Rental Agreement in Pakistan: What Tenants Should Know

A rental agreement in Pakistan (often called a kirayanama) is the written contract that fixes your rent, deposit, term, notice period and who pays which bills. The rent laws in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad expect a tenancy agreement to be in writing, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's tenant-security law requires a written, attested one. Without one, a deposit dispute becomes your word against the owner's.

What a rental agreement should include

The Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009 lists what a tenancy agreement should contain "as far as possible": both parties' details, the premises, the period, the rent and its rate of increase, the due date and payment method, the landlord's bank details, the purpose of the letting, and any advance rent, security or pagri. That is a good base anywhere in Pakistan:

Clause	What to write
Parties	Full names, father's names, CNIC numbers, addresses and phone numbers of the landlord and every tenant
Property	Full address, flat or portion number, and a list of furniture and fittings
Rent	Amount in figures and words, due date (for example "by the 5th of each month") and how it is paid
Security deposit	Amount, whether it is refundable, what can be deducted, and how many days after you leave it is returned
Advance rent	How many months, and which months it covers
Term	Start date and end date
Notice period	How much notice each side gives to end the agreement early
Utilities	Who pays electricity, gas, water, internet and maintenance, with meter readings on the first day
Rent increase	How much and when, for example "10% after 12 months"
Repairs	Which repairs the landlord pays for and which you handle
Signatures	Landlord, all tenants and two witnesses with CNIC numbers, plus the date

A clear deposit clause might read (amounts are only an example): "The tenant has paid a refundable security deposit of Rs 40,000. The landlord will return it within 30 days of the keys being handed back, less the cost of any damage beyond normal wear and tear, with a written list of deductions." Our guide to security deposits and advance rent covers deductions and getting your money back.

If several students share a flat, put every tenant's name in the agreement, or at least write down who pays what share. The bill split calculator works out fair shares.

Stamp paper and e-stamps

Rent agreements are usually written on non-judicial stamp paper, and the stamp duty depends on the document, the rent and the term. In Punjab, stamp papers are issued through the Board of Revenue's e-stamping system: you enter the details and CNIC on the e-Stamping portal, it calculates the duty and produces a challan (Form 32-A), you pay at the bank, and the e-stamp is printed with its own number.

Check that number on the portal's "Verification Through Web" page before you sign. The Board of Revenue says the system exists to stop fake and reused stamp papers. Elsewhere, ask a deed writer (arzi navees) at your local court which paper you need.

Each side should keep a signed original. Photograph every page and save it as one file with this JPG to PDF tool.

What the rent laws say in each province

Punjab: Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009

A landlord may let premises only through a written tenancy agreement, and must present it to the Rent Registrar, who records it, seals it and keeps a copy. A registered agreement is proof that you are the tenant.
The landlord must give the tenant a certified copy of the agreement.
If no due date is agreed, rent is due by the 10th of the following month.
The landlord must keep the place habitable and must not cut off utilities without good reason.
If the tenancy doesn't follow the Act, a tenant who goes to the Rent Tribunal must first deposit a fine of 5% of the yearly rent (10% for a landlord). So ask your landlord for the copy stamped by the Rent Registrar.

Sindh: Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance 1979

In urban areas, the agreement must be in writing and, unless another law requires it to be registered, attested by the Rent Controller, a Civil Judge or a First Class Magistrate.
Unless you agree another date, rent is due by the 10th of the next month, and the landlord must acknowledge each payment in writing. If the landlord refuses rent, you can send it by postal money order or deposit it with the Controller.

Islamabad: Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001

The agreement must be in writing, and the landlord must present it to the Rent Controller within 30 days of signing (added by a 2021 amendment).
All payments should be by crossed cheque or against a proper receipt.
Rent rises automatically by 10% at the end of every year unless you and the landlord agree otherwise in writing, so write down the increase you have agreed.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

KP's Restriction of Rented Buildings (Security) Act 2014 is a security law rather than a rent-control law. It requires a written agreement signed by both sides, naming two references with their CNIC and phone numbers, and attested by a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner. For KP rules on rent increases or eviction, ask a local lawyer.

Hostels may fall outside these laws

The Punjab Act's definition of a building does not include "a room in a hotel, hostel, boarding house, guest house", and Islamabad's Ordinance leaves hostels out of its definition of a residential building. So if you rent a hostel bed rather than a flat or a room in a house, the Rent Tribunal or Rent Controller route may not apply. Ask a lawyer which forum handles a hostel dispute.

Registering as a tenant with the police

This is separate from the rent agreement, and the rules differ by province.

Punjab: under the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015, the landlord, tenant or property dealer must give the police the tenant's details within 15 days of moving in, and the penalty can include up to six months in jail. Lahore Police say this applies when "a house or a hostel room is rented". Register free at a police station or Police Khidmat Markaz with both CNICs, the agreement, an affidavit and the tenant's photo, or use the Punjab Police online Tenant Registration System.
Sindh: under the Sindh Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015, register at the police station or a facilitation centre, or online through Sindh Police's TRUST portal (tenantregister.sindhpolice.gov.pk).
Islamabad: the tenant or owner applies at a Police Khidmat Markaz or the nearest police station with both CNICs, the rent agreement, a photo and a thumb impression. The Islamabad Police website lists a Rs 500 fee.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: the landlord gives the police station the attested agreement, your CNIC and the references' details within seven days of signing (not counting public holidays). The police issue a "tenant acknowledgment receipt", and the landlord must give you an attested copy.

Whoever does it, check that it is done and keep a copy of the slip.

Hostel stays vs flat tenancies

Hostels usually work with an admission or registration form and a printed set of rules instead of a full tenancy agreement. That's normal, but keep:

A copy or photo of the form you signed and the rules
Receipts for the admission fee, deposit and every month's rent, showing your room or bed number
The deposit amount, whether it's refundable, the notice period and when the refund is paid, in writing (a chat message is enough)
Confirmation that the hostel has registered you with the police

For a flat, portion or room in a house, insist on a proper agreement, and agree things by WhatsApp, SMS or email so there is a written record. Our guide to hostel vs apartment vs private room compares the options.

Before you sign: a quick checklist

[ ] Names and CNIC numbers match the cards, and the landlord's name matches the ownership papers or a utility bill
[ ] Deposit refund terms and allowed deductions are written
[ ] Notice period applies to both sides
[ ] Rent increase terms are stated
[ ] Inventory and meter readings are attached
[ ] No blank spaces left to fill in later
[ ] In Punjab, the e-stamp number is verified online
[ ] You have a signed original or a certified copy, plus a PDF on your phone

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rules for your province, and speak to a lawyer if you have a dispute.

Frequently asked questions

Is a written rental agreement required in Pakistan?

Yes. The rent laws in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad require tenancy agreements to be in writing, and KP's tenant-security law requires a written agreement attested by a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner. Without one, it is hard to prove the rent and deposit you agreed.

Does a hostel need a rental agreement?

Hostels usually use an admission form and written rules instead of a full tenancy agreement. Keep the signed form, the rules, every receipt and the deposit terms in writing. Punjab's and Islamabad's rent laws leave hostels out of key definitions, so ask a lawyer which forum applies to a hostel dispute.

How much can a landlord increase the rent?

It depends on your agreement and province. In Islamabad, rent rises by 10% at the end of each year unless you agree otherwise in writing. In Punjab, the agreement should state the rate of increase, so always write it in.

Sources

Calculators in this guide

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