Islamabad is Pakistan's most expensive housing market. The average house cost PKR 9.95 crore in August 2026, according to the Zameen price index, and the city has the highest price to rent ratio of the three big cities, at 22 to 26. The rent on the listing is only the first number you will pay. Most houses in Islamabad ask between PKR 45,000 and PKR 750,000 a month, depending on sector and size. Here is what it actually costs in 2026, and what to check before you sign.
What rent buys in Islamabad in 2026
In F-6, F-7 and F-8, a 1 kanal house asks PKR 350,000 to PKR 750,000 a month, and a portion of a 1 kanal house asks PKR 160,000 to PKR 280,000, on a sector guide published on 12 October 2026.
In F-10 and F-11, a 10 marla house asks PKR 180,000 to PKR 290,000 a month and a 1 kanal house PKR 320,000 to PKR 520,000.
In G-10, G-11 and G-13, an upper portion of a 5 to 10 marla house asks PKR 65,000 to PKR 120,000 a month, a ground floor portion PKR 85,000 to PKR 145,000, and an independent 10 marla house PKR 160,000 to PKR 240,000. In G-11, a 5 marla house asks PKR 25,000 to PKR 100,000.
DHA Islamabad and Bahria Town are the value play for new construction in a gated community. A 10 marla modern house asks PKR 90,000 to PKR 170,000 a month, a 1 kanal house PKR 160,000 to PKR 320,000, and a one to two bedroom apartment PKR 45,000 to PKR 95,000. A 5 marla house in Bahria Town starts at about PKR 48,000.
Houses fitted with a 10 to 15 kilowatt hybrid solar system command a 15 to 25 percent premium, because they save the tenant up to PKR 80,000 a month on summer electricity bills.
These are indicative asking ranges, not verified rents. Confirm the live rent before you pay anything.
The three costs beyond the monthly rent
First, the advance and deposit. Most Islamabad landlords ask for a refundable security deposit of two to three months' rent plus the first month in advance, so budget three to four months of rent before you get the keys. Settle the deposit, the allowed deductions and the refund timeline in writing first.
Second, the agent's fee. If an agent found the house, the common practice is a fee of one month's rent. Ask who pays it before the viewing, not after you have agreed. This is one reason direct owner listings matter: on ilaan.com you deal with the owner and pay zero commission.
Third, the running costs. Ask for the last three months of electricity, gas and water bills before you agree a rent, and ask what the society maintenance and guard charges cover. Check the gas meter is separate, ask about winter gas pressure in the sector, and confirm an internet provider covers the street.
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The agreement: what must be in writing
Islamabad tenancies are governed by the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001, as amended in 2021, and the agreement is where your protection lives. Never rent on a verbal promise.
Under the Ordinance, a landlord may let a property only by a written tenancy agreement, presented to the Controller within 30 days of signing, stating the rent, the rate of increase, the due date and how it is paid.
The increase rule is the one to read before you sign. Rent rises automatically by 10 percent at the end of every year, unless the landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing. An 11 month renewable agreement is the common format. Agree the figure and the date it applies in writing rather than inheriting a dispute.
Tenant registration with the police is mandatory in the capital territory. Give the tenant particulars to the local police station, through the ICT Police Khidmat Markaz or the Islamabad Police app, with the owner's CNIC, the tenant's CNIC, the rent agreement and an affidavit. Keep a signed copy and photograph every room on the day you move in.
Verify before you pay
Confirm the person taking your money owns the house or is authorised to let it. Ask for the owner's CNIC and the title or allotment papers, and match the name on them to the person signing the agreement. Check the scheme against the CDA's housing scheme status list: on 10 November 2026 the CDA moved to seal the offices of 40 societies it has identified as illegal.
Visit the house in daylight, then again after evening peak hours. Test water pressure, gas pressure and drainage, and check the roof, boundary wall and water tank.
Never pay the advance or deposit before you have seen the house, met the owner and signed the agreement. Pay through a bank transfer, not cash, so there is a record. And if the rent looks far below the sector rate, treat that as a warning, not a bargain: below market rents are the classic sign of a disputed property or a fake listing.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a house for rent in Islamabad in 2026?
A 5 marla house asks from about PKR 48,000 a month in Bahria Town, a 10 marla house PKR 90,000 to PKR 290,000, and a 1 kanal house PKR 160,000 to PKR 750,000.
How much can a landlord increase the rent in Islamabad?
Rent rises automatically by 10 percent at the end of every year under the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001, as amended in 2021, unless the landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing. Agree the figure and the date before you sign.
Do I need police verification as a tenant in Islamabad?
Yes. Particulars go to the local police station, the ICT Police Khidmat Markaz or the Islamabad Police app, with both CNICs, the agreement and an affidavit.
Is it better to rent a portion or a full house in Islamabad?
A portion costs roughly half a full house in the same sector. Rent a portion if the budget matters more than the extra rooms, and check the separate entrance, meter and water supply first.
The bottom line
A house for rent in Islamabad in 2026 costs about PKR 48,000 for a 5 marla house in Bahria Town, PKR 160,000 to PKR 240,000 for a 10 marla house in G-11, PKR 320,000 to PKR 520,000 for a 1 kanal house in F-11, and PKR 350,000 to PKR 750,000 for a 1 kanal house in F-7. The rent is only the first of three payments once the advance and the deposit are counted, so get the agreement in writing, get the increase figure in writing, verify the owner before you pay, and pay through the bank.
Looking for a house for rent in Islamabad? Browse verified direct owner listings on ilaan.com and deal at zero commission. Landlords: list your property on ilaan.com and deal direct with tenants at zero commission. When it is your turn to sell, get Gold Verified for a one time PKR 3,000: field verification, title check, 30 photos and video, and managed viewings.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rents are those listed in November 2026 and move monthly.
