Lahore is Pakistan's second biggest rental market, and its most confusing. The same 5 marla house can ask Rs 50,000 more in one society than in another, and the rent on the listing is only the first number you will pay. Most Lahore houses ask between Rs 35,000 and Rs 450,000 a month, depending on size and society. Here is what it actually costs in 2026, area by area, and what to check before you sign.
## What rent buys in Lahore in 2026
Lahore rents split into three clear bands, and the society decides the price more than the house does.
At the top, DHA Lahore sets the ceiling. Current listings put 5 marla houses in DHA at Rs 70,000 to Rs 150,000 a month, 10 marla houses at Rs 120,000 to Rs 250,000, and 1 kanal houses at Rs 220,000 to Rs 450,000.
The middle band is where most salaried families rent. Gulberg and Model Town give you a central location and established schools. Gulberg 10 marla houses start at around Rs 200,000 a month, while Model Town 10 marla homes run from about Rs 40,000 to Rs 200,000 depending on size and condition. In both areas an upper portion is the practical entry point.
Johar Town is the strongest value segment near Emporium and Shaukat Khanum: 5 marla houses at Rs 80,000 to Rs 150,000, 10 marla from Rs 100,000, with portions from about Rs 75,000. Wapda Town runs lower still: 5 marla at Rs 35,000 to Rs 120,000 and 10 marla at Rs 45,000 to Rs 230,000.
Bahria Town Lahore is the value play for new construction. Five marla houses rent from Rs 45,000 to Rs 85,000, 10 marla from Rs 100,000 to Rs 170,000, and 1 kanal houses up to Rs 390,000. Upper portions start near Rs 45,000 and a full 5 marla house runs about Rs 85,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh. The trade-off is the Raiwind Road drive into the city. Occupancy across inhabited sectors runs above 90 percent, and well-priced rentals move within days, so visit with your documents ready. These are asking ranges from public listings, not verified rents.
## The three costs beyond the monthly rent
First, the advance and deposit. Many Lahore landlords ask for one month's advance plus a deposit of one to three months' rent, so budget two to four months of rent before you get the keys. Settle the deposit amount, the allowed deductions and the refund timeline in writing before you pay.
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, and confirm an internet provider covers the street.
## The agreement: what must be in writing
Lahore tenancies are governed by the Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009, and the agreement is where your protection lives. Never rent on a verbal promise.
Under the Act, a landlord may let a property only by a written tenancy agreement, and must present it to the Rent Registrar, who enters it in a register, seals it and returns the original. The agreement must state the rent, the rate of increase, the due date and how it is paid. If the tenancy does not conform to the Act, the Rent Tribunal will not hear a tenant's application unless the tenant deposits a fine of 5 percent of the annual rent, and 10 percent for a landlord.
Punjab sets no fixed percentage cap on rent increases, unlike Sindh's 10 percent cap. The increase is the one written into your agreement, so get the figure and the date it applies in writing rather than inheriting a dispute. Tenant particulars must also be given to the police, usually through the Police Khidmat Markaz. An 11-month renewable agreement is the common format. Keep a signed copy, photograph the condition of every room on the day you move in, and keep every receipt.
## 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.
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 area 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 Lahore in 2026?
A 5 marla house asks Rs 35,000 to Rs 150,000 a month, a 10 marla house Rs 45,000 to Rs 250,000, and a 1 kanal house Rs 220,000 to Rs 450,000, depending on the society and phase.
### How much is a 5 marla house rent in DHA Lahore?
Five marla houses in DHA Lahore ask Rs 70,000 to Rs 150,000 a month. In Phase 9 Town they list near Rs 85,000 to Rs 115,000.
### What is the advance and deposit for a rented house in Lahore?
Many landlords ask for one month's advance plus a deposit of one to three months' rent, so budget two to four months of rent before you get the keys. Get the deposit amount, deductions and refund timeline in writing.
### How much can a landlord increase the rent in Lahore?
Punjab sets no fixed percentage cap. The increase is the one written into your tenancy agreement under the Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009, so agree the figure and the date it applies before you sign.
## The bottom line
A house for rent in Lahore in 2026 costs Rs 35,000 in Wapda Town or Bahria Town, Rs 80,000 to Rs 150,000 for a 5 marla house in Johar Town, Rs 120,000 to Rs 250,000 for a 10 marla house in DHA, and Rs 220,000 to Rs 450,000 for a 1 kanal house in DHA. 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 Lahore? Browse verified direct owner listings on ilaan.com and deal at zero commission. Landlords: list your property free and reach tenants directly. 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.
