Ethan’s Essentials For Renting In Dehradun

So you’re planning to rent a house or apartment in Dehradun, but how do you begin? You might wonder, ‘what’s the process for renting in India?’ Fortunately we’ve been through the process as foreigners ourselves, and have come up with these essential tips for renting your home sweet home in the foothills of the Himalayas:

Do a little research before you travel

The operative word here is ‘little’. There is actually not a lot you can reliably find out online before you come to Dehradun. Some things you can find out are general information about location/neighborhoods, proximity to work or school, etc. Anything else will likely have to wait until you arrive. Anything you see online is unlikely to look the same in-person.

Get local insight

If you have a trusted friend or associate in Dehradun, and they can preview properties for you, this can be a great way to get reliable information about housing options before you arrive.

Arrange temporary housing

Plan to stay in a hotel, guesthouse, or other temporary housing for the first week or two while you find your new home.

Hire a property agent or two to show you properties

You should always visit the property before you commit, no matter how nice the pictures and location look online. Once you decide on your perfect place, it’s normal for the tenant and the landlord each to contribute half of one month’s rent to the property agent as a commission, or finder’s fee.

Get a rental agreement

The Rental Agreement is an official document that must be registered in court, and is an important part of establishing your residency in Dehradun. Copies of this document will be required for a host of other things like registering with immigration, opening bank accounts, getting a license, buying a vehicle, and much more. Rental agreements are often made out for only 11 months at a time, and may include wording about a standard 10% annual increase in rent. You will need to read the rental agreement carefully, and negotiate these terms with your landlord. If you are renting in an apartment complex, you may have additional elements like association or maintenance fees.

Get your Form ‘C’ registration

All foreigners are required to be registered wherever they are staying- even if its only for a night or two. If your landlord hasn’t registered your Form ‘C’, avoid headaches later by registering yourself online.

ABOUT ETHAN
Ethan moved to Dehradun in 2015 with his family, and has enjoyed introducing people to this amazing city ever since. He loves exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and geeking out about culture. Ethan stays busy developing and running cross-cultural trainings, helping out newcomers to the area, and taking pictures of this incredible part of the world in his spare time.

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