Mumbai (earlier known as Bombay) is the capital of Maharashtra. It is a metropolitan city. People from all across the world come here for job or business purposes. That results in looking for accommodation that is within their budget and close to their workplace. The Property Management Company in India can help provide rental accommodation. While renting out a property, police verification of tenants in Mumbai is important these days before the landowner finalizes any tenant.
So this article deals with:
a) Why is police verification mandatory?
b) How to conduct tenant police verification?
c) Repercussions of not carrying out police verification
Contents
A) WHY IS POLICE VERIFICATION OF TENANTS MANDATORY?
When people move to new cities, they look for rental properties to get convenient housing options. Thus, Police verification is necessary for the landlord. This verification is done to check the criminal background of the tenant. Failure to do so makes the landlord liable.
Recently, an FIR was lodged against a landlord for not getting the police verification done before renting a house, the Hindustan Times reported.
B) HOW TO CONDUCT THE TENANT POLICE VERIFICATION?
Police verification of tenants is done in two ways: Offline and Online
Here is the step-by-step guide for both methods:
OFFLINE METHOD
This method is useful in areas where:
- access to online facilities is not available
- where people are not tech-friendly.
This is a hassle-free process. Follow the following steps in this case:
| STEP 1: Visit the nearest police station and collect the Tenant Police Verification form. This form is free of cost. Carry the following self-attested documents along with you: a) Two passport size photographs of the tenant and the landlord b) ID proof of the tenant (Adhaar card/ Ration card/ Driving license) c) ID proof of the Landlord d) Address proof of the property being rented e) PAN Card |
| STEP 2: Fill out the form provided by the Police authorities. Attach the required documents along with it including the Leave and License Agreement. |
| STEP 3: Once you submit, you’ll get an acknowledgment receipt. Keep this receipt safely for future reference. |
ONLINE METHOD
In this method, follow the below-mentioned process:
| STEP 1: Register the tenant’s details online. Visit the online portal. The link for sharing details is given below: https://mumbaipolice.gov.in/TenantForm?ps_id=0  |
STEP 2: Fill in the property owner’s details |
STEP 3: Mention the rented property details. |
Step 4: Fill in the tenant details, his workplace details. Documents required for ID Proof are Driving License/ PAN/ Aadhaar card/ Valid Passport. |
Step 5: Mention two references along with their contact details.  |
| Step 6: And then press the submit button. The landlord will receive an OTP on his registered contact number. NOTE: The form is incomplete without OTP. |
Step 7: Enter the OTP |
| Step 8: Click on the submit button. As soon as you submit, you’ll get a form. Save that form as a PDF file or take printouts as and when required. |
NOTE:
- OTP is sent to the owner’s contact number
- When the contact number is submitted by the tenant or the Landlord, keep that phone handy as an OTP is sent for confirmation on the number submitted.
- The Homeowner’s address and the leased property should not be the same.
- A false police report is a punishable offense.
In case, a Real Estate Agent is involved in that transaction, then their details are also required to be submitted.
| 1) The contact number of the Real Estate Agent |
| 2) Residential Address |
| 3) Official Address |
C) REPERCUSSIONS OF NOT CARRYING OUT THE POLICE VERIFICATION
As per Section 188 of IPC, “It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or contemplate his as likely to produce harm. It is sufficient that he knows of the order, which he disobeys and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.”
So if the landlord fails to carry out police verification of tenants and in case there is any risk of obstruction or injury to any person, there will be a fine imposed not exceeding Rs. 200 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month or both.
Police verification of tenants is important for the landlord to maintain reliability. And every time the property is provided on rent, or at the time of renewal, the landlord is recommended to submit a police verification form.
NOTE: This process is free of cost and the government does not charge for this service. It is a crucial process for the safety of property owners as well as for the tenants.
Also read : A quick guide on lease deed