Why Landlords Are in the Spotlight
In June 2025, Bidhannagar Police issued show-cause notices to 94 landlords for renting out their properties without conducting tenant verification. As reported by The Telegraph, these landlords now face legal consequences, including potential jail time, for ignoring mandatory tenant checks.
This incident has brought a long-overdue focus on the need for proper tenant verification processes in India. For landlords, ignoring this due diligence could mean legal penalties, financial loss, and reputational damage.
What Is Tenant Verification?
Tenant verification is the process of verifying and assessing a potential tenant’s identity, background, and record prior to renting them a property. Tenant verification ensures that the tenant:
Is who they present themselves to be (identity check)
Does not have a criminal record (police clearance)
Has a history of good tenancy (address & reference check)
Does not have unstable income or employment (financial check)
As cities expand and rentals are increased, tenant confirmation has become a safety and legal necessity, not an ideal practice.
As urban areas grow and rental properties multiply, tenant verification has become a legal and safety requirement, not just a best practice.
Why Tenant Verification Matters More Than Ever
1. Preventing Criminal Misuse of Property
Unverified tenants have been linked to crimes like cyber fraud, illegal businesses, and scams. In recent years, police across India have cracked down on properties used as bases for fraudulent operations, often by tenants with no police clearance.
2. Ensuring Legal Compliance
With police departments like Bidhannagar mandating tenant verification and threatening prosecution for non-compliance, landlords must now see this as a legal responsibility, not a formality.
3. Minimizing Financial Risk
Tenant verification helps landlords avoid rent defaults, sudden property abandonment, or damage. Knowing a tenant’s income, job stability, and rental history gives landlords confidence in the leasing decision.
4. Protecting the Community
Screening tenants before renting ensures peace of mind for neighbors, housing societies, and communities, especially in gated or high-density urban areas.
What a Complete Tenant Verification Should Include
A solid tenant verification process goes beyond just collecting an ID copy. It should include the following checks:
ID Verification: Confirm that the tenant’s identity matches their official documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport.
Criminal Record Check / Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): Ensure that the tenant does not have any criminal history by obtaining a verified PCC.
Employment & Income Verification: Validate the tenant’s current job and income details to ensure they have a stable financial background to meet rental obligations.
Address & Tenancy History: Review the tenant’s previous addresses and rental history to identify any past red flags or patterns of problematic behavior.
Reference Verification: Reach out to past landlords, employers, or listed references to cross-verify the tenant’s claims and assess their reliability.
Photo & Face Match: Use facial recognition or photo verification tools to prevent impersonation or the use of forged documents. Together, these steps help landlords make informed decisions, reduce risk, and ensure a secure tenancy.
How OnGrid Simplifies Tenant Verification for Landlords
At OnGrid, we offer a seamless, digital-first solution for landlords, brokers, and property managers looking to verify tenants quickly and efficiently.
Police Verification (PCC) :We assist landlords in obtaining Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) digitally, ensuring the tenant has no criminal record. No need to chase police stations—we automate the process wherever possible
Identity & Document Verification : We verify key documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, and Passport, and even offer face match check technology to validate identity through selfies or live photos.
Employment & Income Verification : Need to confirm a tenant’s job or income source? OnGrid can verify employers and salary details with consent-based data from reliable sources.
Address History Check : Know where your tenant has lived before. OnGrid helps verify previous addresses through digital and physical verification methods.
Reference Checks : Contact previous landlords, employers, or co-tenants to validate claims and uncover any warning signs from past rentals.
The Risks of Skipping Tenant Verification
The consequences of not conducting tenant verification are no longer theoretical. As shown in the Bidhannagar incident:
Landlords can face criminal charges under Indian law
Property may be misused without knowledge
Financial losses from rent defaults or damage can pile up
Eviction of problematic tenants becomes a legal headache
Housing societies may refuse entry to unverified tenants
A Shift Toward Responsible Renting
As India’s rental economy grows, so does the responsibility of landlords. Government regulations, societal pressure, and technology have converged to make tenant verification not just a best practice—but an absolute necessity.
With OnGrid’s advanced, easy-to-use platform, landlords can now verify tenants within minutes and with minimal paperwork.
Conclusion: Make Every Lease Secure with OnGrid
Landlords, real estate firms, and housing societies must now take tenant verification seriously. Not doing so is not just risky—it’s potentially illegal.
With OnGrid, verifying a tenant is fast, secure, and fully compliant with legal expectations.
Avoid police notices
Prevent fraud and crime
Keep your property and community safe
FAQs
1. What is tenant verification and why is it important?
Tenant verification is the process of validating a potential tenant’s identity, criminal background, employment status, and rental history before leasing a property. It helps landlords reduce legal risks, prevent fraud, and ensure the safety of their property and community.
2. Is tenant verification mandatory for landlords in India?
Yes, in many jurisdictions, tenant verification is now a legal requirement. For example, in areas like Bidhannagar, West Bengal, police have started issuing notices to landlords who fail to conduct proper tenant verification. Skipping this step can result in legal action.
3. What documents are required for tenant verification?
Commonly required documents include Aadhaar, PAN, Passport or Voter ID, proof of employment or income, previous address proof, and a recent photograph. In some cases, landlords may also require a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
4. How long does the tenant verification process take with OnGrid?
With OnGrid, tenant verification can be completed within minutes to a couple of days, depending on the level of checks selected. Our digital platform streamlines police clearance, document verification, and reference checks for a fast, hassle-free experience.
5. Can tenant verification be done online?
Yes, OnGrid offers a completely online tenant verification solution. Landlords can initiate and complete the verification process through a self-service portal or API integration, without visiting any police station or office physically.
Leave a Reply