Prepare the home before you list it
Tenants for premium homes compare carefully, and the first visit decides most of it. Repaint where needed, deep clean, fix every tap and switch, and service the appliances you are leaving behind.
Take good photographs in daylight, with lights on and curtains open. Listings with clear photos get more serious enquiries and fewer wasted visits.
Price from what actually rented
Asking rents on portals are often well above what homes in the same tower actually rent for. Look at recent closed rents for similar size, floor and furnishing in your project, and price close to them. A home that rents in two weeks usually earns more over the year than one that sits empty for two months at a higher ask.
Choose the tenant, not just the offer
Verify identity documents, current employer and, where possible, a reference from the previous landlord. Meet the people who will live in the home.
Bengaluru City Police asks owners to complete tenant verification. It takes little time and gives you a record if anything goes wrong later.
Put everything in the agreement
Most residential leases in Bengaluru run for 11 months. Leases of a year or longer must be registered, and stamp duty applies to rental agreements either way, so pay it rather than skipping it.
Write down the rent, deposit, lock-in period, notice period, annual increase, who pays maintenance, and what will be deducted from the deposit at exit (painting and cleaning are common). Vague clauses are where most disputes start.
Hand over properly
Make an inventory of furniture, fittings and appliances with photographs, and note the electricity and water meter readings on the day of handover. Both sides sign it. This one page settles most deposit arguments before they begin.
This guide is general information to help you ask the right questions. It isn't legal or tax advice, and rules change, so confirm the specifics for your situation before you act.