What are the rights of a tenant?

When you are under a tenancy contract, i.e., if you are a tenant and occupant of a rented accommodation, you have certain rights and obligations as well. I have come across many tenants like myself who get into troubles with their landlords and are often clueless about tenants rights. In this answer I will take you through it and let you know what are the tenant rights in India.

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Just like landlords, tenants enjoy certain rights that are established under the Rent Control Act. Let us have a look at what is tenancy rights in India.

Under no circumstances can a landlord devoid the tenants of their basic rights to have access to essential services such as water, electricity, safety, etc. Even if the tenant fails to pay the timely rental amount, landlords cannot resort to these solutions.

A tenant has the right to oppose the unfair eviction process. As per the Rent Control Act, a landlord has to provide sufficient time, reasons and service an eviction notice beforehand to the tenants. They could face legal action if found guilty of such an act.

The rent must be set as per the Rent Control Act criteria. The landlord cannot charge exorbitant amounts of rent without evaluating the property value. The rental value is usually between 8% to 10% of the property value (inclusive of all the expenses for repairs, fixtures and maintenance).

Apart from the above mentioned tenants rights, the tenants also must know that they have the right to live peacefully, undisturbed in an accommodation of good state. The tenants enjoy the right to know the landlord's identity as well.

If you are a tenant and are confused about the tenant rights in India, read through this again and stand up to your landlord in times of need.

Building peaceful landlord-tenant connections in India requires an understanding of tenant rights. Tenants in India are entitled to various protections, such as the right to a habitable living area and protections against eviction. Apart from those, I added earlier, here are a few more rights of a tenant.

• Tenants are entitled to a safe and habitable living environment. Landlords are mandated to maintain the premises in a condition fit for living.

• Tenants have the right to privacy in their rented premises. Landlords cannot enter the property without prior consent or reasonable notice, except in emergencies.

• As a tenant, you can pay rent that is commensurate with the amenities and conditions of the property

• Upon vacating the premises, tenants have the right to timely get their security deposit.

• Tenants shouldn’t be discriminated against based on caste, religion, gender, or other factors when seeking rental accommodation.

I hope you understand what are the rights of a tenant.

Wondering what are the renters rights? As a tenant, you have certain rights under federal, state, and local laws. These rights include:

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1. Livable Conditions: You have the right to a safe and habitable home. Landlords must follow safety guidelines and maintain essential amenities like heating, cooling, and appliances.

2. Non-Discrimination: Federal law protects against housing discrimination. You cannot be denied housing based on race, religion, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics.

3. Lease Agreement: Both parties (landlord and tenant) must follow the terms of the lease agreement. Your rights are non-negotiable, regardless of income or other factors.

4. Rent Payment: You are obligated to pay rent on time. However, pandemic-era changes may impact eviction proceedings.

I hope this answers your query of what are rights as a tenant.

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