Register a rent / lease agreement (e-stamp)
Rent agreements of 12 months or more should be registered (on e-stamp paper) to be fully enforceable. Shorter ≤11-month agreements are commonly notarized — but a registered agreement protects you better.
Authority
Karnataka Dept of Stamps & Registration (Kaveri / e-stamp)
Mode
Online + Offline
Time
Same day to a few days
Cost
e-stamp duty + registration fee (varies by rent & tenure)
Steps
- 1
Finalise the agreement
Agree rent, deposit, tenure, notice period and clauses, and prepare the draft.
- 2
Pay e-stamp duty
Buy the e-stamp of the correct value via Kaveri / Khajane or an authorized vendor.
- 3
Register (for 12+ months)
Book a Sub-Registrar appointment on Kaveri; owner, tenant and witnesses appear to register.
- 4
Get the registered copy
Download/collect the registered agreement.
💡 Good to know
- Need the document itself? Use the free fill-in Rental Agreement template under Templates.
- 11-month agreements avoid registration but offer weaker protection in disputes.
- Police tenant verification is separate — see the New to Bengaluru checklist.