Section 56 lets an owner take a deposit and names no cap. The central Model Tenancy Act is only a model, and each state must adopt it. We found no Maharashtra law that adopts it. So the amount is a matter of agreement.
01
What the record says
- The Act text has no cap on deposits (sections 55 and 56 read).
- The Housing Department lists the Rent Control Act as the state rent law. It lists no tenancy law or Model Tenancy Act.
- The Ministry of Housing says tenancies follow each state's own rental law and states are advised to adopt the model.
- Owners in our listing read ask for about three months of rent. That is practice, not law.
02
The basis
[ THE LAW ]
Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, sections 55 and 56, and Housing Department list of Acts, read 14 Oct 2026
MAHARASHTRA RENT CONTROL ACT, 1999, WITH SCHEDULES I TO III (LAW AND JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT COPY, AS MODIFIED UP TO 8 FEB 2016, LISTED ON HOUSING.MAHARASHTRA.GOV.IN) · CHECKED 14 OCT 2026
03
Sources
Where it comes from. Level 1 is a government page; level 2 established press; level 3 a portal. Our own read of public listings is named as ours.
- Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, with Schedules I to III (Law and Judiciary Department copy, as modified up to 8 Feb 2016, listed on housing.maharashtra.gov.in), https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s30bf727e907c5fc9d5356f11e4c45d613/uploads/2025/09/202509111900892266.pdf, level 1, read 14 October 2026
- Maharashtra Housing Department, Acts and Rules page (lists the Rent Control Act and no tenancy or Model Tenancy Act), https://housing.maharashtra.gov.in/en/document-category/acts-rules/, level 1, read 14 October 2026
- PIB, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Lok Sabha reply on the Model Tenancy Act (states advised to adopt), https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1779681, level 1, read 14 October 2026
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Related
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