra. In Chandigarh and Panchkula, use the local police station or the police’s online service.
- Keep the acknowledgement with your copy of the rent agreement.
- Repeat for each new tenant, and for domestic staff living on the premises.
Five clauses every rent agreement needs
- Rent, due date, mode of payment and the annual increase.
- Security deposit — amount, what can be deducted, and when it is returned.
- Maintenance — who pays for society charges, repairs and utilities.
- Notice period for both sides, and a lock-in if any.
- An inventory of fittings and furniture, with photos — use our handover condition report.
Collect rent through the bank and give a receipt each month — our rent receipt and security deposit receipt templates are free. Disputes in Punjab’s urban areas are governed by the Punjab Rent Act, 1995.
