how to register lease agreement for commercial property in Kolkata

A lease agreement for commercial property in Kolkata must be registered under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, if the lease term exceeds eleven months. The lessor and lessee must appear before the Sub-Registrar with the lease deed, identity proofs, property documents, and witnesses. The Calcutta High Court has held that an unregistered lease deed for a term exceeding eleven months is inadmissible in evidence under Section 49 of the Registration Act. West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997 prescribes the stamp duty payable on lease deeds, which is calculated based on the annual rent and the lease term in West Bengal. The lease deed should contain details of the property, rent, security deposit, maintenance, termination clause, and dispute resolution. Stamp duty must be paid before registration, and the document must be registered within four months of execution. Registration protects the lessee's rights and provides a legal remedy in case of disputes.