Security deposit in Mumbai when you share a flat: how much, and how to get it back

By The JoinMyFlat team · Updated 23 October 2026 · 8 min read

What the deposit is for

The security deposit is money the owner holds as protection against unpaid rent, unpaid bills and damage. It is not rent, and it should come back to you when you leave, minus anything you owe. In Mumbai it is commonly several months of rent, much more than the one or two months people expect in other cities.

How much is too much

There is no single figure that every owner follows. The central government's Model Tenancy Act, 2021 suggests that the deposit for a home should be at most two months' rent, but it is a model that states can choose to adopt. Many Mumbai owners ask for more, and the amount is often negotiable, especially if you are staying for longer or the flat has been empty.

If you are sharing, remember that the deposit is for the whole flat. A flat with a ₹60,000 monthly rent and a six month deposit needs ₹3,60,000 up front, which is ₹1,20,000 each if you are three. Ask the owner what it would be for the same flat with fewer months, and ask what the owner will deduct.

What to get in writing

The amount, and how it is paid. Bank transfer, with a reference.
A receipt. Written, dated and signed by the owner, even if the agreement says it was paid.
When it comes back. A number of days after you hand over the keys.
What can be deducted. Unpaid rent and bills, and damage beyond normal wear. Ask for "normal wear" to be in the agreement.
Interest or no interest. Most deposits do not earn interest, but ask.
What happens if you leave in the lock-in period. Whether the deposit is forfeited, in full or in part.

Pay your share yourself. Send it to the owner by bank transfer if you can. If one person pays the whole amount, pay your share to them by bank transfer on the same day.
Write down who paid how much. A message in the flatmates' group is enough, as long as everyone replies to it.
Know what happens when you leave. The usual way is for the person who replaces you to pay your share. Agree it before you move in.
Do not leave your share with the person who stays. Get it back when the replacement arrives.
Check the agreement. If you are not named, you may have no claim on the deposit from the owner. See how a leave and license agreement works with flatmates.

On the day you move in

Photograph and film every room, the walls, the fittings, the bathrooms and the appliances, with the date. Send them to the owner and your flatmates, so there is a record of the state the flat was in. Make a list of what is in the flat and who owns it. Most arguments about the deposit are really arguments about the state of the flat.

On the day you leave

Clean the flat, and fix small damage you caused.
Pay all rent and your share of the bills, and keep the receipts.
Walk through the flat with the owner and take new photographs.
Agree any deductions in writing, with the amounts.
Hand over the keys against a signed receipt, and agree the date the deposit will be returned.

If the deposit is not returned

Start with a calm, written request that quotes the agreement and the date you left. Keep copies of every message. If that fails, send a formal notice, and consider speaking to a lawyer or a legal aid clinic before you go to a court. Courts can be slow, so the best protection is a clear agreement and good records from the start.

Questions people ask

How much security deposit is normal in Mumbai?

It varies a lot. Owners commonly ask for several months of rent, and the amount is a matter of negotiation. Ask for it to be written in the agreement, along with when and how it will be returned.

Is there a legal limit on the deposit?

The central government's Model Tenancy Act, 2021 suggests a limit of two months' rent for a residential home. It is a model law that states can choose to adopt, and in practice Mumbai owners often ask for more. Ask a lawyer whether a limit applies to your agreement.

When should the deposit be returned?

The agreement should say. Common practice is to return it when you hand back the keys, after deductions for unpaid bills or damage beyond normal wear. Ask for a number of days in the agreement and get a receipt when you hand over the keys.

What if my flatmate paid the whole deposit?

Agree in writing, on the day, how much each person owes the one who paid, and pay it by bank transfer. Without that, you may find it hard to claim your share later.

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