Is Leave and License registration mandatory in Mumbai?

Yes. Under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, every Leave and License agreement in Maharashtra (including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Navi Mumbai) must be mandatorily registered with the Sub-Registrar regardless of tenure. An unregistered agreement is not enforceable in court.

What is the stamp duty on a Leave and License agreement in Mumbai?

Maharashtra stamp duty is 0.25% of the total rent for the entire license period plus the refundable deposit. For a typical 11-month Mumbai agreement with ₹50,000 rent and ₹1,00,000 deposit: stamp duty = 0.25% × (₹5,50,000 + ₹1,00,000) = ₹1,625. Registration fee is flat ₹1,000.

What is a Leave and License agreement vs a rental agreement?

A Leave and License agreement grants a licensee the right to use a property for a specific period without creating a tenancy. The licensor retains full ownership rights. In Maharashtra, this form is mandatory for all residential rentals. A standard 'lease' or 'rental agreement' creates tenancy rights that are harder to terminate — which is why the L&L format is preferred and legally required in Mumbai.

What is the difference between Leave and License in Mumbai vs rent agreement in Bangalore?

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Leave & License format, mandatory government registration via IGR portal, doorstep biometric for both parties, stamp duty at 0.25% of rent+deposit, registration fee ₹1,000, total cost typically ₹2,200–3,500. Bangalore (Karnataka): standard rental agreement, no registration required for 11-month leases, notarization by a Notary Public, stamp duty capped at ₹500, total cost from ₹699 with AgreementDesk.

Leave and License Agreement Mumbai 2026 — Complete Guide

Q: How long does a Mumbai Leave and License agreement take?

With AgreementDesk: draft same day, biometric registration typically 48–72 hours, police intimation filed simultaneously. Full process including doorstep biometric visit and registered copy: 3–5 working days.

If you are renting in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, or anywhere in Maharashtra, you need a Leave and License (L&L) agreement — not a standard rental agreement. This is a legal requirement under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999. Here is everything you need to know about the L&L format, why it exists, the stamp duty, the IGR registration process, and how AgreementDesk handles it end-to-end.

🔍 What is a Leave and License agreement in Mumbai?

A Leave and License agreement grants a licensee the right to occupy a property for a fixed period without creating a tenancy. The licensor retains full ownership and eviction rights. Under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, all L&L agreements in Maharashtra must be mandatorily registered with the Sub-Registrar — regardless of duration.

Why Mumbai Uses Leave & License — Not a Standard Lease

A standard lease or rental agreement in India can create tenancy rights under the Transfer of Property Act, making eviction legally complex and prolonged. Maharashtra addressed this by mandating the Leave & License format, which:

Does not create any tenancy rights for the licensee
Clearly establishes the licensor’s right to terminate and evict at end of term
Must be registered — creating an official government record
Enables faster dispute resolution compared to a tenancy agreement
Is enforceable in the Mumbai Small Causes Court without requiring proof of possession

An unregistered Leave and License agreement is not legally enforceable in Maharashtra. If a landlord tries to evict a tenant based on an unregistered agreement, courts may dismiss the case. Always ensure your Mumbai agreement is registered via the IGR portal.

Leave & License Mumbai vs Rent Agreement Bangalore

🏙️ Mumbai / Maharashtra — Leave & License

Mandatory government registration (Section 55, MRC Act)
IGR portal + doorstep biometric by both parties
Stamp duty: 0.25% × (rent × months + deposit)
Registration fee: ₹1,000 flat
Process: 48–72 hours with AgreementDesk
Police intimation: mandatory (₹3,000 fine for non-compliance)
Typical total cost: ₹2,200–3,500

🌄 Bangalore / Karnataka — Rental Agreement

Registration optional for 11-month agreements
Notarization by registered Notary Public
Stamp duty: capped at ₹500 for 11 months
No registration fee for 11-month agreements
Process: 24–48 hours with AgreementDesk
Police intimation: required but less strictly enforced
Typical total cost: ₹699–999

Stamp Duty on Leave and License Agreement in Mumbai

Maharashtra stamp duty formula for residential Leave & License agreements:

Stamp duty = 0.25% × (Monthly Rent × Months + Refundable Deposit)

🏙️ Mumbai Example — ₹50,000/month, ₹1,00,000 deposit, 11 months

Total rent (11 months)₹5,50,000

Refundable deposit₹1,00,000

Base for stamp duty₹6,50,000

Stamp duty (0.25%)₹1,625

Registration fee₹1,000

Total government charges₹2,625

Step-by-Step: Leave and License Agreement Mumbai with AgreementDesk

Fill Online Form

Enter property address (CTS number, society name, flat number), monthly rent, security deposit, tenure, lock-in period, and any special clauses (maintenance, parking, pet policy).

Secure Payment

Pay AgreementDesk service fee via UPI, card, or netbanking. Draft generation starts immediately. Government stamp duty and registration fee paid separately via IGR portal at registration stage.

Draft Review

Receive complete Leave & License draft on WhatsApp and email within hours. Review all clauses — Maharashtra-specific terms, maintenance, escalation, lock-in, police intimation clause — and request any changes before finalizing.

IGR eRegistration & Stamp Duty Payment

AgreementDesk generates the agreement on IGR portal (Maharashtra’s Inspector General of Registration), calculates exact stamp duty, and facilitates payment. E-stamp certificate with unique ID is generated.

Doorstep Biometric Registration

A government-authorized biometric officer visits the property to collect fingerprints from both landlord and tenant (and witnesses). This is the mandatory registration step — both parties must be present or provide Power of Attorney.

Registered Copy & Police Intimation

Registered agreement (with Sub-Registrar seal) delivered. AgreementDesk simultaneously submits police intimation on your behalf via the Maharashtra Police portal — mandatory under Section 19 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act.

Who Must Be Present for the Mumbai Biometric?

Licensor (landlord): Must be present in person, or provide a registered Power of Attorney to an authorized representative
Licensee (tenant): Must be present in person
Witnesses: 2 witnesses required, each with Aadhaar; cannot be family members of either party
NRI landlords: Can provide a notarized + Embassy-attested POA — AgreementDesk handles NRI POA drafting and guidance

NRI landlords: You do not need to fly to India for the biometric. AgreementDesk drafts and notarizes a Power of Attorney (POA) that allows a trusted person in India to execute the Leave & License on your behalf. The POA must be notarized and Embassy-attested in the country of residence before being used in India.

Police Intimation — Mandatory in Mumbai

Under Maharashtra law, the landlord must submit police intimation within 24 hours of the tenant moving in. Non-compliance attracts a fine of ₹3,000 and up to 1 month imprisonment (Maharashtra Rent Control Act, Section 19).

AgreementDesk submits police intimation on your behalf via the Maharashtra Police Citizen Services portal
Documents required: copy of registered agreement + tenant Aadhaar + 2 passport photos + address proof
Police intimation is included with all AgreementDesk Mumbai packages

Frequently Asked Questions — Leave and License Mumbai

Is registration mandatory for a Leave and License agreement in Mumbai?

Yes — it is mandatory under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, for all L&L agreements in Maharashtra regardless of tenure. An unregistered agreement cannot be enforced in court and landlords cannot rely on it for legal eviction proceedings.

What is the stamp duty on Leave and License in Mumbai?

0.25% of (total rent for the license period + refundable security deposit). Registration fee is flat ₹1,000. For a typical 11-month Mumbai agreement with ₹50,000 rent and ₹1 lakh deposit, total government charges are approximately ₹2,625. Use our free calculator for exact figures.

Can a Leave and License agreement be done online in Mumbai?

The drafting, stamp duty payment, and IGR registration are done online via the Maharashtra IGR portal. However, biometric registration still requires physical presence — either at the Sub-Registrar office or via AgreementDesk’s doorstep biometric service where an authorized officer visits your Mumbai property.

What is the difference between Leave and License and a rent agreement?

A Leave & License does not create tenancy rights — the licensee has only a personal right to use the property for the agreed period. A standard rental agreement (lease) may create tenancy rights under the Transfer of Property Act, making eviction legally complex. Maharashtra mandates the L&L format for all residential rentals to protect landlord rights.

How long does a Mumbai Leave and License agreement take?

With AgreementDesk: draft same day, biometric registration scheduled within 24–48 hours, police intimation filed simultaneously. Full process including doorstep biometric and registered copy: typically 3–5 working days.

Can a NRI landlord give Leave and License in Mumbai without visiting India?

Yes. The NRI landlord must execute a Power of Attorney (POA) in their country of residence, get it notarized by a local notary, then attested by the Indian Embassy or Consulate. The authorized representative in India can then execute the L&L agreement and appear for biometric on the landlord’s behalf. AgreementDesk handles POA drafting and guides NRIs through the full process.

Mumbai Leave & License — Registered & Delivered

Drafting, stamp duty, doorstep biometric, police intimation — all handled by AgreementDesk.

Create Mumbai Agreement → Calculate Stamp Duty