Tenant verification, police intimation and lock-in clauses
Renting · 5 min read · Reviewed February 2026
Before handing over keys, verify the tenant's identity and employment, take the agreement in writing on stamp paper, and file the police tenant intimation where your city requires it. Lock-in binds both sides for a stated period; notice governs exit after that; both should be written explicitly rather than assumed.
Verification that is actually useful
Collect government photo ID and proof of the tenant's occupation or study, and keep copies with the agreement. For company leases, take the company's letter naming the occupant.
Many state police forces run online tenant verification portals; where they do, filing the intimation is quick and creates a record that helps in any later dispute.
- Photo ID and permanent address proof for each adult occupant.
- Employer or institution letter, or company lease documentation.
- Police tenant intimation where the city or state requires it.
Lock-in, notice and escalation
A lock-in period commits both parties: a tenant leaving early usually owes rent for the balance of the lock-in, and a landlord evicting early owes compensation, if the clause is written to bind both sides.
Notice periods are separate from lock-in and apply after it. Escalation should state the percentage and the date it applies, so no one negotiates it annually from scratch.
Handover and inventory
Attach a dated inventory with photographs of fixtures, appliances and meter readings. Deposit deductions are far easier to settle when both sides signed the same list at move-in.
Frequently asked questions
- Is police verification of tenants mandatory?
- It is required by police orders in many Indian cities and states. Check your local police department's portal, since the requirement and process are set locally.
- Can a tenant leave during the lock-in?
- Only on the terms in the agreement. A typical clause requires the tenant to pay rent for the remaining lock-in period or forfeit part of the deposit.
- Who keeps the original agreement?
- Both parties should hold a signed copy, and where the agreement is registered, each keeps a copy of the registered document.