---
title: "Tenancy disputes in Chennai · Vakyl Rahman"
description: "Eviction suit · Arrears of rent · Deposit and advance · Tenancy registration · RLTOP application (Rent Court) — Renting of houses and commercial premises, governed since 2019 by the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, and decided by the Rent Court"
url: https://vakyl.in/practice/tenancy/
---

Practice area

# Tenancy disputes in Chennai

Rent, deposit, repairs and vacating — and, before any of them, the question of which forum your tenancy belongs in. Follow the flow below to find the situation closest to yours.

Renting of houses and commercial premises, governed since 2019 by the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, and decided by the Rent Court rather than an ordinary civil court.

## The matters handled

Eviction suit

Recovering possession of premises through the Rent Court, on the grounds the Act allows — never by changing locks or cutting supply.

Arrears of rent

Recovering rent that has not been paid, together with what the Act allows where a tenant holds over after the tenancy ends.

Deposit and advance

Recovering a security deposit withheld after vacating, or resisting a deduction that was never agreed.

Tenancy registration

Registering a tenancy with the Rent Authority, and dealing with the consequences where it was never registered.

RLTOP application (Rent Court)

An application to the Rent Court under the 2017 Act — rent, deposit, eviction or essential services, for a registered tenancy.

Acting for either side

This practice appears for landlords and for tenants. The Act was written to hold both to the same process, and the analysis is identical from either chair: what the agreement says, whether it was registered, what the payment record shows, and which forum can therefore hear it.

## How long it takes

The Rent Court route was designed to be quicker than a civil suit, which is much of the point of the 2017 Act. How much quicker depends on the court’s docket and on whether the forum itself is contested at the threshold.

Find your situation

Which side are you on? [If… a tenant will not vacate Eviction suit](https://vakyl.in/practice/eviction/) [If… rent has not been paid Arrears of rent](https://vakyl.in/practice/rltop-rent-court/) [If… a deposit has not come back Deposit recovery](https://vakyl.in/practice/rltop-rent-court/) [If… a tenancy dispute must go to the Rent Court RLTOP application](https://vakyl.in/practice/rltop-rent-court/)

Not sure which fits? A consultation sorts it out in one sitting.

All situations in detail

[**A tenancy dispute must go to the Rent Court** RLTOP application](https://vakyl.in/practice/rltop-rent-court/)

If your situation needs advice specific to your facts, a paid consultation is available.

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