The famous 10-month deposit is being reined in — but landlords haven't all caught up. Here's the law, the reality, and your real upfront cash.
✓ 2026 · Karnataka Rent (Amendment) Act
💡 New cap: the Karnataka Rent (Amendment) Act caps deposits at 2 months (effective Jan 2026). In practice many landlords still ask 3–10 months — it's negotiable, and 3–5 is increasingly common. Know your leverage.
Deposit the landlord is asking (months)
Cash needed upfront
—
first month + deposit
Rent by area (1-BR / month)
Koramangala / Indiranagar
₹18–35k
HSR / Electronic City
₹12–20k
Whitefield / Marathahalli
₹14–24k
The 11-month trick
Most agreements run 11 months — anything over 12 must be registered at the Sub-Registrar. Stamp duty on sub-12-month agreements is ~0.5% of (annual rent + deposit), usually capped around ₹500.