A lease or letting makes you a tenant. The Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999 names both in section 55, and it gives the owner a quick route to take back a licensed home when the period ends. Stamp duty also differs: leave and licence has its own Article 36A.
What the record says
- The Act defines a licensee as a person in occupation under a subsisting agreement for licence given for a licence fee (section 7(5)).
- On expiry a licensee must hand over the home, and the owner applies to the Competent Authority if you do not (section 24(1)).
- A written licence agreement is conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it (section 24, Explanation (b)).
- Stamp duty: Article 36A for a licence of up to 60 months, lease duty under Article 36 for longer.
The basis
Maharashtra law, sections 7(5), 24 and 55 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, and Article 36A of the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958. Coverage: Greater Mumbai is covered. Schedule I, Part I, entry 1 is the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (section 2(1) and 2(2) apply the Act to the areas listed). Section 33(1)(a) also names the Court of Small Causes, Mumbai.
MAHARASHTRA RENT CONTROL ACT, 1999 (FULL TEXT, MAHARASHTRA.GOV.IN) · CHECKED 14 OCT 2026Sources
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 (full text, maharashtra.gov.in), https://maharashtra.gov.in/Upload/PDF/THE_MAHARASHTRA_RENT_CONTROL_ACT.pdf, level 1, read 14 October 2026
- Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958, Schedule I, Articles 36 and 36A, as modified up to 22 July 2026 (igrmaharashtra.gov.in), https://igrmaharashtra.gov.in/pdf/documents/MAHARASHTRA%20STAMP%20ACT%20ARTICLE%20WISE%20dt%2022.07.2026.pdf, level 1, read 14 October 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), https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s30bf727e907c5fc9d5356f11e4c45d613/uploads/2025/09/202509111900892266.pdf, level 1, read 14 October 2026