CHENNAI: Your rental agreements will no longer be a secretive affair between you and your landlord.
Under the new law, each and every rental agreement will have to be registered with the Rent Authority, which will provide a registration number and upload it in the website within 15 days of registration. Not only that.
The Rent Authority, which will be appointed by District Collector, could have a say in fixing or revising of rent, on an application made by the tenant or the landlord. He will also have the power to fix the date from which the revised rent becomes payable.
In the absence of an agreement between the landlord and tenant on rent payable, the act gives the landlord the option to terminate the tenancy. Under the new Act, the landlord will have to give a signed written receipt for the amount paid to him as rent or deposit or advance towards such rent. He will also give a three-month notice before revising the rent.
The new Act also gives powers for the landlord to enter the premises by giving at least 24 hours prior notice to inspect the premises or carry out repairs or any other reasonable reason. The written notice shall specify the reason for entry that too between 7am to 8pm. Interestingly, the Act states that no landlord or tenant shall cut-off or withhold any essential supply or service like water or electricity. In case of contravention, it will be restored pending inquiry by the Rent Authority.
The law specifies that a tenant will not be evicted during the continuation of agreement. The recovery of possession can be done if both landlord and tenant have failed to agree to the rent payable and that the tenant has not paid the rent arrears in full payable and other charges for two months.
Proposals
Every rent agreement will have to be registered and a registration number will be assigned and the details will be uploaded in the website
If a tenancy for a fixed term ends and has not been renewed, the tenancy shall be deemed to be renewed on a month to month basis on same terms and conditions as were in the expired tenancy agreement for a maximum of six months
After commencement of the Act, no tenant without consent of landlord can sublet whole or part of premises held by him as a tenant
After the rent of premises has been fixed, if the tenant finds a decrease or dimunition or deterioration of accommodation or housing services in the premises, he may claim reduction in rent
The security deposit shall be refunded to the tenant within one month after vacation of the premises after making due deduction of any liability by the tenant