Before you go
At a glance, Watch Out, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials. 4 min read.
01At a glance
Key facts at a glance
The figures families ask us for first. Each one is explained in its chapter.
- Where you are moving
- Delhi, India's national capital.
- Security deposit
- Three months' rent is standard in Delhi.
- Standard lease
- 24 or 36-month leases are standard, renewable with a 5 to 10% annual escalation. Any tenure over a year must be registered at the Sub-Registrar's office.
- Move-in report
- Your move-in record is made in move.report and reaches you within 24 hours of check-in. You can comment on it for 24 hours from when you receive it. See a sample report.
02Watch Out
What to watch out for
Delhi rewards preparation. These are the realities every intra-India relocator deserves to know before signing a Lease or forming firm expectations. We are honest, especially about the air.
Air pollution · the #1 adjustment
From October to February Delhi's AQI runs 200-500 (Hazardous / Severe). Schools close outdoor sport, GRAP Stage III-IV bans construction, and respiratory symptoms are common. HEPA air purifiers in every bedroom are basic household equipment, not luxury. Negotiate them into your relocation budget. Coming from Bangalore (typically AQI 50-150), it is a big adjustment.
Summer is extreme
May and June reliably touch 45°C+ with dust storms (loo wind). Outdoor activity is restricted to dawn or post-sunset. If you are arriving from Mumbai or Bangalore, the heat will be unfamiliar. AC failure during May is a household crisis, full servicing before March is essential.
Aggressive driving culture
Delhi's driving culture is more aggressive than in Mumbai, Bangalore or Hyderabad. Horn use is constant, lane discipline is loose, and accidents are commonplace. Many senior professionals retain a full-time chauffeur for the first 12 months, quality-of-life and safety decision.
Lease Rules & Negotiation
Delhi uses 24 / 36-month Lease agreements with a 3-month security deposit, 5-10% annual escalation, and semi-furnished standard. Independent floors are the norm, apartment towers are far less common in premium South Delhi. Verbal agreements carry little value in lease discussions, a token amount may need to be paid to block or reserve the apartment. IKAN's legal team reviews all Lease agreements as standard practice; it is also recommended to use your company legal to review any lease drafts. Never transfer a security deposit without a signed Lease in hand.
Water quality
Delhi's tap water has high TDS, occasional contamination, and is not safe to drink directly. RO + UV filtration is mandatory. Bottled water for guests at minimum. Set up filtered piped water before move-in if possible.
School admissions · plan ahead
Top CBSE schools typically have waitlists of 3-6 months with stringent admission criteria and mid-term admissions are difficult. Begin applications before your move whenever possible. IKAN recommends schools based on your corridor and curriculum preference.
Diwali & Karva Chauth Traffic
In the week before Diwali and on Karva Chauth, South Delhi gridlocks completely. Markets, gift exchanges and shopping concentrate traffic in unmanageable volumes. Schedule no important meetings during these windows. Air quality also peaks at its worst during Diwali week.
03Common Questions
Common questions
The questions families ask us most, answered from this guide.
How much security deposit do landlords in Delhi ask for?
Three months' rent is standard in Delhi. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it and gets the figure in writing before you sign.
What is the standard lease length in Delhi?
Leases of 24 or 36 months are standard, renewable with a 5 to 10% rise each year. Any lease over a year must be registered at the Sub-Registrar's office. Three IKAN reviewers check every clause before the lease reaches you.
Which are the best neighbourhoods in Delhi for a relocating family or professional?
This guide profiles 7 areas, and families ask us most about four of them. Dwarka is an affordable, planned sub-city. Vasant Vihar and Vasant Kunj have green apartment blocks in the south-west. Saket and Malviya Nagar are established, good-value parts of South Delhi. Hauz Khas, Green Park and SDA are historic and well connected. The Where to live chapter helps you match a shortlist to your budget and commute.
How does the IKAN move-in inspection work?
On check-in day your consultant photographs every meter, key and fixture. The record is made in move.report and reaches you within 24 hours. You can comment on it for 24 hours from when you receive it, and then it is locked as your move-in baseline. That baseline is what protects your deposit at move-out.
04Go Deeper · IKAN India Essentials
Step by step guides for the paperwork
Each step in this guide has a matching IKAN India Essentials guide. It goes through the forms one by one, and it is the pack your consultant works from. Start with these five.
Renting Your Home
The playbook for a Leave & License (the standard Indian lease): deposits, clauses and registration.
Read the guide
Lease Registration & Stamp Duty
When a lease must be registered, what stamp duty costs and the Sub-Registrar step-by-step.
Read the guide
Rent & the TDS Rule
When higher rents make you, the tenant, deduct and deposit tax on the landlord's behalf.
Read the guide
Schools & Admissions
Curricula, timelines and the admissions paperwork, board by board.
Read the guide
Healthcare in India
Hospitals, insurance networks, pharmacies and everyday care.
Read the guide
Already moving with IKAN?
Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.
Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.