You are about to pay for a rental agreement and you want to know: how much should it actually cost? The problem is that broker quotes, lawyer fees, and online services quote wildly different numbers — and most people do not know what they are paying for. This guide breaks every rupee down so you can compare accurately and avoid overpaying.
Stamp duty (0.25% of rent+deposit) + ₹1,000 registration fee + drafting/service charges. Total government cost: ₹1,500–₹2,200 for most rentals. Total typical cost with AgreementDesk: ₹2,200–₹2,500 — government charges (stamp duty + ₹1,000 registration + DHC) plus our service fee. Stamp duty varies by rent; use our free calculator for your exact amount.
Stamp duty (0.25% of rent+deposit) + ₹1,000 registration fee (PMC areas) or ₹500 (non-municipal) + drafting. Total: ₹1,500–₹3,500 depending on rent and service chosen. Total typical cost with AgreementDesk: ₹2,200–₹2,500 — government charges (stamp duty + ₹1,000 registration + DHC) plus our service fee. Stamp duty varies; use our free calculator for your exact amount.
E-stamp duty (₹500 for 11-month leases) + notarization (₹200–400) + drafting/service. Total: ₹1,000–₹2,000. Total typical cost with AgreementDesk: ₹800–₹1,200 — e-stamp paper cost (starts ₹100, typically ₹500 for 11-month) + notarization + our service fee. Stamp paper value is a government charge separate from our fee.
City-by-City Cost Breakdown
Online vs Offline vs Broker — True Cost Comparison
This is where most people get confused. Here is what each route actually costs — including the hidden time cost that most people ignore:
🏠 Local Broker / Lawyer
- 🔴 Drafting: ₹500–2,000
- 🔴 Stamp duty: extra, calculated manually
- 🔴 Registration: extra ₹1,000
- 🔴 Office visits required
- 🔴 Risk of underpaid stamp duty
- 🔴 No digital copy immediately
💻 AgreementDesk Online
- ✅ Everything included — no surprises
- ✅ Stamp duty calculated precisely
- ✅ Registration + biometric at home
- ✅ Digital copy instantly
- ✅ Physical copy delivered
- ✅ Legally valid, accepted everywhere
🗎 DIY (Self + Stamp Vendor)
- 🔴 Must draft agreement yourself
- 🔴 Visit stamp vendor for e-stamp
- 🔴 Find and visit notary
- 🔴 Register separately (MH)
- 🔴 High risk of errors/missing clauses
- 🔴 No expert review of content
AgreementDesk vs Other Online Services — Honest Comparison
The online rental agreement market has several players. Here is how AgreementDesk compares on what actually matters:
| What matters | AgreementDesk | Other Online Services | Offline Broker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (Bangalore) | ₹800–1,200 total (incl. e-stamp) | ₹399 + stamp duty extra | ₹1,500–3,000 |
| Starting price (Mumbai/Pune) | ₹2,200–2,500 total (incl. govt fees) | ₹799 + stamp + reg extra | ₹2,500–5,000 |
| Stamp duty included? | ✅ Yes, calculated + applied | ⚠ Often extra / manual | ⚠ Often extra |
| Doorstep biometric (MH) | ✅ Included, no extra | ⚠ Often extra ₹300–500 | 🔴 Usually not available |
| Same-day processing (BLR) | ✅ Yes | 3–4 days typically | 🔴 3–7 days |
| Legal expert review | ✅ Yes, every agreement | ⚠ Template only | Depends on lawyer |
| City coverage | Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolhapur | Most cities | Local only |
| Hidden fees? | ✅ None — all-in pricing | ⚠ Multiple add-ons | 🔴 Common |
| Police verification (optional) | ✅ Add-on available | Available at extra cost | Available at extra cost |
Why the price difference? Most competitors charge a low base price and add stamp duty, biometric visit, registration, courier, and other fees separately. AgreementDesk packages everything into one transparent price. The actual out-of-pocket cost is often similar or lower with AgreementDesk — with significantly less hassle.
What’s Included in AgreementDesk’s Price?
🏙️ Mumbai / Pune / Kolhapur — typical total ₹2,200–2,500
- ✅ Legal drafting by experts
- ✅ Stamp duty calculated + paid
- ✅ Maharashtra registration filing
- ✅ Doorstep biometric visit
- ✅ Digital copy (PDF) immediately
- ✅ Physical copy delivered
- ✅ Accepted for all official purposes
🌄 Bangalore — typical total ₹800–1,200
- ✅ Legal drafting by experts
- ✅ Karnataka e-stamp paper (correct value)
- ✅ Licensed Notary Public attestation
- ✅ Digital copy (PDF) immediately
- ✅ Physical copy delivered same day
- ✅ Valid for 11 months or 2 years
- ✅ Accepted everywhere in Bangalore
What is NOT included (optional add-ons): Police verification (separate service, additional fee) · Extra physical copies · Courier outside standard delivery area. Everything else is bundled in the quoted price — no surprise charges.
Rent Agreement Cost by Rent Amount — Quick Reference
Here is the approximate total all-inclusive cost with AgreementDesk based on your monthly rent:
| Monthly Rent | Mumbai / Pune Total | Bangalore Total | Offline Broker Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹8,000 | ₹2,000–2,200 | ₹800–1,000 | ₹3,000–4,500 |
| ₹15,000 | ₹2,100–2,300 | ₹800–1,000 | ₹3,000–4,500 |
| ₹25,000 | ₹2,200–2,500 | ₹900–1,100 | ₹3,500–5,000 |
| ₹40,000 | ₹2,400–2,700 | ₹900–1,200 | ₹4,000–6,000 |
| ₹60,000+ | ₹2,700–3,200 | ₹1,000–1,300 | ₹5,000–8,000+ |
* AgreementDesk total includes stamp duty + registration/notarization + service fee + delivery. Offline estimate includes broker fee, stamp duty, registration, and drafting. Use our calculator for your exact stamp duty.
Who Pays — Landlord or Tenant?
There is no legal rule specifying who pays for the rental agreement. In practice:
- Most common: Tenant pays the full cost or the majority
- Sometimes: Cost is split 50/50 between landlord and tenant
- Occasionally: Landlord pays if they are arranging the agreement
Key advice: Agree on who pays before the agreement process starts — in writing on the same WhatsApp thread. Disputes about payment almost always arise when this was left vague. Once you have agreed on rent, deposit, and tenure — immediately freeze the agreement cost split too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Your Agreement Done Today
Government charges + our service fee. Transparent pricing. Doorstep delivery.