Paying rent in cash? Know your rights if your landlord refuses a receipt

Paying rent every month may seem like a routine task, but disputes over receipts, payment methods and proof of payment can quickly turn into legal headaches. While many tenants still pay rent in cash, few know that the law gives them clear rights if a landlord refuses to issue a receipt or even declines to accept the rent.The Model Tenancy Act, 2021, lays down a simple framework for rent payments and protects tenants from being unfairly labelled as defaulters. Here's what Sections 13 and 14 say about paying rent, obtaining receipts and resolving disputes.Can you pay rent in cash?Yes. The Model Tenancy Act does not prescribe any limit on the amount of rent that can be paid in cash. What it does insist on is the timing, rent and other charges must be paid within the period agreed upon in the tenancy agreement.