Leave and License Agreement Word Format (Maharashtra)

A leave and license agreement word format is an editable Microsoft Word template for a leave and licence — the standard document used in Maharashtra (and recognised elsewhere) to let a licensee occupy premises for up to a fixed term without transferring any tenancy right. A usable Word format carries the parties' details, premises, licence period, licence fee, security deposit, and the clauses Maharashtra law treats as mandatory, ready for you to fill, print on stamp paper and register.

Why a leave and licence, not a rent agreement, in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, landlords prefer a leave and licence because it grants permission to occupy rather than a lease interest, which keeps the occupant out of the protections tenants accrue under old rent-control law. Crucially, registration is compulsory: under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, a leave and licence agreement must be registered, and the duty to do so rests on the landlord. An unregistered or under-stamped agreement is not admissible as evidence in court and can attract penalties. Once your draft is ready you can use our leave and license format to produce a clean, clause-complete document.

Clauses a Maharashtra leave and licence Word format must include

These are the provisions a compliant format should contain. Leaving them out is the usual cause of disputes and registration queries.

Stamp duty and registration cost in Maharashtra

Stamp duty on a leave and licence in Maharashtra is governed by the Maharashtra Stamp Act (Article 36A). As of 2026 it is commonly calculated at 0.25% of the total consideration for the licence term — broadly the aggregate licence fee for the full period plus a notional element on the interest-free refundable deposit — with sources also citing a minimum around Rs 500. Registration fees and the exact deposit treatment vary, so always confirm the live figure on the official calculator before you pay.

Because the two commonly published stamp-duty formulas differ on how the deposit is counted, do not rely on a single blog figure. Use the official Maharashtra IGR e-filing portal calculator with your exact fee, term and deposit, or ask a conveyancing lawyer.

How to use the Word format correctly

Fill the editable fields, then print the first page onto the stamp paper (or pay stamp duty through the e-registration flow) and keep continuation sheets on plain paper. Both parties and two witnesses sign, and the agreement is registered — Maharashtra now allows the entire draft-sign-pay-register sequence online, with authorised service providers phased out so parties deal with the portal directly. For the full online walkthrough see our leave and licence online (IGR) guide, and to understand why this document differs from an ordinary tenancy read leave and licence vs rent agreement.

Common mistakes with Word templates

Downloaded Word formats often omit the registration and lock-in clauses, use a residential template for commercial premises, or leave the deposit refund timeline blank. Another frequent error is treating notarisation as a substitute for registration — it is not, because Section 55 requires registration. Finally, under-stamping to save a few hundred rupees can make the whole agreement inadmissible if a dispute reaches court, which defeats the purpose of signing one. Spend the stamp duty, register it, and keep the stamped and registered copy safe.

Is a Word format legally enough?

A Word format is only the drafting stage. The document becomes legally robust in Maharashtra once it is correctly stamped and registered; the file format itself carries no legal weight. A clean, clause-complete Word template helps you avoid gaps, but the binding steps are the stamp duty and registration. This guide is general information current as of 2026 and not legal advice — for high-value or commercial premises, have a lawyer review the draft before registration, and always verify stamp duty and registration fees against the official Maharashtra portal on the day you register.

Why 11 months — and when to use a longer term

Leave and licence agreements are classically written for 11 months. Historically this kept a document below the 12-month line that triggered heavier registration and tenancy-protection consequences under older law; in Maharashtra, registration is required regardless, but the 11-month convention persists and keeps renewals flexible. You can run a licence up to 60 months, and a longer term can suit a stable tenant — just remember stamp duty is charged on the total consideration for the whole term, so a 36-month agreement costs more in duty up front than three successive 11-month ones. Decide based on how settled the arrangement is, not just habit.

Residential vs commercial: use the right format

A residential leave and licence and a commercial one are not interchangeable. A commercial format should add use-of-premises restrictions tied to the business, GST handling where applicable, fit-out and signage rights, and often a longer lock-in. Using a residential Word template for a shop or office leaves gaps that surface in disputes — for example, who restores the premises at exit, or whether the licensee can display a board. Pick a template that matches the actual use, and have commercial terms reviewed by a lawyer given the larger sums involved.

Police verification of the occupant

Many Maharashtra cities expect landlords to complete tenant (occupant) police verification, and some police commissionerates provide an online form for it. While this is separate from registering the leave and licence, it is a practical step landlords should not skip, as failing to verify an occupant can attract penalties in some jurisdictions. Build a clause into the agreement requiring the licensee to provide ID and photographs for this purpose so the obligation is clear from the start.

What to attach and what you receive

For e-registration you typically need the parties' and witnesses' identity and address proof (such as Aadhaar and PAN), passport-size photographs, and property details; biometric capture is part of the online flow. Once stamp duty is paid and registration completes, you receive a registered copy with a unique document number that you can verify on the IGR portal. Keep that registered copy safe — it is the document that is admissible in court, not the unstamped Word file you started from.

Residential leave and licence: a filling checklist

• Confirm both parties' legal names exactly as on their ID.
• State the premises address, carpet/built-up area and included fittings.
• Set the licence period with precise start and end dates.
• Write the monthly licence fee, due date and any escalation.
• State the deposit amount, whether it is refundable, and the refund window.
• Allocate society maintenance, electricity and water clearly.
• Add the lock-in and notice period both sides must honour.
• Pay the correct stamp duty and register — do not stop at a signed printout.

Completing every item above before registration is what turns a generic template into an enforceable document. Skipping the deposit terms or the lock-in is the most common cause of later disputes.

Renewal, exit and deposit refund

A leave and licence ends on the date stated, so plan the renewal or exit before then. For a renewal, the simplest approach is a fresh agreement for the new term, stamped and registered again — you cannot silently extend a registered document by occupation alone without exposing both sides to disputes. At exit, the security deposit should be refunded within the window the agreement specifies, less any agreed deductions for damage or unpaid dues; a joint inspection of the premises at handover, with photographs, prevents arguments over what was damage versus fair wear. Spelling out the refund timeline and the deduction basis in the Word format from the start is what makes the exit smooth.

Keeping the agreement enforceable

An enforceable leave and licence is one that is correctly drafted, correctly stamped and registered, and backed by a clean record of payments. In Maharashtra, registration is handled by the Department of the Inspector General of Registration, and in cities such as Mumbai and Pune online leave-and-licence registration is now widely used. Keep the registered copy, the stamp-duty payment proof and the licence-fee receipts together, because together they establish both the terms and your compliance with them. If a dispute ever reaches a court or tribunal, the registered agreement is the document that carries weight, and the payment trail is what demonstrates performance. A well-drafted Word format is only the starting point; the stamp, the registration and the record-keeping are what give it force.

This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are approximate and change over time — always verify with a qualified professional or the official source before making a decision.

Written and reviewed by the Rent Agreement Generator editorial team. Facts checked against primary sources; see the reference above.

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