Before you go
At a glance, Watch Out, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials. 5 min read.
01At a glance
Key facts at a glance
The figures families ask us for first. Each one is explained in its chapter.
- Where you are moving
- Pune, Maharashtra's education and IT hub on the Deccan Plateau.
- Security deposit
- Three months' rent is standard in Pune.
- Standard lease
- Leave and license agreements (the usual Indian lease) run 11, 24 or 36 months, renewable with a 5 to 10% escalation.
- Brokerage
- One month's rent is the typical broker fee in Pune.
- Move-in report
- Your move-in record is made in move.report and reaches you within 24 hours of check-in. You can comment on it for 24 hours from when you receive it. See a sample report.
02Watch Out
What to watch out for
These are the things Pune won't tell you upfront, but every experienced intra-India relocator eventually learns. Know them before you arrive.
Hinjewadi traffic is severe
If you are coming from Bangalore or Hyderabad, the broad pattern is familiar. But Hinjewadi-corridor peak hours are a special category. The Mumbai Highway / Wakad junction can add 60 minutes to any journey 8-10am or 6-9pm. Choose your neighbourhood with the commute in mind. The PMRDA Metro Line 3, opening mid-2026, will ease this, until then, plan accordingly.The Mumbai Highway / Wakad junction can add 60 minutes
Pune sleeps earlier
If you are arriving from Mumbai or Bangalore, the rhythm here is gentler. Most restaurant kitchens close by 11pm; nightlife is concentrated in KP, Kalyani Nagar, and Balewadi. Pune is a deeply cultural city, not a party city, a feature for families and serious professionals, but worth knowing before you arrive.Most restaurant kitchens close by 11pm
Limited direct international flights
Pune's airport (PNQ) covers domestic well but is limited internationally, primarily Gulf hubs. For US, Europe, East Asia connections you will route via Mumbai CSMIA. Build the short Mumbai flight or Expressway drive, now faster with the Missing Link operational, into your travel plans; the new Navi Mumbai airport (~2 to 2.5 hours away) is an emerging alternative. Many residents book through-tickets at CSMIA T2.
School application timelines
Pune's top schools, Bishop's, St. Mary's, DPS, MIT, Symbiosis, have waitlists for the most popular grades. Top CBSE schools typically have waitlists of 3 to 6 months with stringent admission criteria; mid-term admissions are difficult. Apply before your move whenever possible. IKAN recommends schools based on your corridor and curriculum preference.Top CBSE schools typically have waitlists of 3 to 6 months
Lease and deposit norms
Pune uses Leave & License agreements of 11, 24 or 36 months with 3 months security deposit. Premium corridor properties may ask 4 to 6 months, IKAN negotiates. 5-10% annual escalation at renewal. Furnishing is typically semi-furnished. Never accept verbal agreements, insist on a stamped and registered Leave & License agreement before paying any deposit.
Old peths flooding
Pune monsoon is much milder than Mumbai's, but old peths near the Mutha and Mula rivers can flood briefly in extreme rainfall. Check flood history before renting in low-lying central Pune. KP, Kalyani Nagar, Aundh, Baner, Magarpatta, Hinjewadi townships, all handle monsoon well.
Winter AQI spikes
Pune's air quality is generally better than Delhi or Mumbai, but November-December can see AQI spikes driven by temperature inversions, post-Diwali residue, and drifting crop-burning particulates. HEPA air purifiers are useful for families with young children. Premium developments with managed indoor air handle this well.
Title verification matters
Pune has a deep rental market but also a few unscrupulous brokers, particularly around Hinjewadi-corridor townships. Always insist on checking the ownership title, meet the owner and ensure a properly stamped and registered Leave & License agreement, terms run 11, 24 or 36 months. IKAN reviews every Leave & License agreement as standard. Be careful when dealing with online property listings.
03Common Questions
Common questions
The questions families ask us most, answered from this guide.
How much security deposit do landlords in Pune ask for?
Three months' rent is standard in Pune. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it and gets the figure in writing before you sign.
What is the standard lease length in Pune?
Leave and license agreements, the usual Indian lease, run 11, 24 or 36 months, renewable with a 5 to 10% rise. Three IKAN reviewers check every clause before the lease reaches you.
Is brokerage payable when renting in Pune?
One month's rent is the typical broker fee in Pune. IKAN's home-search service handles the broker negotiations and viewings for you.
Which are the best neighbourhoods in Pune for a relocating family or professional?
This guide profiles 6 areas, and families ask us most about four of them. Koregaon Park is Pune's cosmopolitan heart. Kalyani Nagar has premium towers across the river. Viman Nagar is modern and close to the airport. Aundh, Baner and Balewadi are newer premium areas for IT families. The Where to live chapter helps you match a shortlist to your budget and commute.
How does the IKAN move-in inspection work?
On check-in day your consultant photographs every meter, key and fixture. The record is made in move.report and reaches you within 24 hours. You can comment on it for 24 hours from when you receive it, and then it is locked as your move-in baseline. That baseline is what protects your deposit at move-out.
04Go Deeper · IKAN India Essentials
Step by step guides for the paperwork
Each step in this guide has a matching IKAN India Essentials guide. It goes through the forms one by one, and it is the pack your consultant works from. Start with these five.
Renting Your Home
The Leave & License playbook: deposits, clauses and registration.
Read the guide
Lease Registration & Stamp Duty
When a lease must be registered, what stamp duty costs and the Sub-Registrar step-by-step.
Read the guide
Rent & the TDS Rule
When higher rents make you, the tenant, deduct and deposit tax on the landlord's behalf.
Read the guide
Schools & Admissions
Curricula, timelines and the admissions paperwork, board by board.
Read the guide
Healthcare in India
Hospitals, insurance networks, pharmacies and everyday care.
Read the guide
Already moving with IKAN?
Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.
Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.