How to manage your property in India from abroad

What do you need before you rent out your flat from abroad?

Do you need a power of attorney? Specific or general?

A power of attorney (PoA) lets someone in India act for you. You don't need one if you can sign and register every document yourself, but most NRIs find one essential for registering agreements, police verification and society paperwork.

• Signing abroad. According to NRI Information's guide, you sign before a notary and get an apostille if your country is in the Hague Apostille Convention. In other countries, or where the Indian bank or registrar insists, you get it attested at the Indian embassy or consulate. Ask the office in India that will rely on the PoA which one it accepts before you sign.
• Stamping in India. The same guide says a PoA signed abroad must be stamped in India within three months of arriving in India. Stamp duty is set by each state, so the cost differs between, say, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Registration. A PoA to sell or transfer property usually has to be registered. For a PoA only to rent out and manage a flat, sources differ by state on whether registration is needed. Check with the sub-registrar's office or a local lawyer.
• Choose the holder carefully and keep the powers narrow. You can cancel a PoA, but undoing what someone did with it is hard.

Which rent agreement should an NRI use?

Most flats in India are let on a leave and licence agreement for 11 months, renewed each year. Under section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, a lease from year to year or for more than a year must be registered. Shorter agreements can still be registered, and that is worth doing. In Maharashtra, section 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999 says leave and licence agreements must be in writing and registered, whatever their length. Rules differ by state.

For a sample, see our rent agreement format. As an NRI, also add these clauses:

• That you are a non-resident, and the tenant will deduct TDS and give you Form 131 every quarter. See TDS on rent paid to an NRI.
• The bank account (usually your NRO account) or UPI ID that rent goes to, and the due date.
• The name and phone number of your caretaker or attorney, as the local contact.
• Your right to inspect with notice, through your caretaker or in person.
• Who pays electricity, water, society maintenance and minor repairs.
• Notice period, lock-in and how the deposit will be returned.

Tenant police verification from abroad

Police in many Indian cities ask landlords to submit their tenants' details, and some states let you do it online. Rules and forms differ by city. Your caretaker or attorney can usually complete it with the tenant's ID and photo, and you should keep the acknowledgement. Read the steps in our tenant police verification guide.

How can an NRI collect rent from tenants in India?

1. 1

   Use your NRO account

   The RBI's FAQ on accounts by non-residents describes the NRO account as the one for income earned in India, and lists sending current income such as rent abroad as an allowed use once tax is paid. Give your tenant the NRO account details or a UPI ID linked to it.

2. 2

   Accept bank transfer or UPI

   Tenants can pay by NEFT or IMPS to your NRO account. In January 2023, NPCI allowed banks to offer UPI on NRE and NRO accounts with mobile numbers from 10 countries, including the US, UK, UAE, Canada, Singapore and Australia (summary of the NPCI circular). Not every bank offers it, and the list may have changed since, so ask your bank whether your NRO account can have a UPI ID.

3. 3

   Make sure the tenant deducts TDS

   Your tenant must deduct TDS from every rent payment, 31.2% for most rents in FY 2026-27, and pay you the rest. Our TDS on rent paid to NRI calculator shows the split.

4. 4

   Send reminders and keep receipts

   Someone has to remind the tenant before the due date and record what came in. That can be a relative, a management company or an app.

Caretaker, property management company or an app?

Most NRIs use a mix. Here is an honest comparison. Domvio is software, not a service: nobody from Domvio visits your flat, finds tenants or fixes things.

A common setup is to keep the money and records with you, and give the caretaker only the physical jobs. When Domvio's NRI mode launches, you will be able to give a family member or caretaker co-access to a property, so they can see rent status and raise maintenance requests while rent still goes to your account.

Inspections, maintenance and repairs

• Inspect at least once a year, and at every move-in and move-out. Ask your caretaker for dated photos and a short video of each room, meters and fittings.
• Ask tenants to report problems in writing, with photos, so you and your caretaker see the same issue without a string of phone calls. Rent apps such as Domvio let tenants raise maintenance requests with photos and a priority.
• Agree a repair limit your caretaker can spend without asking you, and keep bills.
• Store the paperwork in one place. Keep the agreement, ID copies and police verification acknowledgement in one place you can reach from abroad, such as a shared drive.

Property tax, utilities and society dues

• Property tax is paid to the city corporation, such as BBMP in Bengaluru. Most cities take it online. It stays your responsibility even when the flat is let, and it reduces the taxable rent.
• Electricity and water are usually paid by the tenant. Note the meter readings at move-in and move-out, and check the bills are being paid so arrears don't pile up in your name.
• Society maintenance is often paid by the tenant in apartments, but the society may still look to you as the owner. Say who pays in the agreement.

Tax on rent and TDS for NRIs

Rent from property in India is taxed in India even if you live abroad. Your tenant deducts TDS, 31.2% for most rents in FY 2026-27, under section 393(2) of the Income-tax Act, 2025. You then file an Indian income tax return, and claim a refund if the TDS was more than your actual tax (ClearTax explains the refund route). Rates, the new forms and a calculator are on our TDS on rent paid to NRI page. Domvio's NRI Essential plan, coming soon, will add quarterly TDS summaries. It is not tax advice, so confirm your position with a chartered accountant.

Can you send the rent abroad?

Yes, once tax is paid. The RBI's FAQ says the bank must be satisfied that tax has been paid or provided for, and that NRIs may also credit current income to an NRE account. Separately, it lets NRIs remit up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO balances and other eligible assets.

What if the tenant stops paying?

This is where the registered agreement, police verification and payment records pay off. Act early: a polite reminder, then a written notice, then a lawyer. Don't let your caretaker cut the power or change the locks, which can land you in trouble. Read what to do when a tenant is not paying rent.

Frequently asked questions