On this page
Short answer: there is no single national law, but in many cities the police require landlords and PG owners to submit details of every tenant, and owners have been prosecuted for not doing it. Most states now let you do it online through the state police citizen portal or app; elsewhere you submit a form at the local police station. Below is the state-by-state route, the documents you need, and a free printable form.
Quick steps
- Collect the tenant’s photo ID, permanent address proof, a passport photo and the agreement.
- Find the police station that covers the rented property.
- Submit on your state’s portal or app (table below), or at that police station.
- Keep the acknowledgement or reference number with the tenant’s file.
Fill everything once with our free tenant police verification form, then copy it into the portal or print it.
Is tenant police verification mandatory?
It depends on where the property is. The obligation comes from local prohibitory orders issued by a Police Commissioner or District Magistrate — today under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which replaced Section 144 CrPC. These orders usually run for about 60 days and are renewed.
Where such an order is in force, failing to inform the police is an offence under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — “disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant” — which replaced IPC Section 188 from 1 July 2024. The penalty can be up to six months’ simple imprisonment or a fine up to ₹2,500 (higher if the disobedience endangers life or safety).
This is not theoretical: in August 2026 Pune police booked 113 landlords and PG operators under BNS 223 for not submitting tenant details, and Chandigarh and Jalandhar police have booked owners the same way. On the other hand, Kerala Police said in September 2026 that a tenant clearance certificate is not mandatory there.
Safe practice: verify every tenant and every PG resident at move-in, wherever you are.
State-wise: where and how to submit
| State / city | How to submit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Telangana (Hyderabad) | Hyderabad City Police Hawk Eye app (tenant registration), or the form at the local police station. The TS Police PVC portal is for government employees, not tenants. Hawk Eye app (PDF guide) | Police warned landlords in July 2026 to verify tenants. |
| Karnataka (Bengaluru) | Submit at the local police station. We found no tenant-verification service on Seva Sindhu or the state police site. | Bengaluru PG trade-licence norms (2024) add CCTV, a 24×7 guard and 70 sq ft per resident. |
| Maharashtra — Mumbai | Online “Tenant Information” form on the Mumbai Police site (OTP to owner’s mobile), at the police station, or by registered post. Mumbai Police tenant form | Mumbai Police says no police NOC is needed to rent a flat — only tenant information. |
| Maharashtra — Pune, Thane, Navi Mumbai | Pune: Maharashtra Police citizen portal. Thane and Navi Mumbai have their own online forms. Maharashtra Police citizen portal | Pune police booked 113 landlords and PG operators in Aug 2026 for not submitting tenant details. |
| Delhi | Online through Delhi Police citizen services (“Domestic Help / Tenant Registration”), or at the police station. Delhi Police citizen services | A PG regulation bill was proposed in Sept 2026 (not yet law). |
| Tamil Nadu (Chennai) | Tenant verification request on the TN Police citizen portal, or at the police station. TN Police citizen portal | A fee applies on the portal. |
| Haryana (Gurugram) | Online through Haryana Police services (HarSamay / e-Saral / JanSahayak app), or at the police station. Haryana Police service fees | Official fee ₹50; delivered within 21 days under Right to Service. |
| Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Noida) | Lucknow: online tenant verification on the Lucknow Police site (covers houses and PGs). Elsewhere: UPCOP app or police station. Lucknow Police tenant verification | Lucknow’s form lists PG as a property type. |
| West Bengal (Kolkata) | Online “Residential Tenant’s Profile Form” linked from the Kolkata Police site, or at the police station. Kolkata Police | |
| Andhra Pradesh | Submit at the local police station; online police verification on the AP Police citizen portal was marked “coming soon” when we checked. AP Police citizen portal | |
| Kerala | Optional police clearance certificate through the Thuna portal. Thuna (Kerala Police) | Kerala Police said in Sept 2026 that a tenant clearance certificate is not mandatory. |
| Gujarat (Ahmedabad) | “Tenant Registration” on the Gujarat Police citizen portal, or at the police station. Gujarat Police citizen portal | Ahmedabad police have filed cases against landlords who did not register tenants. |
| Rajasthan (Jaipur) | RajCop Citizen app (tenant verification with status tracking), or at the police station. RajCop Citizen app | |
| Punjab | Tenant Verification Form on the Punjab Police Saanjh portal, or at a Saanjh Kendra. Saanjh portal | Fees and timelines differ between the portal and district schedules — check yours. |
| Chandigarh | “Tenant Verification” on the Chandigarh Police e-Saathi portal, or at the police station. Chandigarh Police e-Saathi | Required under the District Magistrate’s orders; owners have been booked for not verifying. |
| Madhya Pradesh | “Tenant / PG Information” service on the MP Police citizen portal (register first). MP Police citizen portal | Covers PGs explicitly. |
Links go to official police websites or apps, checked on 10 October 2026. Portals change — if a link moves, search your state police “citizen portal”. Spotted a change? Email support@mypgmanager.com and we will update this table.
Documents and details you will need
Official forms (for example Mumbai Police’s tenant form and Lucknow Police’s) ask for broadly the same things:
| About | Details |
|---|---|
| Owner | Name, photo, mobile (for OTP), email, address, ID |
| Property | Full address, police station covering it, agreement start and end dates, rent |
| Tenant | Name, photo, father’s/spouse’s name, permanent address with district and police station, ID type and number, mobile, email, occupation, people staying with them |
| Work | Employer or college and its address |
| References | One or two people who know the tenant, with phone numbers |
| Attachments | Tenant’s photo ID and address proof, passport photo, copy of the rent or PG agreement |
The process, step by step
- Identify the right police station — the one covering the rented property, not the owner’s home.
- Register on the portal or app with the owner’s mobile number (most use OTP).
- Enter owner, property, tenant, workplace and reference details, and upload the photo and ID.
- Pay the fee if there is one. Official examples: Haryana ₹50. Many portals charge nothing for tenant information.
- Submit and save the reference number.
- Police check the tenant’s background, which can involve their home district if they are from another state.
- Download the report or certificate where your state issues one.
Official timelines are rare. Haryana’s Right to Service limit is 21 days.
Extra points for PG and hostel owners
- Every resident counts. Several portals — MP Police’s “Tenant / PG Information” service and Lucknow Police’s form — explicitly cover PGs.
- High turnover means a routine. Make verification part of check-in, alongside the agreement and house rules, rather than a monthly catch-up.
- Bengaluru PG trade-licence norms from 2024 require CCTV at entrances and corridors, a 24×7 guard and at least 70 sq ft per resident; in September 2026 the Karnataka High Court asked authorities to frame a consolidated PG safety protocol.
- Delhi proposed a PG regulation bill in September 2026 with licensing and police clearance — not yet law, but a sign of where rules are heading.
- Keep residents’ ID documents in one secure place. An app such as My PG Manager stores each tenant’s ID and agreement with their record, so details are ready whenever police or a portal ask.
Handling tenants’ ID documents safely
- Collect only what the form needs, and store copies securely — not in a shared WhatsApp group.
- Mask all but the last four digits of Aadhaar on copies you keep for your own records; police forms may need the full number.
- Write “for police verification only” on photocopies you hand over.
- Delete or return documents you no longer need after a tenant leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is tenant police verification mandatory in India?
There is no national law, but local orders under Section 163 BNSS make it compulsory in many cities, and not complying is an offence under Section 223 BNS. Kerala has said it is not mandatory there. Treat it as required unless your local police say otherwise.
Who should apply — the landlord or the tenant?
The landlord or PG owner submits the details; the tenant provides documents and signs.
Can I do tenant verification online?
In most states, yes — through the state police citizen portal or app listed above. Bengaluru and Andhra Pradesh currently work mainly through the police station.
How long does tenant verification take?
It varies. Haryana’s official limit is 21 days; elsewhere it is often one to two weeks, longer if the tenant’s home district has to report.
Is police NOC needed to rent a flat?
Usually no. Mumbai Police, for example, says no NOC is required — you only submit tenant information.
Do I need to verify PG residents who stay only a month?
Where an order is in force it applies to all tenants and paying guests regardless of the length of stay, so yes.
Sources
- BNS Section 223 text and penalties — devgan.in.
- Pune police action under BNS 223 / BNSS 163 (Aug 2026) — Punekar News.
- Kerala: clearance not mandatory (Sept 2026) — Kerala Kaumudi.
- Haryana official service fees and timelines — Haryana Police.
- Mumbai Police tenant information form — mumbaipolice.gov.in.
- Karnataka High Court on Bengaluru PG safety (Sept 2026) — Bar & Bench.
- Delhi PG regulation proposal (Sept 2026) — Business Today.
Last reviewed: 10 October 2026. General information, not legal advice — confirm the current order with your local police station.
We build My PG Manager, the app PG and hostel owners use for rooms, tenants, rent collection and WhatsApp reminders. Our guides come from running it with owners across India.
