PANAJI
The Goa government has invited suggestions or objections to draft rules under the Goa (Verification of Tenants) Act, 2024, proposing mandatory verification of all tenants in the State with strict conditions including penalties to landlords for non-compliance. The public have been asked to submit their feedback, if any, within 30 days.
According to the draft Goa (Verification of Tenants) Rules, 2025, landlords will be required to verify the identity of tenants by inspecting specified original documents and submit copies -- either physically or digitally -- to the local police station within 48 hours of letting out their premises.
Landlords must also maintain a permanent register of tenants in the format prescribed under the rules, with the concerned police officers authorised to inspect these records and file reports in case of non-compliance or false disclosures.
As per the notification to the draft rules, such reports will then be forwarded to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer and, in certain cases, to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate for necessary action.
Failure to comply with the requirements will attract fines as the rules further empower the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to summon landlords, verify records and impose penalties.
The government has further stated that criminal antecedents of tenants, if detected through the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networking System (CCTNS) or the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), will be reported to senior officers within a week for necessary action as per the law.
