Before you go
At a glance, Watch Out, Common Questions, IKAN India Essentials. 6 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
- Gurgaon (Gurugram), India's corporate capital and the Millennium City in the National Capital Region.
- Security deposit
- Three months' rent is standard. Premium DLF complexes may ask six months, which IKAN negotiates down.
- Standard lease
- An 11-month leave and license (the usual Indian lease) is standard in Gurugram, renewable with a 5 to 10% escalation.
- Brokerage
- Usually one month's rent, payable at signing.
- 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
Gurugram rewards preparation. These are the realities every incoming expat deserves to know before signing anything or forming firm expectations about life in NCR's corporate capital.
Winter air pollution
Gurugram shares Delhi's air-quality crisis. From late October through February, AQI regularly exceeds 300 (Very Poor) and crosses 500 (Severe) during stubble-burning weeks. HEPA air purifiers in every bedroom are highly recommended, and essential for sensitive groups. Outdoor exercise becomes impractical for sensitive groups. Sensitive children and asthma sufferers may need to leave NCR during peak weeks (Diwali to mid-November).
Water supply crisis
Gurugram has a chronic water shortage. Most areas, including premium gated complexes, rely on private water tankers (₹600 to 1,500 per 5,000L delivery) to supplement piped supply. Groundwater extraction has dropped borewell levels every year. Confirm your prospective society's water arrangement before signing, well-managed RWAs handle this without trouble; others can leave you without water mid-summer.
Cyber City evening gridlock
The road network around DLF Cyber City, Iffco Chowk, MG Road, NH-48 service lanes, gridlocks daily from around 5 to 9:30pm. A 5km journey can take 60 minutes. Plan to leave the office before 5pm or after 9:30pm. The Rapid Metro is 10 minutes for the same distance, use it during peak. Adjust your social and family schedules to Gurugram's traffic windows or you will lose 2 hours a day.A 5km journey can take 60 minutes
School admission timelines
Gurugram's premier international schools are competitive. Admissions at Pathways, Heritage Xperiential and Scottish High International are particularly competitive, and mid-year admissions are rare. Start the process 3 to 8 months before your intended start date. Apply before your relocation is finalised. IKAN's education team can help, contact us at the point of accepting your offer.
Six-month deposit push
Premium DLF complexes and Golf Course Road landlords often initially demand six months' rent as security deposit. The market norm is three months. This is a negotiation, IKAN's Leave & License specialists routinely bring deposits back to three months. Never accept a six-month demand without exploring alternatives. Also insist on a properly stamped and registered Leave & License before transferring funds.
DG backup reality
Power outages are less frequent than in Delhi proper but real, especially in summer. Premium gated complexes have backup generators (DG sets) covering common areas plus basic flat power (lights, fans, one AC). Full-power backup is rare. Confirm exactly what the DG covers in your prospective complex, and budget for an inverter if comprehensive backup matters to you.
Civic infrastructure gaps
Gurugram's NH-48 corridor and main roads are excellent. Internal sector roads are routinely potholed and waterlogged. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is overstretched; basic services (street lighting, drainage, garbage collection) vary by area and depend heavily on a well-functioning RWA. DLF Phase 2-5 and the Golf Course Road corridor are generally well-maintained; older sectors are less reliable.
Cultural thinness
For a city of its commercial weight, Gurugram is culturally light. Theatres, museums, music venues, and heritage sites concentrate in Delhi proper, 30 to 45 minutes away on a good day. Don't expect to walk to a play, an art gallery, or a museum. Build your cultural calendar around weekend trips into central Delhi (Khan Market, Hauz Khas, Lutyens precinct) or accept that Gurugram's strength is corporate, not cultural.
03Common Questions
Common questions
The questions families ask us most, answered from this guide.
How much security deposit do landlords in Gurgaon ask for?
Three months' rent is standard. Premium DLF complexes may ask for six months. Your IKAN consultant negotiates it down and gets the figure in writing before you sign.
What is the standard lease length in Gurgaon?
An 11-month leave and license, the usual Indian lease, is standard in Gurugram, renewable with a 5 to 10% rise. Three IKAN reviewers check every clause before the lease reaches you.
Is brokerage payable when renting in Gurgaon?
Usually one month's rent, payable at signing. IKAN's home-search service handles the broker negotiations and viewings for you.
Which are the best neighbourhoods in Gurgaon for a relocating family or professional?
This guide profiles 3 areas. DLF Phase 2 and 3 are upscale and well connected. DLF Phase 4 and 5, on Golf Course Road, are the ultra-luxury address. Golf Course Extension Road and Sohna Road balance value and space. 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 Gurgaon?
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.