Leasing
Lease Guide: the parts of a commercial lease
Lock-in, escalation, deposit and registration, explained simply, with what to check before you sign.
Updated 13 Oct 2026By S N Enterprises4 min read
In short
- Read the term and the lock-in together: the lock-in is what you're committed to.
- Compare escalation over the whole term, and get the deposit, maintenance and fit-out months in writing.
- Budget for stamp duty and registration, and register with the Rent Authority within 90 days.
In this guide
The parts, one by one
- Lease or licence. What you sign decides what you get: lease vs leave-and-licence.
- Term and lock-in. Three to five years is usual for offices, with a lock-in of one to five: lock-in and escalation.
- Rent and escalation. About 15% every three years, or 4–5% a year.
- Area. Rent is usually on super built-up area; ask for the carpet: carpet, built-up, super built-up.
- Deposit. 6–12 months for Grade A offices, written into the agreement.
- Maintenance and GST. CAM per sq ft, and GST at 18% when the owner is registered.
- Fit-out. What's included, any rent-free months, and who restores at exit: plug-and-play checklist.
- Registration. Stamp duty 1%, fee up to ₹40,000, and the Rent Authority: registering a commercial lease.
- Certificates. Completion certificate and fire licence: what to ask the owner.
Before you sign
- Work out the first payments with the move-in cost calculator.
- Check the carpet area against what your team needs: the space planner.
- Compare the rent with the area's: Rents & Trends.
- Have the deed checked by a lawyer or document writer before stamping.
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Questions
Does SNE draft the lease?
SNE helps you agree the terms with the owner and points you to a document writer for the deed.
What should be in writing?
Everything agreed: deposit and refund, escalation, maintenance, fit-out months, restoration, and notice.
