India, June 14 -- The Odisha government has proposed making written tenancy agreements mandatory for all residential and commercial rental properties under the draft Odisha Urban Area Rent Control Act, 2026.

The draft legislation, notified by the Housing and Urban Development Department, states that no property can be rented out or occupied without a formal written tenancy agreement. The move is aimed at bringing greater transparency, reducing disputes, and creating a more accountable rental ecosystem across urban areas of the state.

Mandatory Registration of Tenancy Agreements Under the proposed law, landlords and tenants will be required to jointly inform the designated Rent Authority and the officer-in-charge of the local police stat...