Can my landlord raise the rent every year in Tamil Nadu?

By Advocate Rahman · 11 October 2026 · Updated 8 November 2026 · 3 min read

In short

Only as the tenancy agreement allows. Under s.9 of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, rent is revised on the agreement’s terms; unless agreed otherwise, the landlord gives three months’ written notice; and during a fixed term rent cannot go up unless the agreement sets out the increase or how to work it out. The Act contains no percentage cap — no “10% a year” rule.

The short version

The 1960 Rent Control Act and its “fair rent” formula were repealed on 22 February 2019.
A fixed-term agreement that says nothing about increases means no increase until it ends.
A tenant who receives notice of an increase and does not give notice to quit is deemed to accept it.

What changed from the old Rent Control Act?#

1960 Act (repealed)	2017 Act
The Rent Controller could fix a “fair rent” on application.	Rent is what the parties agree at the start (s.8).
Fair rent was a formula: 9% a year on the total cost of a residential building, 12% for non-residential.	No formula and no cap. Revision follows the agreement (s.9(1)).
Survives only for proceedings pending on 22 February 2019.	The Rent Authority can fix or revise rent, in accordance with the agreement (s.10).

What does s.9 require?#

Notice: three months in writing before the revised rent is due, unless the agreement says otherwise.
Silence: a tenant given that notice who does not give notice of termination is deemed to accept the increase.
Fixed term: no increase during it unless the agreement sets out the amount or method.
Improvements: an increase for agreed improvements must be agreed before work begins, and applies a month after completion.

A hypothetical

An 11-month agreement fixes rent at ₹20,000 and says nothing about increases. In month six the landlord asks for ₹23,000. Under s.9(4), rent may not be increased during the term. At renewal the parties can agree a new rent — in a new agreement, which needs registering again.

What should you check before agreeing?#

Read the escalation clause, if there is one.
Check whether three months’ written notice was given.
Reply in writing either way — silence counts as acceptance.
If you cannot agree, the tenancy can end on notice; a registered tenancy can also go to the Rent Authority under s.10.

Questions people ask

Is there a 10% limit on rent increases in Tamil Nadu?

Not in the 2017 Act. Section 9 leaves revision to the agreement and adds notice and fixed-term rules, but sets no percentage.

Can the Rent Authority decide the rent?

Under s.10 it can fix or revise rent on an application by either side, in accordance with the tenancy agreement. Since June 2026, the Madras High Court has held that the agreement must be registered for the Rent Authority to hear it at all.

Where this comes from

Law stated as at 8 November 2026. Legal positions change; this is general information, not advice on your facts.

Advocate Rahman Enrolled advocate, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. Practises at the Madras High Court in property and money recovery, family and tenancy matters. Writes and reviews everything published here. About the advocate →