India, June 4 -- When Ananya, Meher, Tanya, and Isha moved to Pune for work, they were strangers bound by one mission-find a place to stay that didn't burn their pockets or sanity. They had jobs starting in a week, minimal furniture, and zero clue about rental paperwork. But after visiting a dozen flats, and sitting across a polite but sharp-eyed landlord named Mr. Naik, they finally found "the one." As excited as they were to move in, the rent agreement made them pause. Luckily, Meher's cousin was a lawyer, and what followed was a crash course in tenants' rights, rental clauses, and grown-up negotiations. Here's how they dissected the 10 most important clauses in a rent agreement-and why you should too:

1. Security Deposit Mr. Naik init...