Suggestions regarding draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019 sent to the MHUA on 28 July, 2019

Mr. Akhil Saxena,                                                                                     

Deputy Secretary (Housing)

Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs,

Nirman Bhawan,

New Delhi

Email: asaxena@nic.in                                                                 

Subject: Suggestions regarding draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019

Sir,

The only issue plaguing Indian cities for the last several decades is the continued existence of archaic rental laws. There is no clarification by the Government so far on whether these would be repealed or not.

If the Government is serious about bringing any change in rental laws the first step should be to expressly repeal the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 (DRCA). It is within the powers of the Central Government to do this as DRCA is a Central Act. It will also set an example for other states and they will follow suit.

Any new Tenancy Act should specify a time frame (maximum of one year) within which the existing tenancies would come under its ambit.

Thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Shobha Aggarwal

President, Committee for the Repeal of Delhi Rent Control Act