Renting Out a Flat in Bangladesh: A Landlord's Checklist for a New Tenant
Move-in day goes by in a rush: keys, the advance, the meters. Yet most later trouble starts with something skipped on that day. Here is what to do before and on the day a new tenant moves in, as one checklist.
Identity and contact details
See the tenant's national ID card (NID) and keep a copy. Along with it, note:
- ✓A phone number — one that is always on.
- ✓The previous address — and, if possible, the previous landlord's number.
- ✓Occupation and workplace — for when you need to reach them.
- ✓An emergency contact — a family member who does not live in the flat.
Who will live there
Take a list of everyone who will live in the flat — name, relationship, age. It tells the guard who to recognise and, in an emergency, how many people are inside. Update it when someone new joins. How the list helps at the gate: the digital gate log.
What the rental agreement should say
Renting on a handshake causes trouble for both sides later. A written agreement should cover at least:
- ✓Monthly rent — and the date it is due by.
- ✓Advance and deposit — how much, and how they are adjusted or returned.
- ✓Who pays which bill — gas, water, electricity, service charge.
- ✓Term and notice — how much notice either side gives before leaving.
- ✓House rules — guests, pets, parking, who handles repairs.
Which stamp paper to use, how to execute the agreement and whether it needs registering are questions for a lawyer.
Tenant information for the police
In Dhaka and many other cities the police ask landlords for their tenants' details, usually on a form. Check the current rules and form at your local thana, and submit it on time whenever a new tenant moves in.
On move-in day
- 1Receipts for the advance and deposit. How much, on what date — a copy for each side. For the records that follow, see house rent management.
- 2Meter readings. Electricity, gas (if metered) and water — take photos.
- 3The flat's condition. Photos of walls, doors and fittings make the move-out check easy.
- 4Keys. Note how many you handed over.
Adding a new tenant in MyBasha
When you add a tenant, their NID, family members and advance are recorded together. NID images are never on an open link — only people with permission see them. The tenant gets a login by SMS and sees their bills on their own phone.
A copy of what the tenant gave you at move-in stays with you, even if they later change the details on their account. Photos of the agreement and receipts can be kept in folders under Documents.
Start with your next tenant.
Free forever for 1 building and up to 5 flats — no card needed.
Questions and answers
Is it safe to keep a tenant's NID image in an app?
In MyBasha NID images are never on an open link. Only people with permission can see them, through a link that expires shortly.
Where can I find a sample rental agreement?
Ask a lawyer to set the terms for your building. You can keep a photo of the signed agreement in MyBasha's Documents.
Which form do I submit to the police?
Rules and forms can differ by area. Ask at your local thana for the current requirements.
What if the tenant has no phone?
You can add a tenant with an email address instead of a phone number.
Add your building today
Start on the free plan. Upgrade when your buildings or flats grow.
Start free →