Rent hike accepted, few days later, asking to vacate the house by EOM for “repairs”

[User_6cb81858]

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User_6cb81858
PARTICIPANT
May 5, 2026 at 7:03 am

I am a tenant in Panchkula, Haryana, and I need legal advice regarding a rental dispute under the **Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973**.

**The Situation:**

1. **Agreement to Renew:** My landlord recently asked if I wanted to continue staying for the next term. I said yes.
2. **Rent Hike:** She then proposed a rent increase for the upcoming term, which I accepted via WhatsApp.
3. **The ‘Flip-Flop’:** A few days after we agreed on the new rent, she suddenly told me to vacate the house, claiming she needs to ‘conduct repairs.’
4. **Current Condition:** The house is in perfectly habitable condition. There are no structural issues or safety hazards that would require the house to be empty.

**Specific Questions:**

1. Does the WhatsApp conversation regarding the rent hike constitute a **binding agreement** for a new term under the Indian Contract Act?
2. Under **Section 13 of the Haryana Rent Act**, can a landlord evict a tenant for repairs if the building is NOT ‘unsafe or unfit for human habitation’?
3. What are my protections against a **pretextual eviction** where repairs are being used as an excuse to bypass the agreed-upon renewal?
4. What is the process for **depositing rent with the Rent Controller** if the landlord refuses to accept the new agreed-upon rent to try and claim I am a defaulter?

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