What to Do If Your Landlord Tries to Illegally Evict You
Cutting power, changing locks, or forcing you out without a court order is not a landlord's right — no matter how overdue the rent is.
- Act
- Model Tenancy Act, 2021 (2021)
- Act number
- Not a numbered central Act — a model law approved by the Union Cabinet on 2 June 2021 for voluntary adoption by states and UTs
- Enacting authority
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current provisions against the official source before relying on them.
Self-help eviction is not lawful
A landlord cannot cut off water or electricity, change the locks, or physically remove a tenant's belongings to force them out — even if rent is genuinely overdue. Eviction has to go through the applicable Rent Authority, Rent Court, or civil court process.
Valid grounds still need a legal process
Non-payment of rent, unauthorised subletting, or misuse of the premises are recognised grounds for eviction — but recognising the ground doesn't skip the requirement for a written notice and a formal order. The landlord still has to win that process, not act unilaterally.
Immediate steps if it happens to you
Document everything — photos, dated messages, witness details. File a written complaint with the local police station and, where one exists, the Rent Authority. Essential services being cut off can also be raised as a specific complaint since tenants retain a right to water and electricity through the tenancy.
Escalation route
Where the Model Tenancy Act framework applies, the Rent Authority and Rent Court can issue interim orders to restore services or possession quickly. Elsewhere, a police complaint alongside an approach to the local civil court or consumer forum remains the available route.