New Delhi: The proposed change in laws on rent control may come as a shock to tenats paying monthly rent of Rs 50 or 100. Though rent control is a state subject, the Centre is seeking adoption of the model law by mandating that only states that enact this law would be eligible for funding under the flagship Rajiv Awas Yojana that has a budgetary allocation of over Rs 800 crore in 2011-12 and comes with other benefits such as interest relief. The Centre is of the opinion that the current legal system has discouraged landlords from reinvesting in their properties as rentals have been kept artificially low. The ministry has estimated a housing shortage of around 25 million in the country and by allowing for increase in rentals, the government in encouraging property owners to let out their properties and ease the deficient supply of dwellings. The ministry is drawing inspiration from the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission that got several states to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCRA). Under the scheme, central assistance was contingent upon states repealing the law. There are also clauses that have been built in to protect the interests of tenants. To check against arbitrary hike in rents, the revision would be based on terms set out in the agreement signed by both the parties. In addition, a three-month written notice has to be given before the increase. The tenant will, however, have to provide a termination notice in case the revised rent is not acceptable. Else, it would be deemed as acceptance of the new terms. To expedite the process of settling disputes, which often linger for decades, the model law provides for reference to a Rent Tribunal to revise or fix the rent.