featured_mode: card | illustrationTenant registration in Punjab is required under the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015; the landlord, tenant or property dealer can register free at a police station front desk or Police Khidmat Markaz, through the Tenant Registration System portal, or on the Punjab Police Pakistan app, using both CNICs, the rent agreement and a tenant photograph.
Tenant registration in Punjab is a legal duty under the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015. Lahore Police says registration is free and takes about 15 to 20 minutes at a police station or Police Khidmat Markaz. Since April 2026 it can also be done from home on the Punjab Police Pakistan app.
Skipping it is not a paperwork lapse. Lahore Police reported 2,007 arrests and 1,153 FIRs for tenancy law violations in 2025 up to July.
What the law requires
The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015 requires property owners, tenants and property dealers to register tenant information with the police (Punjab Police). Lahore Police says it applies "whenever a house or a hostel room is rented" (Lahore Police).
According to a LUMS legal analysis of the Act, landlords, managers and property dealers must (LUMS):
- Inform the police within 15 days of the tenant taking possession.
- Verify the tenant's identity through a CNIC or passport and give a copy to police.
- Make sure the tenant does not hold unlicensed weapons or explosives, and report any licensed firearm.
Hotels must report guests within 24 hours of check-in. Earlier, under the 2017 ordinance, Dawn reported landlords being told the deadline was 48 hours (Dawn). The safe practice is to register before or on the day you hand over the keys.
These details come from a secondary analysis, not the Act's text. Check the current statute or ask your local police station if you are unsure.
Penalties for not registering
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Imprisonment | Up to 6 months |
| Fine | Rs10,000 to Rs100,000 |
| Nature of offence | Cognizable and non-bailable |
| Trial | Summary procedure |
| Compounding | Possible with administrative penalty if no prior conviction |
Source: LUMS analysis of the Act, section 11. Verify against the official statute.
Police enforce this actively. In Lahore, police reported 163 arrests and 92 cases in July 2025 alone (APP). In Rawalpindi, police registered 431 cases and arrested 644 people for tenancy law breaches in 2026 up to late March (APP).
Arrests often happen during search operations. A registration certificate on hand is your best protection.
Who can register, and who is responsible
Lahore Police says the owner, the tenant or a property dealer can complete the registration (Lahore Police). APP reports that police treat it as a shared responsibility of landlords and tenants (APP).
In practice, the landlord carries the main legal risk. If you rent through a dealer, do not assume they have registered. Ask for the certificate.
The same front desks also register domestic employees such as drivers, cooks and maids. Rawalpindi police have urged residents to register both tenants and domestic workers promptly (APP).
Documents you need
| Document | Station / Khidmat Markaz | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's CNIC | Original and photocopy | Overseas owners: ask about NICOP |
| Tenant's CNIC | Original and photocopy | Passport for foreign nationals |
| Rent agreement | Original and photocopy | Signed by both parties |
| Affidavit | Required in Lahore | Ask the front desk for the format |
| Tenant photograph | Recent photo | Owner's photo also requested on the provincial page |
Sources: Lahore Police, Lahore Police Front Desk, Punjab Police.
Carry copies of everything. Front desks can turn people away over a missing photocopy.
Option 1: Register at a police station front desk or Khidmat Markaz
This is the long-standing method and still the most widely used.
- Go to the police station that covers the rented property, or the nearest Police Khidmat Markaz.
- Ask the front desk for tenant registration.
- Hand over CNIC originals and copies, the rent agreement, the affidavit and photographs.
- The front desk officer enters the details into the Tenant Registration System.
- Collect the registration certificate on the spot.
Lahore Police says there is no fee and the process takes about 15 to 20 minutes (Lahore Police). The certificate "will help him/her to avoid any hassle during any search operation" (Lahore Police Front Desk).
Option 2: Register online through the TRS portal
Punjab Police lists an online Tenant Registration System at trs.punjabpolice.gov.pk (Punjab Police).
The system was built by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). It is linked to the Criminal Record Office and the Police Station Record Management System. If a tenant with a criminal record is registered, police officials are notified (PITB).
Keep scanned copies of both CNICs, the rent agreement and photographs ready before you start. Save or print the confirmation when you finish.
Option 3: Register on the Punjab Police Pakistan app
In April 2026, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the Punjab Police Pakistan app. It lets citizens complete tenant registration online without visiting a police station (Pakistan Observer).
The app integrates with NADRA's PakID for identity verification. It also handles lost document reports, FIR tracking and character certificates, and offers live chat support (Pakistan Observer).
Lahore Police has also told SHOs to ensure landlords comply using the police mobile app "Tenant Registration" (APP). App names and menus change, so download only from the official app store listing and check it is published by Punjab Police.
Where does 8787 fit in?
8787 is the IGP Police Complaint Centre, not a registration line. You can call or SMS 8787 to complain about issues such as police refusing to register an FIR, demands for illegal payment or negligence (Punjab Police).
Use it if a front desk refuses your registration without reason or asks for money. Dawn reported in 2017 that residents in Rawalpindi alleged demands of Rs1,000 to Rs10,000 to process registrations (Dawn). Registration is free, according to Lahore Police.
Short-term rentals, guest houses and Airbnb
If you let out a property for short stays, the rules are stricter. Punjab's Home Department required all private guest houses to register on the Hotel Eye system by 15 June 2025. This covers properties booked through platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, and guest details must be entered on arrival (ProPakistani).
Registration is through hoteleye.punjab.gov.pk. Failure to register or report guest data can lead to action under the same 2015 Act.
Common mistakes landlords make
- Assuming the property dealer registered the tenant.
- Handing over keys before registering.
- Losing the certificate. Keep a printed copy and a photo on your phone.
- Not registering again when a new tenant moves in.
- Forgetting domestic staff living on the premises.
- Running a short-let flat without Hotel Eye registration.
- Paying "fees" at the front desk for a free service.
This guide is general information; confirm current rules with Punjab Police or a lawyer before you rely on it.
Sources
- Punjab Police: Tenant Registration System — law, online portal, documents
- Lahore Police: Tenants Registration — free, 15–20 minutes, documents
- Lahore Police: Front Desk — certificate, employee registration
- PITB: Tenant Registration System — CRO and PSRMS integration
- LUMS: Analysis of the law on information of temporary residences — 15-day rule, penalties
- APP: Lahore Police tenancy law enforcement, July 2025 — arrests and FIRs
- APP: 431 cases registered, 644 arrested in Rawalpindi — 2026 enforcement
- Pakistan Observer: New police app — Punjab Police Pakistan app
- Pakistan Observer: Punjab Police app services — PakID integration
- Punjab Police: IGP Complaint Center 8787 — complaint line
- Dawn: Police making it difficult for locals to submit tenant details — 48-hour rule, bribery allegations
- ProPakistani: Punjab makes guest tracking mandatory — Hotel Eye