Chennai · IKAN Ford/Weichert Ops Playbook (INTERNAL)

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How to use this field manual

The internal ops layer for a Ford / Weichert move in Chennai, the one document that carries every rent band, vetted agent, admissions line, hospital and government contact. Two rules: work it top to bottom on a live file, and never let it, or anything in it, reach the assignee or the client.

What this is

The internal field manual for a Ford / Weichert move in Chennai: the real rents by area, IKAN-vetted agents, school admissions and hospital lines, utility helplines, government desks and vendor booking numbers, all in one place.

Who it's for

IKAN's destination-services team only. It carries our confidential agent and vendor contacts. Never share it, or any contact inside it, with the assignee or with Ford / Weichert.

The other two Ford documents

The capability deck is what we show Ford to win and hold the account (no contacts). The Chennai assignee guide is what the moving employee receives (warm, contact-free). This manual is the internal twin of that guide.

Run a move from here

Work it top to bottom: set scope from Ford account → base the assignee from Housing → lead the deal from Lease & money → clear Utilities, Settling-in & Compliance → place Schools & Healthcare → book from the vendor lines. Escalation: your city coordinator → Reynold Varghese → Rohit Kumar.

The account

Ford / Weichert, at a glance

How we deliver this account, what sits in scope, and the escalation path. Lead with this on every new move.

The Ford / Weichert model

A capped 8-hour destination package

Ford's domestic package is strictly 8 hours total per assignee, and that clock includes prep and back-office time, not just face-to-face. The RMC ticks the service options on the authorisation; you deliver to exactly that. Time beyond 8 hours is not authorised, so prioritise, and if one service runs over, trim another. Delivered by one coordinator who owns the move end to end, in-region and in the local language.

Reporting & escalation

Status to Weichert / Ford on their cadence, inside Weichert Go. Escalation path: your city coordinator → Reynold Varghese (Director, Relocation Services) → Rohit Kumar (Jt Managing Director).

In scope, every move

Pre-arrival orientation & needs assessment
Serviced-apartment / temporary landing
Area orientation & home search
Accompanied shortlist viewings
Lease negotiation + Six-Eyes review
Utilities, gas, internet & settling-in
School search & admissions support

Duty of care: ISO 31030-aligned. For first-time young joiners run “First Move”: managed / secured housing on arrival, deposit & rental-fraud protection, a 24/7 line and a buddy. Land every assignee in serviced / temporary accommodation first, never the open market on day one.

The package menu, and how to spend the 8 hours

Area Orientation

Specific area orientation (virtual)2 hrs

Specific area orientation (accompanied)4 or 8 hrs

Educational / childcare overview2, 4 or 8 hrs

Home Finding

Home-search tutorial2 hrs

Property viewings: research & coordination (unaccompanied)4 hrs

Property viewings: research & up to 2 accompanied viewings6 hrs

Lease assistance: review / consultation only2 hrs

Lease assistance: review & negotiation4 hrs

Check-in & utility hook-up tutorial (unaccompanied)1 hr

Accompanied check-in inspection & utility hook-up guidance4, 5 or 6 hrs

Settling In

Settling-in tutorial: amenities, utilities set-up, local transport & commuting2 hrs

Three ways to spend the 8 hours

Family, full home search: Virtual orientation (2h) + research & 2 accompanied viewings (6h) = 8h. Lease review folds into the viewing time; settling handled by tutorial.

Family needing schools + orientation: Accompanied area orientation with education overview (4h) + lease review & negotiation (4h) = 8h.

Confident self-driver: Home-search tutorial (2h) + unaccompanied viewings research & coordination (4h) + settling-in tutorial (2h) = 8h.

The RMC ticks the options on the authorisation; you deliver to that. If one service runs over, trim another. You cannot exceed 8 hrs without written authorisation.

The delivery lifecycle

How we run a move, end to end

The IKAN Relocation Process (Manual v7) as a working checklist: ten phases from work order to deposit recovered, with the consultant action and the timing on each. This is the same spine for every case, Ford or not.

Authorisation & pre-planningWithin 24 working hrs of the AI / work order

Check the client contract and authorised scope (Reservoir / Account Custodian) before you touch anything.
Create or update the assignee on i-track. Search first to avoid a duplicate record. Log the KPI entries (service-auth acknowledgement, first-contact note) on the same day the action happens.
Match services ordered against the assignee's needs, location and dates. Raise red flags early: budget vs expectation gaps, out-of-scope asks, extra compliance (lease registration, Form C, PAN), fee / payment / communication issues.
Flag the finder's fee up front: brokerage is usually ~1 month's rent, negotiable case by case.

First contact & welcomeWithin 1 working day of authorisation

Send the welcome email: introduce IKAN and yourself with a photo and short bio, list the services authorised, request available dates and a counselling call, and set initial expectations.
cc the client / RMC / HR on the welcome note and every critical mail thereafter.
For a cross-border or first-time-India family, add the India guide + the city guide link.

Counselling callWithin 24 hrs of first contact

Confirm who is on the call, introduce everyone on your side, and keep it a dialogue: listen more, probe needs.
Walk the relocation process, set expectations, and explain the lease process and occupier responsibilities clearly. Warn about online-listing risk (fake / stale / bait listings).
Confirm arrival logistics: airport transfer and temporary accommodation are booked.
Email a recap to all stakeholders with the occupier-responsibility document attached.

Itinerary & tour planning2 to 3 days before service

Build the programme in the iTour Itinerary Maker. Prepare the property listing and share it 2 to 3 days before the home search.
Confirm the first appointment: call or email two days prior, then again the day before (time, location, venue).
Pre-check transport quality: clean car inside and out, working seat belts, an English-speaking driver where possible, water and a first-aid kit.

Area orientation & home searchOn programme day(s)

Show a map, explain the localities in detail, plan stops, and set market-condition expectations. Photograph every property viewed.
Explain Lessor / Lessee and occupier duties on the tour, then again in writing.
Guide the assignee to shortlist the top 3 properties in order of preference, with reasons.
Send an End-of-Day report to all stakeholders the same evening, with a 'happy photo' of the family.

Negotiation & term sheetRight after the shortlist

Run a joint walk-through of the top one or two with the landlord present. Negotiate directly with the owner where possible, and get the assignee face to face with them.
Open negotiations on two landlords simultaneously. Capture every verbal agreement in writing (email / term sheet) immediately.
Send a formal term sheet within 48 hrs with all commercials, repairs and value-adds. Share the value-add caveat: quality of owner-supplied additions is not guaranteed.

Lease & the Six-Eyes reviewOn landlord approval

Draft on the lease checklist (below) with a full fixtures & fittings annexure. Use the client template (MSD / Vanguard) and push back on the owner's template.
Six-Eyes: three managers review every lease before it leaves IKAN. Secure the deposit-protection clause and confirm rent starts on possession.
Print the clean agreement on e-stamp paper and proofread it word by word against the approved draft.

Move-in inspection (PCR)On property handover

Run a pre-move inspection with the landlord, then a joint move-in walk-through. Complete the check-in report on move.report / i-track: photos, meter readings (power, water, gas), key list, and every pre-existing defect.
Share the move-in PDF with all parties. They have 7 days to dispute the recorded condition.
Send the closure email: occupier responsibilities (second time), lease copy, and the occupier contact sheet (below).

Settling-inAfter move-in, ongoing

Deliver the settling catalog (below): utilities & media, local registration, accompanied bank-account opening, driving licence, insurance, networking, neighbourhood tour, furniture & appliances, household help, appliance orientation.
Home visit within a week with a small pre-approved gift. Take a happy photo. Softly request VOC / Trustpilot feedback and a one-minute video testimonial.

Housing market

The market, area by area

Realistic 2025-26 family-grade rents, the gated communities corporate tenants actually take, water-source reality and the commute to the office. Branded/gated sits at the top of each band; standalone at the bottom.

Sholinganallur8-15 min

At the office

2 BHK ₹34-46k · 3 BHK ₹40-75k

Communities: Prestige Courtyard, Lancor TCP Altura, Casagrand Amethyst/Royale, Ramaniyam Gauravv, Radiance Sapphire, Adroit Fortune, Olympia Opaline

Water: OMR hub; mostly borewell + tanker (little Metrowater). Confirm per building; premium towers run RO + dual-source.

Karapakkam10-15 min

Just north of office

2 BHK ₹34-52k · 3 BHK ₹46-69k

Communities: Doshi Risington, Casagrand The Address / Savoye, Radiance Lakefront, Navin's Palm Fronds, Puravankara Windermere

Water: Borewell + tanker; value gated stock near the Sholinganallur amenities.

Thoraipakkam10-15 min

Lively OMR midpoint

2 BHK ₹34-52k · 3 BHK ₹52-75k

Communities: Ceebros Boulevard, Akshaya Tango, Casagrand Aldea, Jains Pebble Brook, Ramaniyam Ocean Isha, TVH Park Villa

Water: Borewell + tanker; 200 Feet Radial Road gives a fast western exit.

Navalur15-25 min

New-build value, south

2 BHK ₹29-40k · 3 BHK ₹46-69k

Communities: Olympia Opaline, DRA Truliv/Centralia, Casagrand Elinor, Emami Tejomaya, TVH Taus, House of Hiranandani, Pacifica Aurum

Water: Borewell + tanker; best space-for-money, KC High nearby.

Perumbakkam15-25 min

Family value, off-corridor

2 BHK ₹29-46k · 3 BHK ₹40-57k

Communities: Casagrand First City/Cherry Pick/Avalon, KG Good Fortune, Oxygen by Urban Tree, TVH Ouranya Bay, Bollineni Hillside, India Bulls Greens

Water: Borewell + tanker; large gated townships, Gleneagles Global next door.

Siruseri / Padur25-35 min

Far south, cheapest

2 BHK ₹22-35k · 3 BHK ₹32-50k

Communities: SIPCOT-side townships and builder stock: Provident Cosmo City, TVS Emerald Verde Vista, Godrej Azure, Urbanrise Revolution One

Water: Borewell + tanker; only if budget or SIPCOT work pulls south.

Velachery / Medavakkam25-40 min

Established city living

2 BHK ₹34-57k · 3 BHK ₹46-75k

Communities: Kochar Jewel, KG Bellaire, Navin's Starwood, Ceebros Heritage, Tulive UrbanVille; Medavakkam value townships

Water: Better Metrowater odds than OMR; Phoenix MarketCity + MRTS rail. Longer, monsoon-prone commute (Pallikaranai).

Thiruvanmiyur20-40 min

Beachside, top of OMR

2 BHK ₹29-46k · 3 BHK ₹52-75k

Communities: Ramaniyam Sree Mahalakshmi, Land Marvel Athidya, Mayura Park, Appaswamy Waterford, Casagrand Marina Bay

Water: Better Metrowater; premium, leafy, close to Adyar and the beach.

Lease & money mechanics

Deposit, lease & the money terms

What owners ask, what's negotiable, and the paperwork reality. Lead every negotiation from here.

Security deposit

OMR corporate gated 2 to 3 months (occasionally up to 5 for premium); independent houses 5 to 10 months (TN is a high-advance market). The biggest negotiation. Cap corporate leases at 2-3, get refund terms written in (deposit is refundable, not advance rent).

Lease term

Standard 11 months on e-stamp paper, unregistered (12+ triggers compulsory registration). Renewed as a fresh 11-month deed each year.

E-stamp & registration

Run on a ₹100-200 e-stamp via TNREGINET, optionally notarised. Registration only needed at 12 months+ (then ~1% stamp on rent+deposit + ~1% registration). The TN 2017 Act technically wants Rent-Authority registration within 90 days; widely ignored for private 11-month leases.

Brokerage

~1 month's rent on OMR (peripheral can be half a month). Often tenant-paid, sometimes split landlord+tenant. Negotiable, or ₹0 via a platform.

Annual escalation

5% (up to 8-10%) per renewal, compound, applied at renewal. Push to cap at 5%, renewal-only.

Maintenance / CAM

OMR gated communities ₹4 to 10 per sq ft/month (a 1,200 sq ft flat ≈ ₹5,000-10,000). Per-community, set by the association, confirm per unit and whether owner- or tenant-borne. Watch the ₹7,500/month GST threshold.

Electricity stays with owner

The TNPDCL (TNEB) connection stays in the owner's name, not transferable for an 11-month let; tenant pays actuals on the owner's service number. Record the meter reading at handover and put 'as per actuals' in the lease to avoid a deposit dispute.

Water is a separate variable cost

Where there's no Metrowater, water is tanker-fed and commonly billed per head, ~₹250 to 400 per person/month (or per-flat meter, or folded into CAM). Confirm source + billing method + summer rate per community.

⚑ The deposit is the whole game

Owners will try to deduct from the deposit on any pretext. A great consultant negotiates a 100% refund. Bake the protection into the lease: simultaneous refund on hand-back, and the Lessee's right to hold possession plus 24% interest if the refund is delayed. Push back hard on "we'll return it in a few days." On a company lease, hand keys to the corporate, not the owner.

Lease checklist

The lease checklist, before Six-Eyes

Every mandatory checkpoint from the IKAN lease-construction standard. Draft against this, attach the fixtures & fittings annexure, then put it through the Six-Eyes review (three managers) before it leaves IKAN. Use the client template (MSD / Vanguard); push back on the owner's.

Correct legal names and addresses (with PIN) of Lessor and Lessee, as per government ID.
All commercial terms exactly as the approved term sheet / LOI.
Property description: size, rooms (incl. staff quarter), car-parking number, furnished status.
Tenancy length with clear start and end dates.
Lock-in and notice period, with the break clause spelled out.
Rent escalation clause (cap at 5%, renewal-only where possible).
Rent inclusions / exclusions: maintenance, society, club, move-in/out charges, generator running cost, and the payment date.
AMC: who maintains appliances and heavy equipment (AC, generator, lifts, private pool).
Common-area maintenance inclusions and exclusions.
TDS clause in every lease: "Rent is payable subject to tax deduction at source as applicable."
Effective date = the date possession is given; rent starts on possession.
Lessor bank account + RTGS details.
Security deposit in words and figures.
Deposit-protection clause: simultaneous refund on hand-back; right to hold possession + 24% interest on delay. Push back on "we'll return it a few days later."
Termination / break / diplomatic (force majeure) clause, with the right vested in the Lessee.
Occupier's exact name (passport name for a foreigner) + ID number.
Return-in-good-condition clause, normal wear and tear exempt. No forced repaint or deep-clean.
Define major vs minor defects.
Lessor support for 30 days post move-in to fix tenancy issues.
Lessor email and phone on the lease.
Registration + who pays stamp duty (shared equally by default).
Jurisdiction = the same city / state as the property.
Annexures: fixtures & fittings, furniture, floor plan, title papers.
Due-diligence docs collected: electricity bills, property tax, ownership proof, PAN.

Utilities set-up

Power, water, gas & internet, step by step

Who the account sits with, what it costs, the friction points, and the providers.

Electricity, TNPDCL / TNEB

Account stays in the owner's name (a non-owner tenant transfer needs the owner's Form 5 consent + indemnity, never given for an 11-month let). Tenant pays the bi-monthly bill on the owner's service number at the meter reading. Photograph the meter at move-in and move-out. Pay via TNEB / tnebnet.org / UPI.

Water, Metrowater vs tanker

Much of OMR has no reliable CMWSSB Metrowater, so communities run borewell + private tankers (the corridor spends an estimated ₹700 cr/yr on alternatives). Metrowater tanker ≈ ₹700/9,000 L; private ≈ ₹800-3,000/load, ~₹70 to 110 per kilolitre, spiking in summer. Confirm source, per-head vs per-meter billing, and the summer peak before signing.

Cooking gas, LPG

Indane / Bharat / HP cylinders are the norm. New connections from the state players can be slow and private players take time, so start the connection or an inter-city transfer early (the 11-month e-stamp agreement is valid address proof). Some newer OMR complexes have piped gas.

Internet / broadband

ACT Fibernet, Airtel Xstream, JioFiber and local ISPs all cover OMR well; family fibre plans roughly ₹700-1,500/month, install 1 to 4 days. Most gated communities have a preferred-ISP tie-up, ask the community office.

Provider & helpline direct lines

TNPDCL / TANGEDCO · Electricity

Power, outages, complaints

Call94987 94987

Webwww.tnpdcl.org

24x7 Minnagam helpline (call + WhatsApp); 1912 for power-failure complaints. The connection stays in the owner's name, photograph the meter at move-in.

CMWSSB · Metrowater

Piped water, tanker, sewer

Call1916

Webcmwssb.tn.gov.in

Toll-free 1916 · national 14420 · WhatsApp 81449 30308. Much of OMR has no reliable Metrowater, so confirm the source (borewell/tanker) per building.

LPG emergency (all brands)

Gas-leak / safety, 24x7

Call1906

All-India emergency line for Indane, Bharat Gas and HP Gas.

Indane · LPG consumer

New connection, refill, transfer

Call1800 2333 555

Webcx.indianoil.in

Start the connection or inter-city transfer early; the e-stamp agreement is valid address proof. Some newer OMR complexes have piped gas.

JioFiber

Broadband / AirFiber

Call1800 896 9999

Webwww.jio.com/fiber

ACT Fibernet and Airtel Xstream also cover OMR well (apply via their sites). Most gated communities have a preferred-ISP tie-up, ask the community office.

Settling-in

Settling-in essentials & admin

The set-up tasks that unlock daily life, ordered to clear the blockers fastest. Address proof first.

Address proof first. A registered rental agreement + one utility bill unlock everything else. Secure them before anything below.
Bank account (accompanied). KYC: photo ID (Aadhaar / passport) + PAN + address proof + employer letter + photos. Book the appointment, attend, help fill the forms. We line up a branch that opens on the rental agreement.
Local SIM. Postpaid on company / Aadhaar KYC. Keep one number stable for every OTP and account.
Utilities and media. Power, water, cooking gas, plus internet, phone and TV set-up (see Utilities for the providers and costs).
Tenant police verification. Many stations require the landlord / tenant to file it. We prepare the form + IDs so move-in doesn't stall.
Local-authority registration where applicable (see Compliance).
Driving licence. Advise process, documents, cost and timeline; interstate movers re-register the vehicle (NOC from origin RTO, road tax at destination).
Insurance. Introduce reputable brokers (household, motor); arrange an appointment if needed.
Furniture & appliances. Hire or purchase (rental brands in the Settling network). Explain RO / AC / washer / dishwasher use, upkeep and running cost.
Household help. Introduce a vetted agency for cook / maid / nanny / driver; explain how hiring and pay usually work.
Neighbourhood orientation. Accompanied tour of grocery, pharmacy, place of worship, doctor / dentist, and the local hospital.
Networking. Expat / community clubs and organisations for the assignee and spouse.
Daily-living set-up. Water cans, milk, newspaper, groceries, waste-separation rules, and society clubhouse enrolment.

Landing & temporary housing

Serviced apartments to land the assignee

Never put an assignee on the open market on day one. Land them in serviced / temporary accommodation first, then run the home search. These are the corporate-suitable options in Chennai; confirm GST invoicing and current rates before booking.

Citadines OMR Chennai (Ascott)

Sholinganallur, OMR IT corridor

Call+91 44 7111 7111

Webwww.discoverasr.com/en/citadines/india/citadines-omr-chennai

269-unit apart-hotel on the OMR expressway, studio to 2BR with kitchens. Ideal first landing for Ford's OMR tech-centre assignees.

Somerset Greenways Chennai (Ascott)

MRC Nagar

Call+91 44 7100 0001

Webwww.discoverasr.com/en/somerset-serviced-residence/india/somerset-greenways-chennai

187 units, studio to 3BR with washer/dryer, ~10 min to the CBD. Good when Adyar / Besant Nagar is preferred over OMR.

Hanu Reddy Residences

Poes Garden, Wallace Garden, Alwarpet (multiple)

Call+91 73057 35555

Webwww.hanureddyresidences.com/locations

Long-established Chennai serviced-apartment operator near consulates and corporate offices. Built for relocation stays.

Ginger Chennai OMR (IHCL)

Egattur, OMR

Call+91 44 6909 3233

Webwww.gingerhotels.com/hotels/ginger-chennai-omr

Tata / IHCL budget-business hotel on OMR near the IT parks. A common employer choice for interim staff housing.

Golden Fruits Business Suites

T. Nagar

Call+91 44 2436 6666

Webwww.goldenfruits.in

Self-catering business suites near the US / Singapore consulates. Useful when the base is central Chennai, not OMR.

ELO House

Nungambakkam, Manapakkam (multiple)

Call+91 99622 86699

Webwww.elohouse.in

Serviced-apartment marketplace with verified daily / weekly / monthly listings across several corporate corridors at once.

Settling network

Banking, furniture, help & community

The vendors and networks that turn a house into a settled life: opening a bank account, furniture & appliance rental, household help, and the expat / newcomer communities. Verify a current number before you hand it on.

Banks & opening an account

HDFC Bank

Call1800 1600

Densest branches on OMR (Sholinganallur, Perungudi). Strong corporate salary tie-ups; fast onboarding on PAN + rental agreement + employer letter.

ICICI Bank

Call1800 1080

Multiple OMR branches near Ford's corridor. Efficient digital opening and doorstep banking for account holders.

Axis Bank

Call1860 500 5555

Branch on OMR (Perungudi). Absorbed Citibank India consumer banking, so ex-Citi clients now sit here.

Kotak Mahindra Bank

Call1860 266 0811

Kotak 811 digital account opens fast on Aadhaar video-KYC; upgrade to a salary account once the lease and employer letter are ready.

HSBC India

Call1800 267 3456

Chennai branch (Anna Salai). Best for global-mobility employees who already bank with HSBC abroad.

Standard Chartered

Call1800 525 8390

Priority Banking desk suits senior assignees wanting relationship-manager onboarding and cross-border continuity.

Furniture & appliance rental

Furlenco

Webwww.furlenco.com/chennai

Furniture & appliance rental, live in Chennai (Adyar store). Flexible plans, doorstep delivery. Support via app / chat.

RentoMojo

Webwww.rentomojo.com/chennai

Furniture, appliances & electronics across Chennai incl. the OMR corridor. Free relocation of rented items on an in-city move.

Cityfurnish

Webcityfurnish.com

Rental from 3 months with free delivery / install / maintenance. Suits short assignments. Chat support only.

RentMacha

Call+91 85304 79099

Webwww.rentmacha.com/furniture-on-rent-chennai

Serves Chennai with dedicated furniture / appliance pages, and has a published phone line.

CORT Global (India)

Webwww.cortglobal.com/india/chennai

Global corporate-relocation furniture-rental brand with a Chennai page for employee-housing set-ups. Contact via form.

Household help: cook, maid, nanny, driver

TDS Manpower Consultancy

Call+91 98406 71997

Webwww.tdsmanpowerconsultancy.com

Established Chennai domestic-staffing agency (maids, cooks, nannies, attendants). Full-time live-in ~Rs 12,000-20,000/mo, part-time ~Rs 4,000-10,000/mo (OMR rates a touch higher); police verification standard.

BookMyHouseMaids

Call+91 93622 29993

Webwww.bookmyhousemaids.com

Chennai agency for maids, cooks, babysitters, home nurses and drivers. No advance; pay after the maid joins.

Choicesiki

Call+91 72002 03257

Webchoicesiki.com

Chennai agency for maids, babysitters, live-in staff and patient care. A solid agency fallback when a client prefers an agency over an app.

Urban Company

Webwww.urbancompany.com/chennai-individual-maid-service

App-based, background-verified. Best for one-off or recurring cleaning, not full-time live-in staff.

Expat & community networks

OWC, Overseas Women of Chennai

Webchennaiowc.com

40-year expat women's club; coffee mornings 2nd / 4th Wed, settling-in support. Best first contact for a trailing spouse.

IWA Chennai, International Women's Association

Webwww.iwachennai.com

Multicultural women's group (est. 1986) with arts, book-club and culture-tour sub-groups.

InterNations Chennai

Webwww.internations.org/chennai-expats

Global expat platform; recurring in-person mixers for international professionals.

Chennai Expats (CHEX)

Webwww.facebook.com/groups/ChexIndia

Active Facebook group; settling tips, marketplace and meetups. Grassroots peer support.

US Consulate General Chennai

Webin.usembassy.gov/chennai

US presence for American assignees across South India; American Center walk-in space on Cathedral Rd. Consulate +91 44 2857 4000.

Compliance & government desks

Registration, RTO, police & civic desks

The offices and portals behind the settling-in admin: foreigner registration (e-FRRO), rental-agreement registration, vehicle re-registration, tenant police verification, and the civic grievance line. Most run online now, confirm the exact jurisdiction for the property before filing.

FRRO Chennai

Foreigner registration (TN & Puducherry)

Call+91 44 2345 4970

Emailfrrochn@nic.in

Webindianfrro.gov.in

WhereShastri Bhavan Annexe, 26 Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600006

Registration, visa extension and exit permits via e-FRRO online; foreign nationals on 180+ day visas register within the stipulated window. Alt email chiochn@nic.in.

Sub-Registrar · Neelankarai / TNREGINET

Rental-agreement / property registration

Webtnreginet.gov.in

WhereEast Coast Road, Neelankarai, Chennai 600115

Sholinganallur/OMR falls under Chennai South registration district. Verify the exact SRO for the property street on the TNREGINET jurisdiction tool before booking.

RTO Sholinganallur (TN-14)

Vehicle re-registration, road tax, DL

Webparivahan.gov.in

Where1/1A Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), Sholinganallur, Chennai 600119

TN-14 serves the OMR corridor. Interstate moves: NOC from the origin RTO, then re-register and pay road tax within the grace window.

TN Police · Tenant verification

Sholinganallur / OMR (J10 Chemmencherry)

Webeservices.tnpolice.gov.in

File tenant verification online via the CCTNS citizen portal (Service Type > Tenant Verification). Confirm the exact station for the property. Emergency 100 / 112.

Greater Chennai Corporation · Civic

Garbage, roads, water-logging, property tax

Call1913

Webwww.chennaicorporation.gov.in

24x7 civic grievance line; Namma Chennai app and WhatsApp 94455 51913. Head office: Ripon Building.

Schools

Schools, boards & fees

Admission cycle opens roughly Nov to Dec for the next year; mid-year is seat-dependent and popular grades waitlist. Match school commute against office commute.

School	Board	Area	Fee / yr	Admissions	Notes
Ravindra Bharathi Global School	CBSE	Medavakkam / Sholinganallur (near OMR)	On enquiry	medavakkam@rbglobalschools.in	CBSE chain, academics-focused; the Medavakkam campus is the closest to the OMR corridor
Sri Chaitanya Techno School	CBSE	Thoraipakkam / Perumbakkam (OMR)	On enquiry	via website	Large South-Indian CBSE chain, competitive-exam (IIT/NEET) foundation focus; several OMR-belt branches
Orchids The International School	CBSE ICSE	Thoraipakkam / Perumbakkam / Velachery (OMR)	On enquiry	via website	National CBSE/ICSE chain, modern infrastructure and extracurriculars; multiple OMR-belt campuses
KC High	IB IGCSE	Navalur (on OMR)	₹2.5-2.65L	+91 93848 27992 admin@kchigh.com	Top-ranked on-OMR international; closest premium option to a Ford home
TIPS Chennai	IB IGCSE	Perungudi (on OMR)	~₹4.65L	+91 73388 13383 askchennaimain@tipsglobal.net	On-corridor, has boarding
International Village School	IB	Sholinganallur	₹2.5-5L	+91 44 4860 3757	On the office doorstep
Gateway The Complete School	IGCSE	Sholinganallur	₹2-3.5L	+91 44 2450 3333 admissionsgtcs@gatewaytheschool.in	On corridor, Cambridge
PSBB Millennium OMR	CBSE	Thazhambur	₹94k-1.18L	+91 73050 05098 admission.omr@psbbmillenniumschool.org	Strong CBSE; registration opens ~1 October, timing matters
Babaji Vidhyashram	CBSE	Sholinganallur	~₹1.34L	+91 44 4210 5757	On-corridor CBSE, popular
Velammal New-Gen	CBSE	Medavakkam / Sholinganallur	₹70k-1.3L	via website	Value CBSE, two campuses; enquire via velammal.org
Sishya OMR School	ICSE	Thoraipakkam	~₹80k	+91 44 4950 3325	On-corridor ICSE (CLM Sishya)
Hindustan International	CBSE IGCSE	Padur	₹1-1.8L	+91 44 2747 1133 info.padur@hindustanschools.in	Further south on OMR

Healthcare

Hospitals & the cashless reality

Always confirm the specific hospital is on the assignee's TPA panel at onboarding; pre-authorise planned procedures.

Hospital	Area	Contact	Strength	Cashless
Gleneagles Global Health City	Perumbakkam (~2-3 km)	+91 92402 62425Emergency 044 4624 2424	Closest major tertiary to Ford; ~1,000-bed quaternary, transplant-grade, 24x7 trauma	Wide tie-ups; the serious-emergency choice
Apollo Speciality, OMR	Perungudi (~6 km)	+91 80699 91000	Purpose-built for the IT corridor, NABH, 24x7 emergency, 118 beds	All major insurers/TPAs
Iswarya Multi Speciality	Kottivakkam (~7 km)	044 2025 2025	400+ beds, 24x7 emergency & trauma, oncology, transplants	Broad network
Dr. Kamakshi Memorial	Pallikaranai (~4 to 5 km, off OMR)	+91 44 6630 0300	~300-bed tertiary, strong cardiac & cancer, Velachery side	Most major insurers
MGM Malar	Adyar (~11 km, top of OMR)	+91 44 4289 2222Emergency +91 44 4933 4933	~150-bed multi-specialty (the former Fortis Malar)	Major TPAs
Chettinad Hospital	Kelambakkam (~13 km south on OMR)	+91 95519 00900Emergency 105757	Large NABH teaching hospital; referral for lower OMR	Broad network
Cloudnine, OMR	Thoraipakkam (~3-4 km)	+91 99728 99728	Dedicated maternity / NICU, the OMR childbirth choice	For maternity riders

Movers & vendors

Packers, movers & relocation vendors

For corporate billing prefer IBA-approved firms (GST invoice + transit insurance). A mid-month weekday move is cheaper than month-end.

Local (within Chennai)

2 BHK ≈ ₹4,000-9,000 · 3 BHK ≈ ₹6,000-14,000

Intercity

2 BHK ≈ ₹12,000-45,000 · 3 BHK ≈ ₹15,000-55,000+ (distance/floor/packing)

Timing tip

A mid-month weekday move is materially cheaper than a month-end Saturday

Vendors we use

IBA-approved / corporate-grade (GST invoice + transit insurance for RMC billing): Agarwal Packers & Movers (DRS), Writer Relocations, Leo Packers, Allied/Santa Fe, Crown Relocations, Interem/Sirva
Local / intra-city: Porter and app-based options, plus vetted AssureShift/NoBroker panel firms on OMR
Always bill a corporate move through an IBA-approved vendor so insurance and reimbursement clear cleanly.

Vendor booking lines

Agarwal Packers & Movers (DRS)

IBA-approved · GST + transit insurance

Call+91 93600 14001

Webwww.agarwalpackers.in

Writer Relocations

Global RMC-grade relocations

Call+91 22 4897 7911

Webwriterrelocations.com

Leo Packers & Movers India

IBA-approved corporate-grade

Call+91 80880 01122

Webwww.leopackersindia.com

Crown Relocations, India

Global mobility

Call+91 8080 322 322

Webwww.crownrelo.com/india/en-in

Santa Fe Relocation (Allied)

International + domestic

Webwww.santaferelo.com

Book via the India offices page; corporate desk quotes on request.

Interem Relocations (Sirva)

Corporate relocations

Webwww.interem.in

Freightwings / Sirva network; enquire via the contact page.

IKAN-vetted housing agents (do NOT share with the assignee)

Hanu Reddy Realty

OMR / Sholinganallur

93630 33445

Adyar Real Estate (Ganesh)

OMR & city

96007 14704

Chennai Dream Homes

OMR corridor

98409 51001

Kavin Real Estate

OMR

98840 88660

MoServe (Mohan Kartha)

OMR & south

94449 41625

Konnect Realty

OMR

98840 68317

Thanikachalam

OMR corridor

98404 09478

Bharathi

Navalur, exclusive to Hiranandani Upscale

94426 16113

Thangavelu

OMR corridor

99430 60933

Parthiban · Casagrand Rentals

OMR, Casagrand communities

72003 35405

Housewise.in Property Management

OMR corridor (all suburbs)

84484 40693

Om Sai Real Estate, OMR

Karapakkam / Sholinganallur / Thoraipakkam

97907 73686

SITRIL Property Management

Karapakkam / Sholinganallur / Navalur

91768 28999

Strawberries Property Consultant

Karapakkam / Sholinganallur / Thoraipakkam

93676 77787

Nimmadhi Property Management

Sholinganallur / Navalur

76670 08999

OMR & ECR Real Estate Service

Karapakkam / Sholinganallur / Navalur

81482 26170

OMR Rental Properties

Karapakkam / Thoraipakkam

98409 63113

OMR Rentals

Navalur / Siruseri, Padur

93818 82226

Abinesh Real Estate

Velachery / Perumbakkam

60091 80559

Sharpwell Realty

Velachery / Medavakkam

98410 32153

Green Future Realty

Velachery / Medavakkam

73056 69998

Sri K.M.N. Agencies

Velachery / Medavakkam

044 2277 2232

Urumi Traders & Realtors

Velachery / Medavakkam

97911 74271

Siva

Velachery / Medavakkam

98840 44410

Propfix Realty

Perumbakkam

97893 60885

V3 Consultants

Perumbakkam

95147 11117

DINESH REALTY

Karapakkam

89392 02999

Vaikund Estates

Karapakkam

95000 72870

SSN Real Estate

Sholinganallur

98419 37879

Subhiksham Realty & Property Mgmt

Thoraipakkam

93817 03334

A.K Agency

Thoraipakkam

98405 00045

R.V. Associates

Thoraipakkam

98401 18044

Galaxy Property Consultancy

Siruseri / Padur

94449 58106

OMR Property Management Service

Siruseri / Padur

98405 95393

Kelambakkam Rentals

Siruseri / Padur / Kelambakkam

63856 28919

Olympia Real Estate, Navalur OMR

Navalur / Siruseri

80155 91271

Propsy Homes

Siruseri / Padur

88806 60000

Counselling & needs

The counselling call & needs assessment

Before any tour: capture the full brief, run the counselling call, and raise every red flag. Get this right and the whole move runs smoother.

Needs assessment: what to captureintake

Family size and composition (spouse, children + ages), and any pets.
Housing budget (INR) and lease type: company or individual.
Property type (condo / villa / serviced apartment), furnishing, bedrooms, floor preference, car parking.
Preferred localities, and max commute to office and to school.
Tentative viewing dates (2 to 3) and the moving date.
Selected / target schools and board, plus any child support (EAL, allergies, special needs).
Special medical needs, spousal-support interests, shipment (HHG) plan, immunisation questions.
Reason for the move (if already in-city), and any other requirement that helps the search.

Counselling-call flowfirst call

Research the assignee first (LinkedIn / news); relate their home country to India on the call.
Send an Outlook calendar invite to assignee + client / RMC; mind time-zone differences.
Confirm both partners are present; introduce everyone; keep a dialogue, not a monologue.
Explain the rental-market reality: landlord-driven, volatile, the top-3 rule, listing risk, TDS, deposit, diplomatic clause.
Cover schooling, medical, pets (vets), spousal support, shipment and immunisation.
Confirm the first-meeting date, then send a bulleted recap to all stakeholders.

Red flags to raise immediatelyescalate

Budget vs expectation gap, or out-of-scope requests (raise to the client / RMC for approval).
Extra compliance needs: lease registration, Form C / FRRO, PAN, TDS.
Fee, payment-term, or communication-channel issues.
Online-listing risk: fake, stale or bait listings. Warn the assignee early.

Reporting & the quality bar

Reporting, touchpoints & how we show up

What "excellent" looks like on an IKAN programme: the reporting rhythm, the management touchpoints, the service-quality bar, and the duty-of-care rules that never bend.

Reporting cadenceevery service day

Send an End-of-Day report to all stakeholders the same evening on every service day, with a summary and the family 'happy photo'.
Capture every phone / WhatsApp agreement in a formal email chain. Informal channels are fine to talk on; the record is email.
Recap every call in bullet points to all stakeholders, and answer any open client query with a date you will revert by.

Management touchpoints

Hard touchpoints: a manager joins or greets the family, and the joint landlord walk-through happens in person.
Soft touchpoints: the next-level manager calls or emails the assignee the day after a programme to check in.
If EOD reports or feedback show a programme slipping, escalate: review the strategy, change the consultant, or have a manager meet the client.
Feedback loop: request VOC / Trustpilot / RMC feedback and a one-minute video testimonial after move-in.

Service-quality bar

Transport pre-check: clean car inside and out, working seat belts, an English-speaking driver where possible, water, tissues, a first-aid kit, an EV where possible.
Factor law & order, traffic, air quality and drinking-water quality into the day's plan.
Innovate for the family: activities for children on the tour, restaurant suggestions to local taste, and a small pre-approved move-in gift.

Duty of care, non-negotiable

ISO 31030-aligned duty of care on every move.
First Move for first-time young joiners: managed / secured housing on arrival, deposit & rental-fraud protection, a 24/7 line and a buddy.
Always land in serviced / temporary accommodation first, never the open market on day one.

Service playbooks

The recurring issues & how we handle them

The situations that come up on every move, and the consultant move.

The deposit (and 'advance vs deposit')

Cap OMR gated leases at 2 to 3 months; anchor expectations that this is far cheaper than Bangalore (≈10 months). Make sure the agreement says the deposit is refundable minus genuine damage, not non-refundable advance rent.

Promised property not shown at viewing

The lower-rent segment is highly disorganised and a promised flat may not appear at viewing. Pre-confirm availability the morning of the viewing, keep a vetted shortlist of backups, and steer corporate tenants toward branded gated stock where supply is reliable.

Water source surprises

Never shortlist on rent alone. Interrogate the water source (Metrowater vs borewell/tanker), the billing method (per head vs per-meter), and the summer rate. Set expectations that water is a separate, variable monthly cost.

Power-backup expectation

Don't promise 100% backup. Full backup is usually only in premium towers (₹85-90k+ 2BHK); most buildings run partial backup (lifts/common areas + a few points). Confirm exactly what's backed up, it matters for work-from-home days.

Electricity meter dispute at move-out

The classic deposit fight is an unpaid final electricity bill. Photograph the meter at handover and at exit, log it in the move-in inventory, and have the lease state electricity is paid as per actuals on the owner's service number.

Gas connection delays

State players restrict new connections and private players are slow. Start the connection or transfer on day one using the e-stamp agreement as address proof; don't leave it to the end of settling-in.

School timing

On-corridor seats are tight and cycles are early (PSBB OMR registration opens ~1 October). For an off-cycle family, the CBSE chains (Orchids, Sri Chaitanya, Ravindra Bharathi) and the on-OMR international schools (KC High, TIPS) are the more flexible mid-year options. Shortlist by school commute against office commute.

Immigration / visa services, the standard disclaimers to set

On any visa or immigration support, set expectations up front: approval or rejection is solely at the discretion of the immigration authority (IKAN and the visa agent are not responsible for a rejection, delay or extra-document demand, and fees, non-refundable flight/cruise tickets and hotel bookings stay non-refundable in such cases); embassy fees can change without prior notice; the applicant must verify every detail on the issued visa within 24 hours of receipt, as errors reported later cannot be accepted; any overstay penalty is the traveller's responsibility; and processing timelines are indicative, subject to embassy procedures.

Key local facts

What every consultant must know

OMR runs ~23 km and is split by the Perungudi toll; the Perungudi-Sholinganallur stretch is the chronic bottleneck. Match the home to the office's side of the toll.
Airport (MAA) is ~20 km / 40 to 60 min from Sholinganallur via the 200 Feet Radial Road and GST Road.
Metro Phase 2 (Corridor 3, Madhavaram-SIPCOT) will run the OMR spine with Sholinganallur/Siruseri/SIPCOT stations; CMRL's own official target is full completion by end-2028. Media reports of an earlier ~2027 partial opening for the elevated stretch are not CMRL-confirmed, cite as media-reported only.
Live metro works at the office gate (heads-up): reports through late 2025 and into 2026 document the ELCOT SEZ access road into the Ford campus itself closed for Phase 2 construction, forcing a detour via Medavakkam Road, with weekday access now restricted to IT-employee vehicles only. This is a current commute problem, not a future benefit. Build extra buffer into viewings and drive-tests, confirm the live access route with the family before booking a home, and lean toward homes on the easier side of the works.
Monsoon flooding: the Pallikaranai marsh edge, the 200 Feet Radial Road and parts of Medavakkam hold water Oct to Dec. Prefer higher ground with good drainage.
Registration / e-stamp runs through TNREGINET; sub-registrar offices on the corridor at Sholinganallur and Neelankarai.
Civic: Greater Chennai Corporation (municipal), TNPDCL/TNEB (power), CMWSSB Metrowater (water, limited on OMR).

Quick glossary

Lessor / Lessee

Landlord / tenant, i.e. the owner and the occupier.

AI / WO

Authorisation to Initiate / Work Order: the RMC's formal service order that starts a case.

RR number

The electricity account (Revenue Register) number printed on the BESCOM / board bill.

e-FRRO

Online Foreigner Regional Registration (indianfrro.gov.in), mandatory for 180+ day visas.

Form C

The accommodation report a host or hotel files online for a foreign national guest.

TDS

Tax deducted at source on rent under the Income Tax Act; the clause goes in every lease.

Six-Eyes

IKAN's rule that three managers review every lease before it leaves IKAN.

e-stamp

Digital stamp duty (physical stamp paper is invalid) via Kaveri 2.0 / TNREGINET / SHCIL.

EOD report

The End-of-Day summary emailed to all stakeholders after each service day, with the 'happy photo'.

NOC

No-Objection Certificate, e.g. from the origin RTO to re-register a vehicle after an interstate move.

HHG

Household goods, the assignee's shipment.

Occupier's responsibilities

The tenant-duties document IKAN shares at the counselling call and again at move-in.

Daily-living toolkit

Useful apps & the occupier contact sheet

Hand the assignee this toolkit at settling-in. The apps run daily life in India; the contact sheet is the one-page ready-reckoner you fill in per move and leave with the family at move-in.

Blinkit / Zepto / Instamart

Groceries and essentials in 10 to 20 minutes.

Swiggy / Zomato

Food delivery and restaurant discovery.

Uber / Ola / Rapido

App cabs and autos; Rapido bikes for short hops.

Urban Company

Home repairs, cleaning, salon, appliance service at home.

BigBasket / JioMart

Scheduled weekly grocery delivery.

1mg / Apollo 24|7 / PharmEasy

Medicines, lab tests and doctor tele-consults.

Practo

Book in-person doctor and dentist appointments.

Google Pay / PhonePe / Paytm

UPI payments, the default for everything in India.

MyGate / NoBrokerHood

Gated-community gate passes, visitors and maintenance dues.

PolicyBazaar

Compare and buy household / motor / health insurance.

Furlenco / RentoMojo

Furniture and appliance rental, monthly.

Google Maps

Live traffic, transit and the fastest route to the office.

The occupier contact sheet (fill one per move)

Landlord and landlord representative (phone + email).
Estate / facility manager, security, and the maintenance team (phone + email).
Nearest police station (name, address, phone).
Closest hospitals (name, address, phone) from the Healthcare section.
Emergency numbers: fire, police, ambulance, chemist (from the Numbers section).
Cooking-gas contact + the consumer / registration number.
Internet service provider details.
Electricity and water provider numbers, with the RR / consumer number.
The useful-apps list for daily living.

Sources & method

Where this comes from

This manual is built from IKAN's own process standards, the Ford package terms, and source-verified city research. Treat it as a working reference, and confirm anything time-sensitive on a live file.

Ford 'Domestic Relocation Support Package, Time Allocation' (Ford / Weichert): the capped 8-hour model and the full service menu on this page.
IKAN Relocation Process Manual v7 + Recommended DSP Best Practices (IKAN QM / DPO, effective 30 Jun 2024): the delivery lifecycle, the lease checklist & Six-Eyes, the counselling call and needs assessment, the move-in / move-out protocol, the settling catalog, and the reporting & quality bar.
Rents are cross-checked against IKAN's own assignee city-guide dataset (the same vetted figures, with the standard corporate uplift).
City contacts and figures are verified against official sources, and every contact card links to its own source: the utility boards (BESCOM / BWSSB, TNEB / TWAD), e-FRRO (indianfrro.gov.in), Kaveri 2.0 / TNREGINET, Parivahan, and the official school, hospital, bank, serviced-apartment and vendor websites.
Law & market notes (e.g. the Karnataka Rent (Amendment) Act, 2025) are taken from the relevant government notifications.
Where a contact could not be verified, it is marked as such or left out rather than guessed.

Reviewed July 2026. Every contact links to its official source. Figures and contacts are working references, verify current details before committing on a live file. Confidential to IKAN.

Chennai field manual

How to use this field manual

Ford / Weichert, at a glance

The package menu, and how to spend the 8 hours

How we run a move, end to end

The market, area by area

Deposit, lease & the money terms

The lease checklist, before Six-Eyes

Power, water, gas & internet, step by step

Provider & helpline direct lines

Settling-in essentials & admin

Serviced apartments to land the assignee

Banking, furniture, help & community

Banks & opening an account

Furniture & appliance rental

Household help: cook, maid, nanny, driver

Expat & community networks

Registration, RTO, police & civic desks

Schools, boards & fees

Hospitals & the cashless reality

Packers, movers & relocation vendors

Vendors we use

Vendor booking lines

IKAN-vetted housing agents (do NOT share with the assignee)

The counselling call & needs assessment

Reporting, touchpoints & how we show up

The recurring issues & how we handle them

What every consultant must know

Quick glossary

Useful apps & the occupier contact sheet

The occupier contact sheet (fill one per move)

Numbers to have on hand

Where this comes from

IKAN on the ground in Chennai