PG rules and regulations: a house rules template, and the government rules for PGs
By Giridhar Reddy, founder of Domvio, Bengaluru
Published
PG rules come in two kinds. House rules are the owner's own: rent due date, gate timing, visitors, food, cleanliness and safety, which every resident signs. Government rules are what the PG itself needs: a trade licence, fire safety clearance, food registration for a mess and police details of residents. This page prints the first and lists the second.
Make your PG house rules
Fill in your gate time, visitor hours, meal times, rent due date and notice period. Every rule updates with your answers. Untick anything that doesn't fit, add your own, and print one copy for the notice board and one for each resident to sign.
This template needs JavaScript. To write the rules by hand, use the headings below: rent and deposit, entry and visitors, food, rooms and cleanliness, electricity and appliances, and safety and conduct. Number every rule and end with a line for the resident's name, room and bed, signature and date.
What PG house rules should cover
| Topic | Typical rules |
|---|---|
| Rent and deposit | Rent due date and how to pay, telling the manager before rent is late, how the deposit is refunded, the notice period, KYC and police verification before moving in |
| Entry and visitors | Gate closing time, where visitors may sit and until when, overnight guests, informing the manager when away |
| Food | Meal timings, no residents in the kitchen, telling the kitchen about missed meals, no cooking in rooms |
| Rooms | Keeping your area tidy, cleaning days, room-mate courtesy, no nails or posters on walls, valuables locked away |
| Electricity | Switching off when you leave, which appliances are not allowed, how room electricity is shared |
| Safety and conduct | No smoking, alcohol or drugs, quiet hours, clear exits, lost keys, respect for staff and residents, how to report repairs |
Keep house rules short and fair
Residents follow rules they can remember. Keep the sheet to one page, say why a rule exists where it isn't obvious, and apply it to everyone. Put the notice period and deposit terms in the PG rental agreement as well, because the agreement is what you rely on if there is a dispute.
Government rules for PGs
These are the permits and registrations a PG may need. They differ by state and city and changed in several cities between 2024 and 2026, so treat this as a list of questions for your city corporation, fire service, police station and chartered accountant. Each link has the rules and official sources.
- Trade licence from the city corporation. In Bengaluru, a BBMP order of 7 August 2024 sets ten conditions for a PG trade licence, including CCTV and space per resident. See PG trade licence.
- Fire safety clearance for the building, where the state's rules need one. See fire NOC for a PG.
- FSSAI registration or licence if you cook and serve meals, applied for on the FoSCoS portal. See FSSAI licence for a PG mess.
- GST: PG accommodation of up to ₹20,000 per person per month, for stays of at least 90 days in a row, has been exempt since 15 July 2024 under Notification No. 04/2024-Central Tax (Rate). See GST on PG rent.
- Police details of residents: many cities ask owners to give the police each resident's identity and address. See tenant police verification for each state's route.
The full list, with who needs each permit and where to apply, is in our PG licence checklist. If you are still planning the PG, start with how to start a PG business.
How to put the rules into practice
Give the rules before the deposit
Send the PDF on WhatsApp when someone books a bed, so they agree to the rules before they pay.
Get them signed on move-in day
Each resident signs a copy along with the tenant KYC form, and you keep it with their documents.
Pin a copy where everyone sees it
The reception, the dining area or next to the lift. Update the sheet and re-share it whenever a rule changes.
Apply them the same way every time
A rule that is enforced for one resident and not another causes more arguments than having no rule.
Rent on time from every bed
Domvio sets up your PG by floors, rooms and beds, reminds each resident on WhatsApp three days before rent is due with a UPI link to your own account, and sends a PDF receipt for every payment, UPI or cash. It stores each resident's KYC documents. Free during early access. See PG management software.
Domvio handles rule number one: a WhatsApp rent reminder to every PG bed before the due date, a UPI link to your own account and a PDF receipt for each payment. Free during early access.
Try Domvio freeFrequently asked questions
What are the common rules in a PG?
Rent paid in advance by a fixed date, a gate closing time, visitors only in common areas, set meal times, no cooking or smoking in rooms, quiet hours, and a notice period of 15 to 30 days before leaving.
What are the government rules for PGs in Bangalore?
A trade licence with conditions set by a BBMP order of August 2024, such as CCTV and space per resident, plus fire safety clearance, FSSAI registration if meals are served, and resident details for the police. See the PG trade licence and the PG licence checklist.
Can a PG owner set a gate closing time?
Yes, as a house rule that residents agree to when they join. Tell residents how to inform the manager if they will be late, and apply the rule the same way to everyone.
Should PG residents sign the house rules?
Yes. A signed copy shows the resident agreed to the rules. Keep it with their KYC form and PG rental agreement.
Is GST charged on PG rent?
Beds of up to ₹20,000 per person per month, for stays of 90 days or more, have been exempt since 15 July 2024. Above that, GST may apply. See GST on PG rent.
Stop chasing rent every month
Domvio reminds your tenants on WhatsApp, takes rent straight to your UPI ID and sends PDF receipts automatically. Free during early access.