India is a vast and growing country that offers a myriad of opportunities and adventures. India can be an interesting country to live in so if you are planning to move to India, finding accommodation will not be a difficult task.
The rental market in India
The rental market in India is diverse. In major cities, you will get a wide variety of accommodation options like apartments, individual houses and villas to choose from. The rental prices vary greatly from one city to another or one district to another.
For temporary immigrants, students and newcomers, there are also options of flat-sharing where a house with separate rooms and attached bathrooms can be shared by different individuals. This is an interesting and affordable option for a temporary stay.
Although in most cases in major cities you will get all the basic facilities associated with the apartments or house, there are certain issues that you must look into prior to moving. For instance, there may be some issues related to the power supply, especially in summer months when power cuts are frequent. It is highly recommended that you ensure the place has good power back-up provisions like an inverter or generator. In some regions, heaters are also required, especially, during winter when the temperatures fall significantly.
In case of a well-furnished home, make sure to check all the furniture and fixtures including plumbing, electrical fitting etc.. Make an inventory of units and items that need repair and inform the owner. You should carefully read the rental document to ensure you don't miss out anything.
Process of renting in India
There are certain requirements that you need to fulfil before occupying your new home; namely, signing the lease agreement, submitting copies of some of your documents that may be required for police verification and paying the deposit to the landlord. The deposit amount that is paid at the time of signing the rental agreement is generally equivalent to several months' rent, depending upon the lease. However, this amount is negotiable and has to be returned once the tenant leaves the residence.
The lease agreement must mention the minimum rental period, which could be six months, one year or more. Apart from these, the rental or lease agreement must also include all other vital terms and conditions, such as the start and end date of the tenancy, deposit amount paid, rent amount and frequency of payment like monthly or quarterly, service/maintenance charges, payment for any repair if needed, conditions of termination of the agreement, notice period for vacating the house etc..
Make sure to go through all of the conditions of the tenancy before you sign the agreement. Your lease or rental agreement may contain a provision that may not be acceptable to you. For instance restrictions on guests or pets, design alterations etc..
As per the Registration Act, it is compulsory to register lease agreements that are less than 11 months duration. In some states, this registration is compulsory irrespective of the duration.
In order to avoid any disputes or misunderstandings with your landlord, it's better to have everything in writing. Make sure your lease or rental agreement is clear on the use as well as a refund of security deposits, including allowable deductions. Keep communicating with your landlord. It's always better to resolve any issue through communication instead of a nasty legal battle.
Apart from the above also learn about maintenance charge, facilities in the society apartments, rent increase percentage etc..
Finding accommodation in India
There are several means that you can use to find accommodation in India. Browse the Internet and check out among Indian real estate agencies online. If you are looking for a shared apartment, many sites are there that connect people who are looking for a flat to share and also people offering apartments to share. A list of websites is available at the end of this article.
If you're already in India, contact a "broker", a type of real estate agent who will help you find the perfect place meeting your criteria. However, you will have to pay a certain amount to the agent. Note that you should not give price ranges to the broker; he indeed has every incentive to find you the most expensive accommodation in order to receive a bigger commission. Try to negotiate these fees in advance, if possible.
Finally, you can also visit local estate agencies or check out classifieds in the newspapers.
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