Tenant Police Verification, Background Checks, and Property Verification
PGfy helps create a more trusted rental and accommodation ecosystem through Tenant Police Verification, Tenant Background Verification and Property Verification.
Each verification serves a different purpose and uses a different process.
Tenant Police Verification is the process of verifying tenant/occupant information through the applicable police or government verification process.
The exact procedure differs from one State/UT and police department to another.
The typical PGfy workflow can be:
Tenant Details Collected → KYC / Identity Information → Address & Accommodation Details → Police Verification Request → Submission through Applicable Police/Government Process → Verification / Status → Record Associated with Tenant Profile
Depending on the jurisdiction, the verification may be completed through an official police portal, applicable government process, or other authorised channel.
Depending on the applicable police process, this may include:
Where the applicable police system provides a verification result or acknowledgement, PGfy can help facilitate and maintain the relevant record.
Important: PGfy does not itself act as the police authority and does not issue a police clearance certificate unless specifically authorised to do so.
Tenant Background Verification is a PGfy screening service designed to help property managers make more informed tenant onboarding decisions.
It is broader than simply checking a tenant's identity.
Depending on the service and legally permissible data sources, background screening may involve checking information such as:
A typical process can be:
Tenant KYC → Information Validation → Data Consistency Checks → Permitted Record / Database Checks → Risk or Verification Review → Background Verification Result
The result should identify whether the available information was successfully verified, requires attention, or could not be conclusively verified.
Background verification should not be marketed as:
“We guarantee that the tenant has no criminal record.”
Instead, PGfy should use language such as:
“PGfy performs background screening using available and legally permissible information sources. Verification results are subject to the availability, accuracy and completeness of the underlying records.”
A verification result is a screening outcome, not a guarantee of a person's future conduct or complete life history.
Property Verification is PGfy's internal process for checking whether a property and its onboarding information appear consistent and credible before the property is made available through PGfy.
This can be particularly useful for:
The exact checks may vary depending on the property type and information available. A typical PGfy process can include:
Property Submitted → Owner / Property Manager Details Collected → Identity / KYC Verification → Property Address Verification → Property Documents Collected → Document & Information Review → Property Details Cross-Checked → Physical / Operational Verification (Where Applicable) → PGfy Property Verification → Property Listed / Approved
Depending on the property and available information, PGfy may review:
Where applicable and voluntarily provided:
The exact documents required may vary depending on the property and ownership/management arrangement.
This distinction is important. PGfy's Property Verification is an internal onboarding and verification process.
It should not be represented as: ❌ Government title certification, ❌ Legal title opinion, ❌ Encumbrance certificate, ❌ Registration certificate, ❌ Guarantee that there are no disputes over the property.
Instead: “PGfy Property Verification indicates that the property has undergone PGfy's internal verification process based on the information and documents available to us at the time of verification.”
For high-value property transactions or legal title questions, users should obtain an independent legal/title verification from a qualified professional.
| Verification | Main Purpose | Who/What is Checked | PGfy Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenant Police Verification | Police/government verification | Tenant/occupant | Facilitates applicable official process |
| Tenant Background Verification | Tenant screening | Identity & legally permissible background information | PGfy screening service |
| Property Verification | Property/owner onboarding | Property, owner/manager & supporting information | PGfy internal verification |
KYC → Identity Verification → Background Verification → Police Verification (where applicable) → Tenant Profile
Owner KYC → Property Documents → Property Information → PGfy Property Verification → Verified Property
A Verified badge should indicate that the relevant verification process has been completed according to PGfy's defined verification criteria.
It should not imply that PGfy guarantees:
Verification is based on information and sources available at the time of the check.
Verification can help create a more trustworthy accommodation marketplace.
Tenants can benefit from greater confidence that listed properties and property operators have gone through PGfy's onboarding checks.
Tenant verification can help property managers make more informed onboarding decisions and maintain better tenant records.
A strong verification layer can help reduce: Fake property listings, Misrepresented property information, Identity inconsistencies, Fraudulent onboarding, Unverified operators, Certain rental-related risks.
Layer 1 — Identity
Who is the tenant/owner?
KYC + Identity Verification
Layer 2 — Background
Can the available information be verified?
Background Screening + Police Verification (where applicable)
Layer 3 — Property
Is the property and its onboarding information verified?
Property + Owner/Manager Verification
A More Trusted Rental Ecosystem
Verified Tenant + Verified Property + Verified Documentation
PGfy brings the different stages of accommodation documentation into one workflow:
Search PG / Flat / Room ↓ Book ↓ KYC ↓ Agreement ↓ e-Stamp ↓ eSign ↓ Completed Agreement ↓ Move In
This allows the tenant and property manager to complete the documentation journey digitally, while keeping government charges, digital-signing charges and PGfy service charges clearly separated.
The applicable stamp duty, registration requirements and other statutory formalities depend on the relevant State/UT and the specific agreement. Always rely on the applicable government-prescribed amount and process at the time the agreement is executed.
| Traditional Stamp Paper | e-Stamping |
|---|---|
| Physical stamp paper | Electronic process |
| Requires physical handling | Digital workflow |
| Physical document storage | Digital document storage |
| Can involve manual processes | More streamlined |
| Risk of physical loss | Digital records can be retained |
| Verification may require physical document | Electronic certificate/reference can support verification |
| Less convenient for remote onboarding | Better suited to remote digital onboarding |
The availability and process of e-stamping can differ across Indian states and document types.
A modern PG agreement workflow can combine several processes into one experience.
Book → Verify → Review → Stamp → Sign → Receive Agreement
Accept Booking → Verify Tenant → Generate Agreement → Stamp → Sign → Store → Manage Tenant
This reduces the need to move between multiple disconnected processes.
For certain documents, the applicable e-stamping system identifies the document using a specific category code. The minimum stamp amount applicable to the listed categories is ₹10, subject to the applicable rules and the actual stamp duty prescribed for the instrument.
The following document categories are mapped to their respective category codes:
| Document Category | Category Code | Minimum Stamp Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement relating to Deposit of Title Deeds | 2 | ₹10 |
| Mortgage Deed | 3 | ₹10 |
| Security Bond / Mortgage Deed | 5 | ₹10 |
| Affidavit | 8 | ₹10 |
| Indemnity Bond | 16 | ₹10 |
| Counterpart or Duplicate | 25 | ₹10 |
| Customs Bond / Excise Bond | 27 | ₹10 |
| Power of Attorney | 28 | ₹10 |
| Bond | 30 | ₹10 |
| Partnership | 34 | ₹10 |
| Release | 36 | ₹10 |
| Conveyance | 38 | ₹10 |
| Articles of Association of a Company | 45 | ₹10 |
| Letter of Allotment of Shares | 46 | ₹10 |
| Settlement | 179 | ₹10 |
| Share Warrants | 180 | ₹10 |
| Rectification Deed – Immovable Property | 181 | ₹10 |
| Further Charge | 184 | ₹10 |
| Bill of Exchange | 203 | ₹10 |
| Policy of Insurance | 204 | ₹10 |
| Trust | 211 | ₹10 |
| Bill of Lading | 215 | ₹10 |
| Composition Deed | 216 | ₹10 |
| Copy or Extract | 217 | ₹10 |
| Warrant of Goods | 221 | ₹10 |
| Appointment in Execution of a Power | 223 | ₹10 |
| Appraisement or Valuation | 224 | ₹10 |
| Acknowledgment | 268 | ₹10 |
| Agreement | 269 | ₹10 |
| Transfer of Lease | 297 | ₹10 |
| Delivery Order – Goods | 298 | ₹10 |
| Reconveyance of Mortgage | 310 | ₹10 |
| Surrender of Lease | 311 | ₹10 |
| Letter of Licence | 314 | ₹10 |
| Memorandum of Association of a Company | 315 | ₹10 |
| Exchange of Property | 316 | ₹10 |
The ₹10 minimum stamp amount should not be interpreted as the final stamp duty for every agreement.
For an actual PG, rental, lease or licence agreement, the applicable stamp duty may be determined based on State or Union Territory, Type of agreement, Agreement duration, Monthly rent, Total rent/consideration, Security deposit or advance, Property value, and Nature of the transaction.
Therefore, selecting the “Agreement” category (Code 269) does not by itself mean that every agreement costs only ₹10. The applicable government duty must be calculated according to the relevant jurisdiction and instrument.
One of the most common questions from tenants and property managers is: “How much does an e-stamp or stamp duty cost for a PG or rental agreement?”
There is no single stamp-duty amount applicable throughout India. Stamp duty is determined according to the applicable state or Union Territory law, the type of agreement, agreement duration, rent, security deposit/advance, consideration and other factors.
| State / Union Territory | Indicative basis for common PG / rental agreements | Typical short-term reference* |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Percentage based on applicable rent/consideration and term | ~0.5% of applicable rent + deposit/consideration |
| Arunachal Pradesh | State stamp-duty schedule; varies by instrument/term | ~6% in commonly cited rental references |
| Assam | State stamp-duty schedule | ~8.25% in commonly cited rental references |
| Bihar | State stamp-duty schedule | ~6% in commonly cited rental references |
| Chhattisgarh | State stamp-duty schedule | ~5% of applicable rent/consideration |
| Goa | Depends on transaction/lease value and term | ~3%–6% depending on applicable value |
| Gujarat | Percentage-based; depends on instrument and term | Rates can be substantially higher for longer/registered leases |
| Haryana | Depends on agreement duration, location and applicable consideration | Variable |
| Himachal Pradesh | State schedule | ~6% in commonly cited rental references |
| Jharkhand | State schedule | ~4% in commonly cited rental references |
| Karnataka | Percentage-based with applicable minimum/cap for short-term agreements | Often around 0.5%–1% of applicable consideration, subject to applicable cap |
| Kerala | Depends on term and consideration | ~0.25% for certain short-term agreements; higher for longer terms |
| Madhya Pradesh | State schedule | ~8% in commonly cited rental references |
| Maharashtra | Leave & Licence calculation based on applicable consideration | 0.25% of applicable consideration; registration is generally mandatory |
| Manipur | State schedule | ~4% in commonly cited rental references |
| Meghalaya | State schedule | ~9.9% in commonly cited rental references |
| Mizoram | State schedule | ~5% in commonly cited rental references |
| Nagaland | State schedule | ~8.25% in commonly cited rental references |
| Odisha | State schedule | ~2% is shown for certain lease instruments |
| Punjab | State schedule; may vary based on party/category and instrument | Variable |
| Rajasthan | State schedule | ~6% in commonly cited rental references |
| Sikkim | State schedule | ~5% in commonly cited rental references |
| Tamil Nadu | Percentage-based | ~1% of applicable annual rent/consideration |
| Telangana | Percentage-based according to applicable instrument/term | ~0.4% for certain short-term rental instruments |
| Tripura | State schedule | ~5% in commonly cited rental references |
| Uttar Pradesh | State-specific rent-agreement/e-stamping schedule | Government-calculated amount |
| Uttarakhand | State schedule | Variable |
| West Bengal | Depends on rent, property value and term | ~5%–6% in commonly cited references |
| Andaman & Nicobar (UT) | UT stamp schedule | Around ₹100 for certain leases below 11 months |
| Chandigarh (UT) | UT schedule; depends on term, annual rent and advance/security | Variable |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (UT) | UT schedule | Variable; percentage-based for certain lease instruments |
| Delhi (NCT) | UT/Delhi stamp schedule | Around ₹100 for common 11-month references |
| Jammu & Kashmir (UT) | UT schedule | Around ₹100 for certain short-term unregistered agreements |
| Ladakh (UT) | UT schedule | Around ₹100 for certain short-term unregistered agreements |
| Lakshadweep (UT) | Applicable UT stamp schedule | Variable — verify before execution |
| Puducherry (UT) | UT stamp schedule | Variable; applicable Tamil Nadu/Puducherry provisions depend on the instrument |
*The figures above are indicative references, not guaranteed final government charges. The actual stamp duty must be determined from the applicable law, instrument type, tenure, rent, deposit/advance and other relevant factors.
Before payment, the tenant could see:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Government Stamp Duty | ₹XXX |
| Government Registration Fee | ₹XXX |
| eSign / Digital Signing | ₹XX |
| PGfy Agreement Processing | ₹XX |
| Total | ₹XXX |
The government components should be clearly distinguished from PGfy's own service charges.
The amounts and calculation methods presented on this page are provided for general informational purposes only.
Stamp duty and registration charges are determined by the applicable State/Union Territory law and can vary based on the document type, agreement duration, rent, deposit/advance, property, transaction value and other factors.
The figures in this article are indicative references and should not be treated as a final quotation or legal determination. Government authorities may revise rates, exemptions, calculation methods or procedures at any time. Before executing an agreement, the applicable government duty should be verified through the relevant authorised government/e-stamping mechanism.
PGfy does not determine government stamp-duty rates. Where PGfy facilitates e-Agreement processing, the government component and PGfy's own service charges should be displayed separately.