That awareness about the new tenancy act in Tamil Nadu, the lone legal platform to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants, is poor is evident from the fact that just 2,500 have registered under it before the deadline ended in the middle of September.
This despite the rule that those not registered under it cannot file cases with state government-constituted rent authorities that replaced rent courts.
Housing and urban development department sources said the deadline for registrations under the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act ended on September 19 after being extended twice. When contacted, officials in the department now say they plan to further extend the deadline.
“So far, about 2,500 registrations have been recorded across the state,” a senior official said. Under the act, which came into force across the state on February 22, no person can let out or take on rent any premises without a written agreement and that all such agreements be registered.
Experts as well as members of the public are vociferous in their condemnation of the legislation they term draconian. Senior advocate P Wilson said it was skewed in favour of landlords. “The Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act (Tenancy Act) has sounded the death knell for fixation of fair rent that was available under the previous Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, popularly known as the rent control act,” he said.
This is particularly a harsh blow for residents in Chennai and its suburbs with a population of one crore, where not everyone can own a house, Wilson added.
In the case of properties not registered under the act, landlords can evict their tenants with ease. “In such properties, tenants are at the mercy of house owners,” said Wilson, who is a Rajya Sabha member.
Rent authorities headed by officials above the rank of deputy collectors have been set up in all districts, but few seem to be approaching them.
