Since 2021, renting in Lucknow and the rest of urban Uttar Pradesh has been governed by the Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021. It replaced the old 1972 rent control law. Most tenants and many owners have never read it, so here are the parts that matter in daily life.
A written agreement, and telling the Rent Authority
- Every tenancy should have a written agreement.
- The law requires the landlord and tenant to inform the Rent Authority about the tenancy. The Rent Authority is an officer appointed at district level. Once informed, it issues a unique identification number for the tenancy.
- Summaries of the law give slightly different deadlines for this, so check the current rule with the Rent Authority's office or a lawyer when you sign.
Security deposit limits
- For a home, the security deposit cannot be more than two months' rent.
- For shops and other non-residential premises, the limit is six months' rent.
- The deposit is to be refunded when the owner gets the vacant property back, after deducting any amount the tenant genuinely owes.
Rent increases
The law sets yearly rates for rent revision: 5% a year for homes and 7% a year for non-residential premises, compounded yearly. If the owner and tenant cannot agree on a revised rent, either can apply to the Rent Authority, which can look at market rents in the surrounding area. Commentators differ on exactly when these caps apply, so put the yearly increase in your written agreement and avoid surprises.
Duties on both sides
The owner: - cannot cut off essential services like water or electricity to pressure a tenant. The tenant can ask the Rent Authority to have them restored; - must accept rent and give receipts. If an owner refuses rent, the law gives the tenant ways to pay it officially.
The tenant: - cannot sublet or transfer the tenancy without a supplementary agreement with the owner; - must carry out the repairs that the agreement makes the tenant's job. If not, the owner can do them and adjust the cost from the deposit; - has to pay increased rent if staying on after the tenancy ends.
Disputes and eviction
Disputes go to the Rent Authority first, with appeals to the Rent Tribunal (a district judge). According to legal summaries, an owner can seek eviction for things like two months of unpaid rent or a tenant staying on after the agreement ends.
What the law does not cover
Government property, company or university housing given to employees, and some religious, trust and Waqf properties are outside the Act.
Our advice
A clear written agreement solves most problems before they start: rent, deposit, yearly increase, notice period, who pays maintenance, and the condition of the flat at move-in. We help owners and tenants put that in writing for every home we let.
Looking for a home in Lucknow? See the properties we have for rent. Own a flat? List it with us.
This is general information as of October 2026, not legal advice. Check the Act or a lawyer for your situation.