Landlord asking you to leave? How eviction lawfully works

Where the Karnataka Rent Act, 1999 applies, Section 27 says no order for recovery of possession can be made by a court except on the grounds it lists. These include rent arrears unpaid within two months of a demand notice, subletting without consent, misuse, substantial damage, nuisance, and the landlord's own genuine need. In arrears cases, the tenant can avoid eviction by paying the arrears within one month of the order. Eviction cases go to the Court of Small Causes in Bengaluru and the Civil Judge's court elsewhere. Under Section 49, a landlord must not cut off or withhold essential supplies such as water, electricity, passage lights or sanitary services without just cause. The tenant can complain to the Rent Controller, who can order immediate restoration. Some premises are outside the Act, including higher-rent and most non-residential premises.

Rent Controller; Court of Small Causes (Bengaluru) or Civil Judge (opens in new tab)

Where the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 applies, Section 11 says a tenant can't be evicted except under the Act, whatever any contract says. The landlord applies to the Rent Control Court. Grounds include unpaid rent (after a registered notice, the tenant has 15 days to pay the arrears with 6% a year interest and the cost of the notice), the landlord's genuine need for their own or a dependent family member's use, subletting without consent (after a registered notice and 30 days to end it), use that materially and permanently reduces the building's value or utility, the tenant having another reasonably sufficient building in the same city, town or village, genuine reconstruction, and the tenant not living there for six months without reasonable cause. In an arrears case, the order can't be carried out for one month (or longer if the court allows), and paying the arrears, interest and costs within that time cancels it. Where the tenancy is for a fixed period, the landlord can't apply before that period ends. To contest the case or appeal, the tenant must pay or deposit the rent they admit is due and keep paying rent (Section 12). Under Section 13, a landlord must not cut off or withhold amenities without just or sufficient cause. The tenant can complain to the Accommodation Controller (an officer not below Tahsildar rank), who can order immediate restoration. Its orders can be appealed to the District Collector within 30 days. Rent Control Court orders can be appealed within 30 days to the appellate authority, an officer not below Subordinate Judge rank. Section 11 doesn't apply where the landlord is the State or Central Government or a notified public authority.

Rent Control Court (Munsiff); Accommodation Controller for amenities; appellate authority not below Subordinate Judge rank (opens in new tab)

Under the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, a tenant can be evicted only on the grounds in Section 21(2), by application to the Rent Court. Grounds include not paying rent for two months after a one-month demand notice (paying within that month cures the default, but only once), parting with possession without consent, continued misuse after notice, repairs needing vacant premises, and unauthorised structural changes. Neither landlord nor tenant may cut off essential supplies such as water, electricity, lifts or sanitation (Section 20). The Rent Authority can order immediate restoration. A landlord must give at least 24 hours' written or electronic notice to enter, between 7 am and 8 pm. Rent Court orders can be appealed to the Rent Tribunal within 30 days.

Rent Authority, Rent Court and Rent Tribunal under the Act (opens in new tab)