Current rental laws are 'archaic', model tenancy law to be finalised soon: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday announced that a model tenancy law will soon be finalized and termed the current laws are "archaic". While presenting the Budget for 2019-20 in Parliament, she said the current rental laws are "archaic" as they do not address the relationship between the lessor and the lessee realistically and fairly.

An official of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said the government will soon release the draft of the National Urban Rental Housing Policy after due consultation between the ministries concerned. The policy is aimed at alleviating the housing shortage in urban areas by encouraging the renting of homes.

"A model tenancy law will also be finalized and circulated to the states," the finance minister said in her budget speech. She said large public infrastructure can be built on land parcels held by central ministries and central public sector enterprises all across the country.

Through innovative instruments such as joint development and concession, public infrastructure and affordable housing will be taken up, she said. In the past, the government had asked all government departments to identify unutilized land to plan affordable housing projects. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (U), the HUA Ministry targets construction of one crore houses for by 2022.