Renting Out Property in Pakistan: Tenancy Agreement and Tenant Registration Checklist for Landlords
Before handing over the keys, every landlord in Pakistan should have a written tenancy agreement, register the tenant with the police and keep clean records. This checklist walks through each step, with the rules from the Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009 and the tenant registration process in…
Landlord checklist before renting out property
Finding a tenant is the easy part. What protects you later, when rent is late, a tenant refuses to leave, or the police ask who is living in your property, is what you did before handing over the keys.
This checklist covers the three things every landlord in Pakistan should get right: a proper written tenancy agreement, registering the tenant with the police, and keeping records you can rely on. It focuses on Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad, where most rental property is located.
Important: this article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures change, and they differ by province. For a specific dispute or a high-value property, speak to a lawyer.
Step 1: Verify the Tenant Before You Agree
Before discussing rent, collect the basics:
- A copy of the tenant's CNIC, and the CNICs of adult family members or staff who will live in the property.
- Current address and the previous landlord's contact, if they are willing to share it.
- Workplace or business details and a reachable phone number.
- Two passport-size photographs, which you will need for police registration anyway.
Call the previous landlord if possible. One short conversation about whether rent was paid on time and whether the property was left in good condition tells you more than any form.
Step 2: Put the Tenancy in Writing
In Punjab, the Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009 is clear on this. Section 5 says a landlord shall not let out premises to a tenant except through a tenancy agreement, and the landlord is required to present that agreement to the Rent Registrar, who records it, affixes a seal, keeps a copy and returns the original.
Even outside Punjab, a written agreement is the single most useful document you will have if anything goes wrong.
What the agreement should contain
Section 6 of the Punjab Act lists what a tenancy agreement should include. It is a useful checklist for any province:
- Full particulars of the landlord and the tenant.
- A clear description of the premises, including the unit or shop number.
- The period of the tenancy, with start and end dates.
- The monthly rent.
- The rate at which rent will be increased, if any.
- The due date for rent and how it will be paid.
- The landlord's bank account details, if rent is to be paid into a bank.
- The purpose of use, residential or commercial.
- Any advance rent, security deposit or pagri, with exact amounts.
A few additions that save arguments later:
- Who pays electricity, gas, water and maintenance or service charges.
- The notice period either side must give before leaving.
- The condition of the property at handover, ideally with dated photos.
- What will be deducted from the security deposit, and when it will be returned.
When rent is due if the agreement is silent
Under Section 7 of the Punjab Act, the tenant must pay rent in the mode and by the date written in the agreement. If no date is written, rent is due by the tenth of the following month, and if no payment mode is written, it should be paid by money order or bank deposit. This is a good reason to write both clearly.
What happens if the tenancy does not follow the Act
Section 9 of the Punjab Act deals with non-compliance. If a tenancy does not conform to the Act, the Rent Tribunal will not hear the landlord's application unless the landlord deposits a fine equal to ten percent of the annual rent. For a tenant, the fine is five percent. In practice, this means an unwritten or unregistered tenancy makes it slower and more expensive for you to go to the Rent Tribunal when you need it most.
Step 3: Register the Tenant With the Police
This is the step many landlords skip, and it can have serious consequences.
Punjab
The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015 requires information about a tenant to be given to the police within fifteen days of handing over possession of the rented premises. The duty applies to the landlord, the tenant and the property dealer, and if one of them provides the information, the others are not held responsible. The Act, as published by the Punjab government, provides for imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of between ten thousand and one hundred thousand rupees for failing to do so.
Punjab Police lets you register tenants at the local police station, at a Police Khidmat Markaz, or online through the Punjab Police tenant registration portal and public app.
Sindh
In Karachi and the rest of Sindh, landlords are expected to provide tenant information to the local police. Sindh Police introduced an online tenant registration system in late 2025, so owners can submit tenant details from home instead of visiting a police station. The Karachi Police website also explains the in-person process.
Islamabad
In Islamabad, tenant registration is done at the Police Khidmat Markaz or the nearest police station. Islamabad Police asks for the original and copies of the CNICs of both the owner and the tenant, passport-size photos of both, and the rental agreement. The tenant needs to be present.
Whatever your city, keep a copy of the registration slip or confirmation with the tenancy agreement.
Step 4: Document the Handover
On the day you hand over the keys:
- Take dated photos or a short video of every room, fitting and meter.
- Note the electricity, gas and water meter readings.
- List any furniture, appliances or fixtures included in the rent.
- Get the tenant to sign the handover note along with you.
This ten-minute exercise is what settles most security deposit disputes when the tenant leaves.
Step 5: Keep a Clean Record of Every Payment
From the first month, record every rent payment with the date, amount, method and a reference number, whether it is a bank transfer, cheque, cash or mobile wallet payment. Give a receipt for cash. If a dispute ever reaches the Rent Tribunal, a clear, dated payment history is far stronger than recollection.
Step 6: Track Renewal and Exit Dates
Mark the agreement end date and the notice period somewhere you will actually see it. Start the renewal conversation at least a month or two before expiry. If the tenant is leaving, schedule the exit inspection, compare it with the handover photos, settle utility bills and return the security deposit according to what the agreement says.
A Quick Checklist to Save
- Tenant CNIC and photos collected and verified.
- Written tenancy agreement signed, with all the details listed above.
- Agreement presented to the Rent Registrar where required, such as in Punjab.
- Tenant registered with the police within the deadline, with confirmation kept.
- Handover photos, meter readings and inventory signed.
- Rent due date and payment method written in the agreement.
- Payment record started from month one.
- Agreement end date and notice period tracked.
Keeping It Organized as You Grow
For one property, a folder and a notebook are enough. With several units, keeping track of agreement dates, registration confirmations, deposits and payments gets harder. Nexora Property ERP keeps tenant profiles, rent collection, lease dates and maintenance requests in one place, so you can see which agreements are expiring and which tenants are behind without searching through files. It does not replace the legal steps above, but it makes sure you do not forget them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a written rent agreement compulsory in Punjab?
Yes. Section 5 of the Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009 says a landlord shall not let out premises except through a tenancy agreement, which the landlord must present to the Rent Registrar.
Within how many days must a tenant be registered with the police in Punjab?
Under the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015, information about the tenant must be given to the police within fifteen days of handing over possession.
Can I register my tenant online?
In Punjab you can use the Punjab Police tenant registration portal or public app, and Sindh Police launched an online tenant registration system in late 2025. In Islamabad, registration is done at the Police Khidmat Markaz or a police station.
What documents are needed for tenant registration?
Typically the CNICs of the owner and tenant, passport-size photos, and a copy of the rental agreement. Islamabad Police also asks for originals for verification and requires the tenant to be present.
When is rent due if the agreement does not say?
Under Section 7 of the Punjab Act, rent is due by the tenth of the following month, paid by money order or bank deposit, if the agreement does not specify a date or mode.
Is this article legal advice?
No. It is general information based on published laws and police guidance. Procedures change and differ by province, so consult a lawyer for your specific situation.
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