How To Rent A House Sensibly in Delhi

Some time back, Akshay Gupta, 34, an IT professional, moved to Delhi from Patiala in Punjab, on an assignment. In the beginning, he lived with his friends and started to act quickly on their suggestion to look for a house in Mayur Vihar Phase-I. He first visited the area and liked it. Then his house search in the area started.
But he was not very happy with the information given by his friends and newspapers, as most of the apartments that he checked did not meet his requirements. But he was still stuck to the location. In the end, he decided to move into the one that he liked. But, gradually he realized that it was a sour deal as his landlord wanted to sell the house and in the intervening period he wanted to get some rent. So once again, he had to go through the same process.
This is a common problem for those who are living on rent in Delhi.That’s why living on rent can at times become taxing. However, just a few careful steps and you can comfortably rent and live in the property of your choice.
Here’s the procedure to follow while taking a house on rent:
Locality: The first step is to decide the locality in which you want to live. Then check the regularity of both the water- and electricity-supply in that area. Find out how close it is to your office, local markets and schools and hospitals. Also, browse through the various property websites to get a hang of what is the fair rent for that locality.
Rent: Rent mainly depends on the locality where you are planning to live. In Delhi-NCR, the landlord would usually ask for two months rent as security deposit (SD) and a month's rent in advance. While advance rent is a common practice across all cities, the amount of SD varies. For example, in Mumbai and Bangalore, you are supposed to pay up to 10 months rent as SD.
Reference: Ask people in that locality to give your references of some property agents, or refer for the same in newspapers and property portals.
Dealer: Contact and get in touch with the property dealers of that area. You can also take help of your office colleagues, in case they are planning to rent out their property, or if they know someone who is willing to do so. This makes sense as this way you get rid of the broker and his fees, which is almost a month's rent.
Details: Shortlist the dealers; tell them about your requirements and the rent that you want to pay; verify the security deposit and brokerage fees. Then, ask the agent to select the most appropriate properties for you a day before you visit the area
Property: It is very important to check the condition of the property. Ensure that it has not been kept vacant for long.
Utilities: Thoroughly check the water, electricity supply and drainage system in the area; ensure there is no unnecessary leakage of water and that all electricity connections work.
Interiors: Put stress on the fact that the landlord must get the electricity connections checked before the house is handed over to you. Ensure that the wiring has been earthed properly and that everything else is where it should be. Get all the warped doors and windows rectified. Also don’t forget to check locks in the house. Make sure that they are in working condition and if you find any faulty one, get it changed at the earliest.
Lease: Thoroughly check the terms and conditions mentioned in the agreement; get it notified/registered; complete all the paper work before you actually move in. Lease is of two types - company and personal. Most landlords prefer a company lease. Whatever option you choose, make sure that certain things in it are clearly mentioned, especially, the duration of lease and the SD. If it's a personal lease for 11 months, first of all get it notified. In the case of a company lease for more than a year, get it registered with the help of a lawyer.
Renting may not be an ideal solution to living, but if you pay thorough attention to a few basic issues that can ensure years of living on rent, comfortably and absolutely trouble-free Delhi real estate .

Sukhpreet Kaur writes on behalf of 99acres.com ,which is an internet portal dedicated to meet every aspect of the consumers needs in the real estate industry. It is a forum where buyers, sellers and brokers can exchange information, quickly, effectively and inexpensively. At 99 acres, you can advertise a property, search for a property, or Rent in Delhi and browse through Delhi Real Estate and Properties .