Owning a home in India while you live abroad

Keeping a home looked after, let and paid for from another country: the practical side.

Decide what you want

A home you cannot visit can be left empty and looked after, or let to produce rent. Each needs somebody on the ground. Decide which you want, because it changes what you ask for.

A person you can trust

• A family member or friend, or a professional who manages homes for owners abroad.
• A written agreement that says what they will do, what it costs, and how and when they report to you.
• A way to see the home for yourself from time to time: dated photographs, or a video visit.

Money

• Rent should come to an account you can see, not to the hand of the person managing the home.
• Keep society charges, property tax and utility bills paid on time; arrears are harder to deal with from far away.
• Tax on rent and on what you earn elsewhere depends on your status. Speak to an adviser who knows the rules for people living abroad.

Papers

Keep the title papers somewhere safe and copies where you can reach them. If you give somebody authority to act for you, do it in writing, for a stated purpose, and take advice on how it is done properly from where you live.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ between states and change over time, so confirm the details that matter to you with a qualified professional or the authority concerned before you act.