PUNJAB RENTED PREMISES ACT 2009

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THE PUNJAB RENTED PREMISES ACT 2009 
(VII of 2009) 
CONTENTS 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Exemption 
4. Act to override other laws 
CHAPTER II 
CREATION OF TENANCY 
5. Agreement between landlord and tenant 
6. Contents of tenancy agreement 
7. Payment of rent 
8. Existing tenancy 
9. Effect of non-compliance 
10. Effect of other agreement 
CHAPTER III 
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES AND 
GROUNDS FOR EVICTION 
11. Subletting 
12. Obligations of landlord 
13. Obligations of tenant 
14. Reimbursement of expenses 
15. Grounds for eviction 
CHAPTER IV 
ESTABLISHMENT OF RENT TRIBUNAL 
AND PROCEDURE 
16. Establishment of Rent Tribunal 
17. Rent Registrar 
18. Staff and establishment 
19. Filing of application 
20. Application for deposit of rent 
21. Appearance of parties and consequences of non-appearance 
22. Leave to contest 
23. Written reply 
24. Payment of rent and other dues pending proceedings 
25. Recording of evidence 
26. Rent Tribunal to exercise powers of Civil Court 
27. Period for disposal of application 
28. Appeal 
CHAPTER V 
MISCELLANEOUS 
29. General power of transfer 
30. Transfer of ownership 
31. Execution of orders 
32. Indemnity 
33. Power to make rules 
34. Provisions of Qanun -e-Shahadat Order and Code of Civil Procedure not 
to apply 
35. Repeal and savings 
36. Repeal and validation 
SCHEDULE 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB RENTED PREMISES ACT 2009 
(VII of 2009) 
[17th November, 2009] 
An 
Act 
to regulate the relationship of landlord and tenant in respect of rented premises. 
Whereas it is expedient to regulate the relationship of landlord and tenant, to 
provide a mechanism for settlement of  their disputes in an expeditious and cost 
effective manner and for connected matters; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009. 
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act: 
(a) “building” means a building or part thereof, together with all fixtures and 
fittings therein, if any, and includes any garage, garden, godown , out 
house and open space attached or appurtenant thereto, let out for 
residential or non residential purpose, whether actually being used for that 
purpose or not, but does not include a room in a hotel, hostel, boarding 
house, guest house or any place of religious worship; 
(b) “final order” means a final order passed by a Rent Tribunal culminating 
the proceedings including an order in respect of adjustment of pagri, 
advance rent, security, arrears of rent, compensation or costs but shall 
not include an order passed in an execution proceedings; 
(c) “Government” means the Government of the Punjab; 
(d) “landlord” means the owner of a premises and includes a person for 
the time being entitled or authorized to receive rent in respect of the 
premises; 
(e) “pagri” includes any amount received by a landlord at the time of grant or 
renewal of a tenancy except advance rent or security; 
                                                 
1This Act was originally promulgated as Ordinance XXI of 2007; was given permanent life by PCO I of 2007; however, consequent 
upon the judgement of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 31 July 2009, this Ordinance was laid in the Punjab Assembly on 14 
October 2009; passed by it on 4 November 2009; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 14 November 2009; and, was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 17 November 2009, pages 1591-1598. 
(f) “premises” means a building or rented land not being an agricultural 
land or land subservient to agriculture; 
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under the Act; 
(h) “rent” includes arrears of rent, a utility bill and any amount that may be 
payable by a tenant in relation to the tenancy; 
(i) “rented land” means any land or open space let out for the purpose of 
business or trade; 
(j) “Rent Tribunal” means a Rent Tribunal established under the Act; 
(k) “Special Judge (Rent)” means a Special Judge (Rent) appointed under 
the Act; 
(l) “tenant” means a person who undertakes or is bound to pay rent as 
consideration for the oc cupation of a premises by him or by any other 
person on his behalf and includes; 
(i) a person who continues to be in occupation of the premises 
after the termination of his tenancy for the purpose of a 
proceeding under this Act; 
(ii) legal heirs of a tenan t in the event of death of the tenant who 
continue to be in occupation of the premises; and  
(iii) a sub -tenant who is in possession of the premises or part 
thereof with the written consent of the landlord; and 
(m) “tenancy agreement”  means an agreement in  writing by which a 
landlord lets out a premises to a tenant. 
3. Exemption.– The Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing and by 
notification in the official Gazette, direct that all or any of the provisions of this Act shall 
not apply to any class of premises or to any premises in any specified area. 
4. Act to override other laws .– The provisions of this Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force. 
CHAPTER II 
CREATION OF TENANCY 
5. Agreement between landlord and tenant .– (1) A landlord shall not let out a 
premises to a tenant except by a tenancy agreement. 
(2) A landlord shall present the tenancy agreement before the Rent 
Registrar. 
(3) The Rent Registrar shall enter the particulars of t he tenancy in a 
register, affix his official seal on the tenancy agreement, retain a copy thereof and 
return the original tenancy agreement to the landlord. 
(4) The entry of particulars of the tenancy shall not absolve the landlord or 
the tenant of their liability to register the tenancy agreement under the law relating to 
registration of documents. 
(5) A tenancy agreement entered in the office of a Rent Registrar or a 
certified copy thereof shall be a proof of the relationship of landlord and tenant. 
(6) Any agreement which may be executed between the landlord and the 
tenant in respect of the premises shall be presented before the Rent Registrar in the 
same manner as provided in sub-section (2). 
6. Contents of tenancy agreement.– (1) A tenancy agreement shall contain, as 
far as possible, the following: 
(a) particulars of the landlord and the tenant; 
(b) description of the premises; 
(c) period of the tenancy; 
(d) rate of rent, rate of enhancement, due date and mode of payment of 
rent; 
(e) particulars of the b ank account of the landlord, if the rent is to be paid 
through a bank; 
(f) the purpose for which the premises is let out; and 
(g) amount of advance rent, security or pagri, if any. 
(2) If the tenure of the tenancy is fixed but a rent is fixed only for a pa rt of 
the tenure, in the absence of any stipulation to the contrary in the tenancy 
agreement, the rent shall be deemed to remain the same for the whole of the tenure. 
7. Payment of rent.– (1) A tenant shall pay or tender the rent to the landlord in the 
mode and by the date mentioned in the tenancy agreement. 
(2) If the date of payment is not mentioned in the tenancy agreement, a 
tenant shall pay or tender the rent not later than tenth day of the following month. 
(3) If the mode of payment is not mentioned i n the tenancy agreement, a 
tenant shall pay or tender the rent to the landlord through money order or deposit in 
the bank account of the landlord. 
8. Existing tenancy.– An existing landlord and tenant shall, as soon as possible 
but not later than two years  from the date of coming into force of this Act, bring the 
tenancy in conformity with the provisions of this Act. 
9. Effect of non -compliance.– If a tenancy does not conform to the provisions 
of this Act, the Rent Tribunal shall not entertain an application under this Act– 
(a) on behalf of the tenant, unless he deposits a fine equivalent to five 
percent of the annual value of the rent of the premises in the Government 
treasury; and 
(b) on behalf of the landlord, unless he deposits a fine equivalent to ten 
percent of the annual value of the rent of the premises in the 
Government treasury. 
10. Effect of other agreement .– An agreement to sell or any other agreement 
entered into between the landlord and the tenant, after the execution of a tenancy 
agreement, in respect of premises and for a matter other than a matter provided 
under the tenancy agreement, shall not affect the relationship of landlord and tenant 
unless the tenancy is revoked through a written agreement entered before the Rent 
Registrar in accordance with the provisions of section 5. 
CHAPTER III 
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES AND GROUNDS FOR EVICTION 
11. Subletting.– A tenant shall not, without the prior written consent of the 
landlord, sublet the whole or a part of the premises, or transfer or assign a right 
under the tenancy. 
12. Obligations of landlord.– (1) A landlord shall– 
(a) provide a certified copy of the tenancy agreement to the tenant; 
(b) subject to the tenancy agreement, repair the premises as may be 
necessary to keep it in habitable condition or as may be required under 
a law for the time being in force; and 
(c) pay the tax, fee or charge levied on the premises under a law for the 
time being in force. 
(2) Subject to the tenancy agreement, a landlord shall not– 
(a) cut off, suspend or withhold , without just o r sufficient cause, an 
amenity, utility or easement of the premises; and 
(b) enter the premises without giving the tenant a reasonable notice. 
(3) If a landlord neglects or fails to fulfill an obligation under this Act or the 
tenancy agreem ent, the tenant may file an application in the  Rent Tribunal for an 
order directing the landlord to fulfill the obligation. 
(4) The Rent Tribunal may– 
(a) if a tenant has been in enjoyment of an amenity, utility or easement which 
has been cut off, suspended or withheld without just or sufficient cause, 
make an order directing the landlord to restore the amenity, utility or 
easement; 
(b) authorize a tenant to restore the amenity, utility or easement at his 
expense and defray the expenses allowed by the Rent Tribunal from the 
rent; and 
(c) if a landlord has failed to keep the premises in habitable condition, or to 
make necessary repairs, direct that such repairs may be made by the 
tenant at his expense and defray the expenses allowed by the Rent 
Tribunal from the rent.  
13. Obligations of tenant.– (1) Subject to the tenancy agreement, a tenant shall– 
(a) keep the premises in the condition in which it was let out except for 
normal wear and tear; 
(b) use the premises for the purpose for which it was let out;  
(c) allow the landlord to enter the premises for the purpose of inspection or 
repair; 
(d) hand over the vacant possession of the premises to the landlord on the 
determination of tenancy;  
(e) not cause nuisance to the neighbours of the premises; and 
(f) not make a structural change in the premises without the prior written 
consent of the landlord. 
(2) If a tenant fails to fulfill an obligation under this Act or the tenancy 
agreement, the landlord may give notice in writing to the tenant specifying the act or 
omission and the remedial action to be taken by the tenant within a specified time. 
(3) A landlord may file an application to a  Rent Tribunal for an order 
directing the tenant to fulfill the obligation or may seek eviction of the tenant. 
14. Reimbursement o f expenses .– (1) If a landlord fails to pay a tax, fee or 
charge relating to the premises, the concerned authority may direct the tenant to pay 
the tax, fee or charge. 
(2) The tenant shall pay the tax, fee or charge relating to the premises and 
defray the amount from the rent or file an application against the landlord in the Rent 
Tribunal for the recovery of the amount of tax, fee or charge paid by him. 
15. Grounds for eviction.– A landlord may seek eviction of the tenant if– 
(a) the period of tenancy has expired; 
(b) the tenant has failed to pay or tender the rent within a period of thirty 
days after the expiry of the period stipulated in section 7; 
(c) the tenant has committed breach of a term or condition of the tenancy 
agreement; 
(d)  the tenant has committed a violation of an obligation under section 13; 
(e) the tenant has used the premises for a purpose which is different from 
the purpose for which it has been let out; or 
(f) the tenant has sub -let the premises without the prior written consent of 
the landlord. 
CHAPTER IV 
ESTABLISHMENT OF RENT TRIBUNAL AND PROCEDURE 
16.  Establishment of Rent Tribunal.– (1) The Government shall establish a Rent 
Tribunal in a district or an area as it may deem necessary. 
(2) A Rent Tribunal shall consist of one or more S pecial Judges (Rent) to 
be appointed by the Government in consultation with the Lahore High Court. 
(3) Subject to this Act, the Lahore High Court may empower a civil judge 
or a judicial magistrate to act as Rent Tribunal for a district or an area. 
(4) The Rent Tribunal shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over a case under 
this Act. 
(5) If there are more than one Special Judges (Rent) in a district or an area, a 
Special Judge (Rent) designated by the Lahore High Court shall act as an 
Administrative Special Judge (Rent) in the district or the area. 
17.  Rent Registrar .– (1) The Government shall appoint a Rent Registrar in a 
district or an area as it may deem necessary. 
(2)  The Rent Registrar shall maintain a register to enter particulars of a 
tenancy agreement, agreement to sell or any other agreement in respect of rented 
premises. 
18.  Staff and establishment .– The Government may appoint staff of a Rent 
Tribunal to perform such functions as may be prescribed. 
19.  Filing of application .– (1) An application in respect of a rented premises 
shall be filed in the Rent Tribunal of the area or the district. 
(2)  If an application is filed under sub-section (1), the Administrative Special 
Judge (Rent) of the area or the district may take cognizance of the case or entrust the 
same to any other Special Judge (Rent). 
(3)  An application under sub -section (1) shall contain a concise statement 
of facts, the relief claimed and shall be accompanied by copies of all relevant 
documents in possession of the applicant. 
(4)  If the application is for eviction of a tenant, the landlord shall submit his 
affidavit and affidavits of not more than two witnesses along with the eviction application.  
20.  Application for deposit of rent.– (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this 
Act, if a landlord refuses to accept the rent, the tenant may file an application in the Rent 
Tribunal for deposit of the rent. 
(2)  The Rent Tribunal shall, without prejudice to the rights of the landlord, 
allow the tenant to deposit the rent for the peri od for which the landlord has refused 
to receive the rent. 
(3) The Rent Tribunal shall inform the landlord of the deposit of rent by the 
tenant and may pass an order permitting the landlord to collect the same. 
21.  Appearance of parties and consequences o f non -appearance.– (1) If an 
application under this Act other than application for deposit of rent is filed, the Rent 
Tribunal shall issue notice to the respondent in the form prescribed in the Schedule, for 
appearance of the respondent on a date not later than ten days through process server, 
registered post acknowledgement due and courier service. 
(2)  A notice under sub -section (1) shall be accompanied by copies of the 
application and the documents annexed with the application. 
(3)  If the respondent fails to appear and the Rent Tribunal is satisfied that– 
(a) the notice has not been served on the respondent or the respondent is 
willfully avoiding the service of the notice, the Rent Tribunal may direct 
service of the notice by: 
(i)  affixing a copy of the not ice at some conspicuous part of the 
rented premises or residence of the respondent; or 
(ii)  publication in the press, electronic media or any other mode; 
and  
(b)  the notice has been served, the Rent Tribunal may proceed ex-parte 
and pass the final order. 
(4)  If an ex-parte order is passed against a respondent, the respondent 
may, within ten days from the date of knowledge, apply to the Rent Tribunal for 
setting aside the ex-parte order along with an application for leave to contest. 
(5)  If the respondent shows a sufficient cause for his non appearance, the 
Rent Tribunal may set aside the ex-parte order on such terms as it may deems fit. 
(6)  The parties may appear in person or through a recognized agent in the 
Rent Tribunal. 
(7)  If on a date fixed, the  applicant fails to appear, the Rent Tribunal may 
dismiss the application. 
(8)  If an application has been dismissed in default of the appearance of an 
applicant and an application for restoration of the same is made within thirty days of 
the dismissal order, the Rent Tribunal may restore the application on such terms as it 
may deem appropriate. 
22.  Leave to contest.– (1) A Rent Tribunal shall not allow a respondent to defend 
the application unless he obtains leave to contest. 
(2)  Subject to this Act, a r espondent shall file an application for leave to 
contest within ten days of his first appearance in the Rent Tribunal. 
(3)  An application for leave to contest shall be in the form of a written 
reply, stating grounds on which the leave is sought and shall be accompanied by an 
affidavit of the respondent, copy of all relevant documents in his possession and, if 
desired, affidavits of not more than two witnesses. 
(4)  The Rent Tribunal shall not allow leave to contest to a respondent 
unless the application discloses sufficient grounds for production of oral evidence. 
(5)  The Rent Tribunal shall decide the application for leave to contest 
within a period of fifteen days from the date of its filing. 
(6)  If the leave to contest is refused or the respondent has failed to file 
application for leave to contest within the stipulated time, the Rent Tribunal shall 
pass the final order. 
23.  Written reply.– If the leave to contest is granted, the Rent Tribunal shall treat 
the application for leave to contest as a written reply. 
24.  Payment of rent and other dues pending proceedings .– (1) If an eviction 
application is filed, the Rent Tribunal, while granting leave to contest, shall direct the 
tenant to deposit the rent due from him within a specified time and continue to deposit 
the same in accordance with the tenancy agreement or as may be directed by the Rent 
Tribunal in the bank account of the landlord or in the Rent Tribunal till the final order. 
(2)  If there is a dispute as to the amount of rent due or rate of rent , the 
Rent Tribunal shall tentatively determine the dispute and pass the order for deposit 
of the rent in terms of sub-section (1). 
(3)  In case the tenant has not paid a utility bill, the Rent Tribunal shall 
direct the tenant to pay the utility bill. 
(4)  If a tenant fails to comply with a direction or order of the Rent Tribunal, 
the Rent Tribunal shall forthwith pass the final order. 
25.  Recording of evidence.– (1) At the time of grant of leave to contest, the Rent 
Tribunal shall direct a party to produce his evidence on a date fixed. 
(2) The Rent Tribunal shall treat an affidavit filed by a party as evidence 
and– 
(a) may, of its own motion, order the attendance of deponent for cross  
examination; and 
(b)  shall, if so requested by a party, direct producti on of the deponent for 
cross examination. 
(3)  The Rent Tribunal shall not grant more than two opportunities to a 
party for production of the evidence. 
(4)  The Rent Tribunal shall not grant an adjournment for cross examination 
of a witness except for a su fficient cause and on payment of the costs to the witness 
as it may deem fit. 
(5)  After recording the evidence of the parties, if any, and hearing the 
arguments, the Rent Tribunal shall pass the final order. 
26.  Rent Tribunal to exercise powers of Civil Court.– (1) A Rent Tribunal may 
exercise the powers of a Civil Court to enforce the attendance of a person, compel 
the production of evidence, inspect a premises or issue commission for examination 
of a witness or local inspection. 
(2)  A proceeding before  a Rent Tribunal shall be deemed to be judicial 
proceedings and the Rent Tribunal shall be deemed to be a Civil Court within the 
meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860) 
and sections 476 and 480 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898). 
(3) A Rent Tribunal may pass an interlocutory order at any stage of a 
proceeding before the final order. 
27.  Period for disposal of application .– (1) The Rent Tribunal shall pass a final 
order on an application as exp editiously as possible but not latter than four months 
from the date of filing of the application. 
(2)  If the final order is not passed on an application within the period of 
four months, the Rent Tribunal shall conduct the proceedings on day to day basis. 
28.  Appeal.– (1) A person aggrieved by a final order may, within thirty days, prefer 
an appeal in writing to the District Judge of the district. 
(2)  No appeal shall lie against an interlocutory order passed by a Rent 
Tribunal. 
(3)  If an appeal under this section is preferred, the District Judge may hear 
and dispose of the same or entrust it for disposal to an Additional District Judge of 
the district or the area. 
(4)  The District Judge or the Additional District Judge may, after providing 
an opportunity of hearing to the appellant, dismiss the appeal without notice to the 
respondent. 
(5)  The District Judge or the Additional District Judge may, where the 
circumstances so require, suspend the operation of the final order. 
(6) The District Judge or the A dditional District Judge may exercise any or 
all the powers of a Rent Tribunal under this Act. 
(7)  The District Judge or the Additional District Judge shall decide an 
appeal within a period of two months from the date of filing of the appeal. 
(8)  No appeal shall lie against an order passed by a District Judge or an 
Additional District Judge under this Act. 
CHAPTER V 
MISCELLANEOUS 
29.  General power of transfer.– (1) The District Judge of the district may, on the 
application of a party to the proceedings u nder this Act, and after notice to the other 
party, withdraw the proceedings pending before a Special Judge (Rent) or an 
Additional District Judge and transfer it, for disposal to any other Special Judge 
(Rent) or Additional District Judge competent to try and dispose of the same. 
(2)  The Lahore High Court may, at any stage, withdraw an appeal pending 
under this Act before a District Judge or an Additional District Judge and transfer the 
same to any other Court competent to dispose of the same. 
30.  Transfer of ownership.– (1) If the ownership of a rented premises has been 
transferred, the new owner shall send a written intimation of the transfer, by 
registered post or a courier service to the tenant and shall apply to the Rent 
Registrar for entering his name in the register as the landlord of the premises. 
(2)  The Rent Registrar shall inform the tenant through a notice, at the 
expense of the landlord, about the transfer of ownership of the premises and the 
tenant shall not be deemed to have defaulted in th e payment of the rent if the rent 
due is paid or tendered to the new landlord within a period of thirty days from the 
date when the notice should in normal course have reached the tenant.  
31.  Execution of orders.– A Rent Tribunal shall execute an order p assed under 
this Act by a Rent Tribunal or a District Judge or an Additional District Judge as a 
decree of a Civil Court and for this purpose, the Rent Tribunal may exercise any or 
all the powers of a Civil Court. 
32.  Indemnity.– No suit or other legal pr oceedings shall lie against a Special 
Judge (Rent) or any person or authority acting under an order of the Special Judge 
(Rent) in respect of anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this 
Act. 
33.  Power to make rules.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
(2)  In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 
power, the rules may prescribe a model tenancy agreement, a draft application for m 
and a notice under this Act. 
34.  Provisions of Qanun-e-Shahadat Order and Code of Civil Procedure not 
to apply.– Save as otherwise expressly provided under this Act, the provisions of 
the Qanun -e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (P.O. No.10 of 1984), and the Code o f Civil 
Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) shall not apply to the proceedings under this Act 
before a Rent Tribunal, District Judge or Additional District Judge. 
35.  Repeal and savings .– (1) The Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Ordinance, 
1959 (VI of 1959), is hereby repealed. 
(2)  Notwithstanding the repeal of the Ordinance VI of 1959– 
(a) a proceeding pending before a Rent Controller shall stand transferred to 
the Rent Tribunal of the district or the area and the same shall be decided 
by the Rent Tribunal in a ccordance with the provisions of the repealed 
Ordinance; 
(b)  an appeal may be filed against an order passed under the repealed 
Ordinance in accordance with the provisions of the repealed Ordinance; 
(c)  an appeal pending under the repealed Ordinance may b e decided in 
accordance with the provisions of the repealed Ordinance; and 
(d)  a Rent Controller appointed under the repealed Ordinance shall 
exercise and perform the functions of a Rent Tribunal and a Rent 
Registrar till the appointment of a Special Judg e (Rent) and a Rent 
Registrar for the district or the area under this Act. 
36.  Repeal and validation .– (1) The Punjab Rented Premises Ordinance 2007 
(XXI of 2007) is hereby repealed. 
(2)  Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, anything done, 
proceedings or action taken, order or rule made, liability incurred or right acquired under 
the Ordinance XXI of 2007 or purported to have been done, taken, made, incurred or 
acquired under that Ordinance, from the date of promulgation of the Ordinance till the 
coming into force of this Act, shall be deemed to have been done, taken, made, incurred 
or acquired under this Act. 
SCHEDULE 
{See sub-section (1) of section 21} 
(Name of the Rent Tribunal) 
(Title of the application) 
To 
 
___________________(Name, descript ion and place of residence).  
Whereas_______________________ (name of the applicant) has filed application 
for __________________________ (nature of the application) against you under the 
Punjab Rented Premises Act, 2009 for ___________ (nature of the praye r), of which 
a copy is hereto annexed and is fixed for ____________ (date).  
You are hereby directed to obtain leave to contest the application from the 
Rent Tribunal described above within ten days of the date of hearing/appearance 
mentioned above. In def ault whereof, the Rent Tribunal may pass a final order in 
favour of the applicant.  
Leave to contest may be obtained on an application in the form of written reply 
and specifying a ground(s) on which the leave is sought, accompanied by your affidavit 
and, copies of all the relevant documents in your possession and, if so desired, 
affidavits of not more than two witnesses.  
Given under my hand and the seal of the Rent Tribunal on this _______ day 
of __________. 
 
Special Judge (Rent)