Be accessible, not intrusive
- Give your WhatsApp number for issues. Respond within a reasonable time — 24 hours for non-emergencies.
- You must give at least 24 hours' advance written notice before visiting the flat. This is now legally required, not just polite. Unannounced visits are prohibited under 2025 rental guidelines.
- Fix genuine problems promptly. A dripping tap, a faulty geyser due to age, a structural leak — these are your responsibility. Ignoring them is both legally risky and practically foolish. Good tenants leave landlords who don't maintain properties.
Note
Under current law, major repairs — structural issues, plumbing, wiring, geyser failure due to age — are the landlord's responsibility. Minor everyday damage caused by the tenant is theirs to fix.
Illegal — do not do this
Do not ever cut off electricity or water to pressure a tenant. This is illegal under Section 22 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act and can result in the tenant taking you to the Rent Control Court.
Handling difficult situations
Neighbours complaining
- Contact your tenant politely via WhatsApp first. Most issues resolve here.
- If issues persist, send a formal written notice via registered post. Keep a copy.
- Consistent nuisance behaviour is valid grounds for non-renewal.
Minor property damage
- Document it with photos and raise it at the time of the incident, not only at move-out.
- If the tenant disputes responsibility, refer back to your move-in photos.
Subletting
If you discover a tenant has sublet without permission, issue a formal written notice immediately. Subletting without consent is a valid legal ground for eviction under Section 16 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act.
When a tenant leaves
- Enforce the full notice period. Do not let a tenant exit early without mutual agreement confirmed in writing.
- Do a joint inspection on the last day. Walk through every room together. Note any damage in writing, with photos, in front of the tenant.
- Collect all keys, access cards, and parking passes.
- Hold part of the deposit for 30–45 days. Electricity bills, maintenance charges, and pending dues often arrive after the tenant has left.
- Refund the balance deposit within one month. The law requires this. Delays beyond a reasonable time give the tenant grounds to complain to the Rent Authority.
- Do not tell brokers the flat is available. Start your own listing immediately.