News: Uttar Pradesh lowers stamp duty and registration fees on lease deeds of up to 10 years to push formal tenancy-17-09-2026
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved lower, simpler stamp duty and registration fees for lease and rent deeds of up to 10 years, aiming to encourage formal tenancy agreements and help implement the Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy Act, 2021. The change could cut the cost of long-term lease deeds by up to 90 per cent.
For annual rent of up to Rs 2 lakh, stamp duty will be Rs 1,000 for terms of up to one year, Rs 2,000 for more than one and up to five years, and Rs 4,000 for more than five and up to 10 years. For rent above Rs 2 lakh and up to Rs 6 lakh, the figures are Rs 3,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000, and for rent above Rs 6 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh, Rs 4,500, Rs 10,000 and Rs 13,000. Registration fees follow the same amounts. Where rent exceeds Rs 10 lakh, the concession covers the first Rs 10 lakh only, and the rest is charged at existing rates. The concession does not apply to toll and mining leases, said principal secretary (stamp and registration) Amit Gupta.
A one-year agreement for rent of up to Rs 2 lakh will now cost Rs 2,000 in total, against Rs 10,000 earlier. For a 10-year lease with annual rent of up to Rs 10 lakh, the cost will fall from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 26,000, media reports said.
High costs had pushed many landlords and tenants to unregistered Rs 100 notarial stamp papers, which offer weaker protection in disputes. Gupta noted that registration is mandatory for leases above one year, yet many remain unregistered. Aradhana Bhansali, Senior Partner at Rajani Associates, said lower, capped charges will make formal leasing easier and let disputes go to Rent Courts rather than the police.
