The Odisha government has introduced the draft 'Odisha Urban Housing Rent Control Act, 2026', replacing the outdated 1967 law. Under the new rules, verbal rental agreements are no longer valid; written contracts must be registered with a Rent Authority and the local police within two months. A dedicated online portal will issue unique IDs for each agreement. While the government won't intervene in rent fixing, it mandates a formal process for rent hikes and security deposits. Special rent courts and tribunals will be established for fast-track dispute resolution between landlords and tenants. https://sambad.in/state/written-agreement-for-house-rental-12035885 #creator program