Property, rent and money
Landlord and tenant disputes
You can prepare on your own, but a lawyer will improve your chances.
Rent disputes go to a special forum, not the ordinary civil court: the Rent Tribunal in Punjab, and the Rent Controller in Sindh and Islamabad. A landlord cannot throw a tenant out, cut utilities or change the locks without an order. Small deposit disputes can often be settled by a written demand; eviction cases are best handled with a lawyer.
The law
Punjab Rented Premises Act 2009; Sindh Rented Premises Ordinance 1979; Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001
What to do
- 1
Read your tenancy agreement for the rent, notice period and deposit terms.
- 2
Keep paying rent and keep proof (bank transfer or signed receipts). If the landlord refuses rent, you can deposit it with the Rent Tribunal.
- 3
For a deposit, send a written demand with the handover date and photos of the premises.
- 4
If you receive an eviction notice or court summons, see a lawyer before the first hearing date.
Keep these ready
- Tenancy agreement (kiraya nama)
- Rent receipts or bank transfers
- Deposit receipt
- Photos of the premises at move-in and move-out
- How long it takes
- Rent cases are meant to be quick, often a few months
General information, not legal advice. Checked against public sources in 2026. Laws and procedures change, and local practice differs between districts.