India, Oct. 6 -- Short-term rentals in NCR have come under the scanner in recent weeks, with residents' associations in Noida and Ghaziabad raising concerns over security, nuisance and the steady stream of short-stay guests entering residential complexes. While there is no blanket law prohibiting homeowners from offering flats for short-term stays, legal experts say it is far from a free-for-all.

Most housing societies are governed by state Apartment Ownership Acts or Cooperative Societies Acts, along with their own bye-laws, which may restrict or regulate transient occupancy. The rules often turn on concerns over security, the use of common areas and whether frequent short-term stays undermine the residential character of a housing comp...