Almost every rent agreement in India runs for 11 months. It’s not a coincidence or a landlord’s quirk — it’s a deliberate choice rooted in the Registration Act, 1908.
Under the Registration Act, 1908, a lease of immovable property from year to year, or for any term exceeding one year, generally requires compulsory registration. A lease for a term up to 11 months typically falls outside that compulsory-registration requirement — which is why the 11-month tenancy became the standard across India.
Agreements of 12 months or more generally attract compulsory registration — adding registration charges and paperwork. Many 11-month agreements are structured to stay outside that requirement.
Registration means a visit to the sub-registrar, registration fees, and the agreement becoming part of the public record. An 11-month term lets both sides avoid that process while still putting the tenancy in writing. The agreement is usually renewed or freshly executed at the end of the term.
An 11-month rent agreement executed on stamp paper of the correct value and signed by both parties is generally valid as evidence of the tenancy. Stamp duty on rent agreements is set by each State or Union Territory and depends on the rent, deposit and term — so the right value varies by where the property is. The safest agreement is clearly worded, correctly stamped, and signed with verified identities.
You no longer need a lawyer or a print shop. With IOUX, you start from a vetted rent-agreement template, the correct stamp duty is calculated for your state, e-stamp paper is procured online, and both landlord and tenant complete eKYC and eSign from their own phones — with an advocate-certified, court-admissible record at the end.
This article is general information about Indian law and practice, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and change over time — confirm the current position for your situation before relying on it.
Related guides: Online Rent Agreement · How stamp duty works · Is Aadhaar eSign valid?