Assam ‘first state’ to set up rent authority

GUWAHATI: Assam has promulgated a tenancy Act to establish a rent authority to regulate renting of premises, which will be market-driven and determined by a mutual agreement between tenants and landlords in order to protect the interests of both.
Officials here said Assam is the first state in the country to do so. The new law has been formulated on the basis of a Model Tenancy Act which was approved by the Union Cabinet on June 2 this year for adoption across all states and Union Territories.
The bill was introduced in the assembly on August 9 and was passed on Friday. The earlier Assam Urban Areas Rent Control Act, 1972, stands repealed.
The Act will provide a speedy adjudication mechanism for resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants through the establishment of a rent authority, a rent court and rent appellate at the district level.
The Act also specifies the duties and obligations of landlords and tenants regarding maintenance and upkeep of premises.
There will be no artificial cap in fixing the rent of a premises. The rent of a building will be market-driven and will be determined by mutual agreement between tenants and landlords.
“Various contentious issues arise between a landlord and a tenant. Some do not respect agreements when it comes to leaving the premises. This results in landlords not letting out accommodation. After this Act comes into force, the letting-out process will become easie,” said Assam housing and urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal.