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. Premium Koregaon Park and Boat Club properties may ask four to six months, which IKAN negotiates.
- 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.
- Foreigner registration
- Your landlord or hotel files Form C within 24 hours of arrival, and you keep the receipt. Then you complete FRRO registration within 14 days.
02Watch Out
What to watch out for
Pune rewards preparation. These are the realities every incoming expat deserves to know before signing anything or forming firm expectations.
Hinjewadi peak-hour traffic
The Mumbai Highway / Wakad junction approach to Hinjewadi Phases 1, 2 and 3 is Pune's defining infrastructure pain. A 12 km journey can take 75 to 90 minutes at peak hours (8-10am inbound, 6-9pm outbound). The PMRDA Metro Line 3, opening mid-2026, will ease this, until then, choose your neighbourhood with the commute in mind, and use company shuttles where possible.
Limited direct international flights
Pune's airport (PNQ) is comprehensive for domestic but limited for international, primarily Gulf hubs. For US, Europe, East Asia, Australia connections you will route via Mumbai CSMIA, with the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (~2-2.5 hour drive from Pune) now an additional option. Build the onward road journey into your travel plans. Many expats simply book through-tickets connecting at CSMIA T2.
Pune sleeps earlier
If you are arriving from Mumbai or a 24-hour Western city, 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. This is a feature for families and serious professionals, not a flaw, but worth knowing.Most restaurant kitchens close by 11pm
School admission timelines
Pune's top international schools, Mahindra International School, Wellington College International, Symbiosis International, Indus, have waitlists for the popular grades. Apply 6 to 9 months before your intended start date, and earlier still for entry classes (PYP 1-3). Mid-year admissions are difficult. IKAN's education team connects you with admissions contacts, contact us at the point of accepting your offer.Apply 6 to 9 months before your intended start date
Old City flooding in extreme monsoon
Pune's monsoon is much milder than Mumbai's, but old peths near the Mutha and Mula rivers can flood briefly during extreme rainfall events. Check flood history before renting in low-lying central Pune locations. KP, Kalyani Nagar, Aundh, Baner, Magarpatta, Hinjewadi townships, modern premium pockets, handle monsoon well.
Winter air quality 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 fireworks residue, and crop-burning particulates drifting south. HEPA air purifiers are useful for families with young children. Premium developments with managed indoor air handle this well.
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. Premium Koregaon Park and Boat Club homes may ask for four to six months. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it down 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 main expat area. Kalyani Nagar has premium towers across the river. Boat Club Road and Prabhat Road are the premium heritage addresses of the old elite. 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.
Do foreign nationals need to register with the FRRO in Pune?
Yes. Your landlord or hotel files Form C within 24 hours of your arrival, and you keep the receipt. Then you complete FRRO registration within 14 days. IKAN prepares the paperwork and books the appointment so the clock is never missed.
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.
FRRO Registration
The 14 day rule, the e-FRRO portal walkthrough and the exact document kit.
Read the guide
Money & Banking
NRE and NRO accounts, UPI setup and moving money in and out of India.
Read the guide
Renting Your Home
The Leave & License playbook: deposits, clauses and registration.
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.