In India, the landlord-tenant association is regarded as a jural relationship and is regulated by the provisions of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (Act). When it comes to a landlord/tenant connection, the parties are typically observed as a lessor (landlord) and lessee (tenant). The contract under which the landlord-tenant relationship is tied is a lease agreement.
A real estate lease contract is a binding agreement between you and your landlord. Thus, if you feel the need to prematurely terminate your lease, there will be consequences – legally and financially. There are many reasons that can be used to end a lease, but the majority of them will not offer you legal relief from your landlord.
Occasionally, after signing a rental agreement or lease, a tenant may feel the need to leave the rental unit prematurely for several reasons. In the same way, a landlord can terminate the lease under specific circumstances. It is vital to adhere to state laws, as well as specifications that are listed within the lease, for delivering notice of intent to end a lease.
Usually, lease termination in India can happen for a variety of reasons and by both the parties – landlord and tenant
Termination of Lease by Tenant
Since a lease is bound by an agreement, tenants have to adhere to the length of the tenure specified. This means that they are accountable for paying the rent stated during the duration of the lease. There are exceptions to this rule, especially if the landlord breaks or violates the lease.
If the landlord breaches the terms of the lease, particularly health and safety codes, the tenant may be able to leave without giving notice or providing less notice than needed. In case there is a natural disaster or significant impairment to the property, it prevents the tenant from continuing to stay in the rental unit. However, if the tenant violates a lease without a legally protected reason, the landlord is entitled to sue for damages.
Termination of Lease by Landlord
A landlord is able to legally end a lease if the tenant violates the terms of the lease or has broken the law. The violation by the tenant needs to be significant like late rent or having a pet despite the rule stating ‘no pets allowed on the premises. Other violations of the law, like selling drugs on the premises also justify the landlord’s decision to terminate the lease.
The landlord needs to first dispatch a termination notice to the tenant, thereby making it clear that the tenancy has ended. The tenant may be offered time to amend the violation, by paying outstanding rent, for instance. There will be a notice that declares that the tenant needs to move out of the premises or risk eviction.
Issues Pertaining to Security Deposit
Generally, the landlords have about two weeks to one month to give back the tenant’s security deposit amount after the lessee vacates the rental premises. Landlords may subtract from the tenant’s security deposit for legitimate reasons. Deductions need to be shown in a written document and itemized, and the payment needs to be refunded for any deposit balance. It is vital to check with the landlord if the deductions are not accurate. Any agreement reaches needs to be logged in writing.
In a nutshell, there are many ways in which a termination of a lease agreement India can happen. If you wish to know the leasing status of many companies across the country, check out CRE Matrix and its many tools for it is the leading real estate data analytics company India.
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