Moving out of a rented flat in Bangalore

Plan your exit as soon as you decide to leave

Moving out goes smoothly when you start early. Read your rental agreement again, note the date your term ends, and check what it says about notice, the lock-in period and how the deposit is returned. A decision made on the spur of the moment, without checking the notice clause, can cost you a month of rent or a part of your deposit.

Give written notice, on time

Most agreements require written notice before you leave, and the length of notice is stated in the agreement. In the RentRo tenant terms, the lock-in is 11 months and the notice period is 30 days in writing. Whatever your agreement says, follow it exactly:

• Send the notice in writing by email or message and keep a screenshot or copy.
• State the date you plan to hand over the keys.
• Ask the owner or the manager to confirm in writing that they received it.

If you leave before the lock-in ends, check what your agreement says about early exit, because that is the point where most disagreements begin. Our guide to rental agreement basics explains the clauses to look at.

Settle the bills

Before the last day, clear everything that is yours to pay:

• Rent up to the handover date, including any amount due for the notice period.
• Electricity, water and gas, based on a final meter reading that you and the owner or manager note down together.
• Internet or cable, and a request to cancel or transfer the connection.
• Building maintenance charges, if they are billed separately.

Ask for a short note that confirms the final readings and the amounts, even if it is only a message. It is the easiest way to avoid a dispute later about a bill nobody can remember.

Leave the flat as you found it

You are expected to return the flat in the same condition as you received it, apart from normal wear. Normal wear means the small marks that come from living in a home, such as light scuffs on a wall. It does not mean broken fittings, large stains or holes.

1. Take out your belongings and anything you added, such as extra shelves or curtain rods, and repair the marks they leave.
2. Clean the kitchen, bathrooms, floors and windows, and remove all rubbish.
3. Check the inventory you signed at move-in and make sure everything on it is still there and in working order.
4. Report any damage honestly before the handover. It is usually cheaper to discuss it first than to have it found later.

Our move-in checklist is worth keeping in mind from the first day. The photographs you took when you arrived are your best evidence of the condition you started with.

Do a joint walk-through

On the last day, walk through the flat with the owner or manager, room by room. Compare each room with your move-in photographs and the inventory. Note anything that has changed, take new photographs, and write down what you both agree. Then record the meter readings, hand over all the keys and any access cards, and get a written acknowledgement that you handed the flat back on that date.

Understand how the deposit refund works

Your deposit is returned after the owner or manager checks the flat and subtracts any valid deductions. Valid deductions are normally limited to unpaid rent and bills and the cost of damage beyond normal wear. Your agreement should state when the refund is due. In the RentRo tenant terms, the refund is made 7 to 14 days after deductions have been calculated, and any deduction is explained in writing.

If your agreement does not say, ask for the date in writing before you hand over the keys. Ask for the refund to be sent by bank transfer, and ask for an itemised note of any amount held back. If you disagree with a deduction, say so in writing and attach your photographs. A calm, documented discussion settles most disputes. If you cannot reach an agreement, take advice from a lawyer, because the options depend on the facts and on what you signed. This guide is general information and not legal advice.

Keep your records

Keep your agreement, the receipts for rent and deposit, the move-in and move-out photographs, the final meter readings and the notice you sent. Keep them for at least a few months after the refund arrives. If a question comes up later, these papers answer it in minutes.

Moving to another RentRo home

If you are moving because you need a different area or a bigger flat, tell your RentRo contact as early as you can. The onboarding fee of ₹5,000 is paid only once, so moving to another RentRo home carries no new onboarding fee, and we can start showing you homes while you are still serving your notice. If you are still choosing, our guide on how to choose an area to rent in Bangalore helps you compare, and the one on renting without a broker covers the steps again.