Tenant police verification in Mumbai: how it works when you share a flat

By The JoinMyFlat team · Updated 23 October 2026 · 6 min read

What it is

Police verification is the owner telling the local police who is living in their flat. In Mumbai it is done through an online form on the Mumbai Police website, and it gives the police a name, an address and some identity details for the person who has moved in. It is not a check of your past or a clearance. It is a record of who lives where.

Why it matters even if nobody makes you do it

Some sources say the verification is required under state law, and the official portal has been reported to say that a police clearance is not needed to rent a flat. You will not settle this by reading blogs, including this one. What you will find in practice is that many housing societies in Mumbai ask for the police acknowledgement before they give you a move-in permission or an access card. It is easier to do it at the start than to be chased for it later.

What you will need

Your identity proof. Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or another government ID.
Your address proof. The permanent address on your documents.
A passport size photograph.
The owner's ID and details. The owner will have these.
A copy of the agreement. Ask the owner whether it is required for the form you are using.
A mobile number. Often used for a one time code.

How it usually works

The owner, or someone helping them, opens the tenant information form on the Mumbai Police website.
They choose the police station for the flat's address from the list.
They enter the owner's details, the flat's address and your details, and upload your documents.
They confirm with a one time code, and the form gives an acknowledgement straight away.
The police may check the information in the following days. This can take up to a couple of weeks.
The owner saves the acknowledgement and gives you a copy. Your society may ask for it.

Each person who lives there should be included, not just the one who signed the agreement.
If someone moves out and a replacement comes in, the details should be updated.
Keep a copy of your own acknowledgement. It is useful when you open a bank account, get a SIM or apply for a job.
If you are sharing a room, each person's details are still needed.

What to do if the owner is not interested

Some owners do not want to file it. Ask politely, and explain that the society will ask. If the owner still refuses, speak to the society office, or ask a lawyer how to proceed. It is better to have a clear record than to be the person living in a flat with no paper.

Also read how a leave and license agreement works with flatmates, which covers the agreement itself.

Questions people ask

Who has to do the police verification, the owner or the tenant?

In Mumbai the owner normally submits the form about the person living in the flat. The tenant provides the documents. Ask the owner to share the acknowledgement with you once it is done.

Is police verification free?

It is free when done through the official Mumbai Police website. Be careful with agents or websites that charge a fee for filling in the same form.

Is it compulsory?

Sources give different answers. Some guides say it is required, and the official portal has been reported to say a police clearance is not needed to rent a flat. Many housing societies still ask for the acknowledgement. Check the current rule on the Mumbai Police website or with a lawyer.

Do all flatmates need it?

Everyone who lives in the flat should be included, so that the police and the society have an accurate record of who lives there. Ask the owner to add each person.

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