Table of Contents
- What is a rent agreement?
- Key point of a rent agreement
- Rent escalation cause
- Other terms
- Visit the place
- Additional charges
- Period of notice and penalty
- How to complain to a landlord?
- What to write in the complaint letter to the landlord?
- How to complain against your landlord?
- If the problem is still not fixed
- FAQs
What is a rent agreement?
A rental/lease agreement is a type of legal document signed between two parties, i.e., the landlord and the tenant, in which they both agree to some terms and conditions related to renting the room/house. Generally, the agreement has to be prepared by the real estate agent hired by the landlord and the tenant. Once the signatures of both parties are on the document, the validity of the document begins. The agreement has to be signed in the presence of two witnesses (one of each party). The number of witnesses can be increased.
The key point of a rent agreement
- Rent amount
- Rent payment date
- Security amount
- Rent tenure
- Fine for late rent fee
- Renewal of the agreement
- Facilities provided
- Rent escalation clause
Rent escalation cause
The tenant has to check whether the rent escalation clause is included in the agreement or not. According to the rent escalation clause, the rent can be increased after a certain period, say like after six months. If the escalation clause is not mentioned in the agreement, then the landlord cannot increase your rent before your current agreement expires.
Other terms
Check for the ‘clause on the sale of house’. If the landlord sells the house during your rental tenure, you have the right to know what will happen to you or how many months will be given to you to find a new place.
Visit the place
Before you sign the lease, visit the place once. Check the condition of the house. Whether the amount you are about to pay is reasonable enough for it or not. Inspect the doors, windows, walls and appliances provided. It is the responsibility of the owner to hand over the house in a good condition to the tenant but to ensure, check everything by yourself.
Additional charges
The agreement must have the terms and clauses related to the extra payments like water bills, electricity bills and society maintenance. The tenant has to check all the facilities he will receive, and amongst those, which are free or which are paid, and if paid, is the price for them reasonable.
Period of notice and penalty
If anyone fails the agreement, the agreement will become invalid, and the victim party can charge compensation charges from the other party. Therefore, the rental agreement should have the terms and conditions for failing the agreement too. Generally, the period of notice is one month.
How to complain to a landlord?
Talk to your landlord about the problem you are facing. Ask him to resolve them as soon as possible. If the landlord refuses to listen to your problem, write a legal letter to him complaining about the troubles and asking him to solve them. It is the duty of the landlord to solve all the problems faced by his tenant during the tenure of his stay. But the tenant cannot send a legal letter to the landlord ‘if something about the landlord will not take care of the maintenance and issues of the rented property is written in the rental agreement.
What to write in the complaint letter to the landlord?
- Details of the problem you are facing
- Include pictures if possible
- Suggest a reasonable and affordable solution to the problem
- Mention how the issue started
- Explain the consequences if the situation is not solved
- Ask for the response within a limited time frame
How to complain against your landlord?
Firstly, make a formal complaint as written above. If the landlord ignores your complaint, then report to the local council, they might help you. You can report to the council about:
- Harassment
- Repairs that can cause you harm
- Unfair or dishonest trading attitude
- Illegal eviction
If the problem is still not fixed
You can complain to the court, but it is an expensive method. So be careful and make the right decision before moving your case to court. The court has to take your case if you were-
- Discriminated against for something
- Illegally evicted
- Harassed by the landlord
- Not returned the deposit
FAQs
Who pays for the maintenance?
Before moving in, the landlord pays the maintenance amount. After the tenant move in, it depends on the terms they have signed the rental agreement.
Who prepares the agreement?
Usually, it has to be drafted by a real estate agent hired by the landlord and the tenant.
Who will bear the cost of the rental agreement?
The tenant bears the cost of the rental agreement.
What is the price of the 11-month rental agreement stamp paper?
₹100 – ₹200
Who keeps the original copy of the rental agreement?
Normally, the landlord keeps the original copy of the agreement signed.
If you have any complaint against real state companies or flat and home rental service providers then you can file a complaint against them at Voxya an online consumer complaint forum that helps consumers to get a replacement, refund, and compensation from the company or the seller.
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