---
title: "Court of Small Causes, Chennai — what it hears"
description: "The Court of Small Causes hears small money claims and certain tenancy-related matters."
url: https://vakyl.in/courts/court-of-small-causes-chennai/
---

# Court of Small Causes, Chennai — small claims and the Rent Court

In short

The Court of Small Causes hears **small money claims and certain tenancy-related matters**. Under the 2017 tenancy Act it also exercises the functions of the **Rent Court** for Chennai, in Courts X to XVI — so an application between a landlord and a tenant under that Act is filed here, not in the City Civil Court.

## What does the Court of Small Causes, Chennai hear?

Small money claims and certain tenancy-related matters.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Small money claims | May lie before this court. Larger claims go to the City Civil Court or the High Court on the value ladder. |
| Rent Court | Courts X to XVI exercise Rent Court functions for Chennai under the 2017 Act. |
| Appeals into it | From the Rent Authority, within 30 days. |
| Appeals from it | To the Rent Tribunal — the City Civil Court — within 30 days. |

## Does your matter belong here?

It probably does if:

- Your money claim is a small one.
- You are a landlord or tenant under the 2017 Act and the dispute is about eviction, rent or the tenancy itself.
- You are appealing an order of the Rent Authority.

### What looks as if it belongs here and does not?

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Possession against a licensee, trespasser or former owner | [City Civil Court, on value](https://vakyl.in/courts/city-civil-court-chennai/) |
| A money claim valued above one crore rupees | [Madras High Court, original side](https://vakyl.in/courts/madras-high-court/) |
| Registration, refused rent, essential-supply complaints | [The Rent Authority first](https://vakyl.in/courts/rent-authority-and-rent-court/) |

## Where is the Court of Small Causes, Chennai?

Court of Small Causes Madras High Court Campus Chennai 600104

Official website: [chennai.dcourts.gov.in (Chennai City Courts)](https://chennai.dcourts.gov.in/)

The official list of Chennai courts names the Chief Judge’s court and Courts II to XVI of the Court of Small Causes.

## Which guides apply here?

[**The Rent Court in Tamil Nadu: how a tenancy dispute is actually decided**RLTOP application · 10 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/rltop-rent-court/) [**Someone will not vacate: Rent Court or civil court?**Eviction · 8 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/eviction/) [**Money recovery suits in Chennai**Recovery suit · 10 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/money-recovery/)

## Which other courts sit in Chennai?

[Madras High Court](https://vakyl.in/courts/madras-high-court/)[City Civil Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/city-civil-court-chennai/)[Family Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/family-court-chennai/)[Rent Authority and Rent Court](https://vakyl.in/courts/rent-authority-and-rent-court/) [All Chennai courts](https://vakyl.in/courts/)

## Where do these facts come from?

- [Chennai City Courts (eCourts) — Contact Us](https://chennai.dcourts.gov.in/contact-us/)
- [Chennai City Courts (eCourts) — official website](https://chennai.dcourts.gov.in/)
- [Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017 (Act 42 of 2017), as amended](https://tenancy.tn.gov.in/Content/Documents/TNRRRLTact2017.pdf)

Jurisdiction as stated in the guides linked above. Address and website checked against the official sources on 8 November 2026. General information, not advice on your facts.

If you are unsure whether your matter belongs in this court, a paid consultation can tell you before anything is filed.

₹500 for 30 minutes · in person, phone or video · Tamil or English

[Book a Consultation](https://vakyl.in/book-consultation/)