Bhubaneswar, June 13 -- In a major reform of the state's rental housing system, the Odisha government has proposed replacing the 59-year-old rent control law with a new legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency, accountability, and speedy dispute resolution between landlords and tenants.

The state government has released the draft Odisha Urban Rent Control Act, 2026, with the objective of modernising the rental framework in urban areas. The proposed legislation has been prepared on the lines of the Centre's Model Tenancy Act and includes comprehensive provisions regarding the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, as well as mechanisms for resolving disputes.

One of the key features of the draft law is the mandat...