Rent Agreement
Rent Agreement Format for Delhi — Stamp Duty & Registration
Delhi's stamp duty on a rent agreement is based on average annual rent, and registration is mandatory only once the term exceeds a year — most residential agreements are kept at 11 months and notarized instead.
Delhi calculates stamp duty on a lease deed based on the average annual rent (and any premium/deposit), under the Indian Stamp Act as applied in the NCT of Delhi. The exact duty depends on where the rent falls in the applicable slab, and rounds to a modest figure for typical residential rents.
As with most states outside Maharashtra, registration is only compulsory under the Registration Act once the lease term exceeds one year — which is exactly why the 11-month, renewable agreement is the default format landlords and tenants use across Delhi-NCR, kept valid with notarization rather than registration.
If you do want to register — for a longer commercial lease, or simply for stronger legal standing — it's done at the sub-registrar's office covering the property's location, with both parties present along with two witnesses.
Guidance last checked 2026-09 — stamp duty schedules are revised periodically, so confirm the current rate with your local sub-registrar or state e-stamping portal before executing a high-value or long-term agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register an 11-month rent agreement in Delhi?
No — registration is only mandatory once the lease term exceeds one year. An 11-month agreement, properly stamped and notarized, is the standard and legally accepted format for most residential and commercial tenancies in Delhi.
How is the stamp duty amount worked out?
It's based on the average annual rent under the lease (plus any premium or deposit treated as part of the consideration), applied against a slab under the Indian Stamp Act as it applies to Delhi. Confirm the current slab at the time of execution, since duty schedules are revised periodically.