IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO LAW IS PRO-TENANT
Rents: Can landlord and tenant freely agree rents in Trinidad & Tobago?
Furnished dwelling houses with a monthly rent of TT$1,000 (US$161.29) or less are subject to rent restriction. Unfurnished dwellings with a monthly rent of TT$1,500 (US$241.93) are likewise covered. Under the Rent Restriction Act, rent adjustments for covered dwelling houses are subject to the approval of Rent Assessment Board. Either the landlord or the tenant may apply for a review of rent.
Every tenant and landlord, whether or not the dwelling house is covered by the Rent Restriction Act, is required to register with the Rent Assessment Board. The landlord has to register only once, but the tenant must register every time he signs a contract. If the tenant is unregistered, he loses most of his rights.
Deposits
Rents are paid in advance. The terms for deposit and its return should be specified in the contract.
What rights do landlords and tenants have in Trinidad & Tobago, especially as to duration of contract, and eviction?
Usual rental agreements last for a year. If the tenant wishes to renew the contract, the tenant must inform the landlord in writing on or before the expiration of the contract.
It is possible that the contract would expire but the landlord and tenant have no intention of ending the tenancy. In the absence of a new contract, the tenancy may be ended by a notice to quit.
If a tenant refuses to leave, the landlord can ask for an eviction notice form the courts. The court will then task the police to assist the landlord in claiming the property.
EVICTION FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT
Duration until completion of service of process 54
Duration of trial 103
Duration of enforcement 35
Total Days to Evict Tenant 192
Courts: The Lex Mundi Project
How effective is the Trinidad & Tobago legal system?
The Rent Assessment Board hears cases about rental disputes and landlord and tenant relations.
If the problem is not resolved by the board, both parties can ask for redress from the courts. It is a tedious process with cases lasting for years or even decades.
Legislation
The Rent Restriction (Re-enactment and Validation) Act 2000 amends the Rent Restriction (Dwelling Houses) Act 1981. A Landlord and Tenant Act was passed by Parliament, but it was not proclaimed.
Extracted From: Global Property Guide
Damian
November 21, 2016 at 4:43 amI need advice on a situation to here I began renting for a week and the land lord wants me out after the place flooded out. He said its not his fault. I said his place is not habitably, request compensation, refund of deposit and rent. I further requested to stay rent free unlit I relocate. The land lord agreed to the reimbursement and then gave me a week to vacate his premise. Is his actions legal
Tianna Patterson
November 21, 2016 at 3:55 pmGood Day,
If you wish to be advised on the matter please contact one of our offices:
#43 Dundonald Street Cor. Gordon & Dundonald Streets, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Tel: 624-7257 Tel/Fax:623-5187
Cell:685-6301
Email:mag4law@hotmail.com
or
#33 Bacolet Park, Scarborough, Tobago
Tel: 639-1809
Fax: 639-1579
Stacy Dhanoolal
February 8, 2024 at 9:16 amHi good day I’m enquiring about downpayments and what can be done in a case where the landlord isn’t answering their phone or messages to pay the balance of the dp. The tenant has vacated the premises intact and the landlord is in breach of their own contract. What should I do to retrieve the rest of my Money owed to me?
site_admin
February 9, 2024 at 8:58 amGood Day Stacy,
Thank you for contacting us.
For further advice, you can book a consultation with one of the attorneys by making an appointment at https://martingeorge.net/v2/index.php/book-appointment/. Alternatively, you can contact the office at 1868-624-7257 (Trinidad office) or 868-639-1809 (Tobago office).
The consultation appointment can be held at the office or online, depending on which option is most convenient to you.
We look forward to assisting you.
Richard Donalley
December 19, 2016 at 9:54 pmcan someone file an injuncation against a eviction in the high court
MAGCO
December 20, 2016 at 1:02 pmGood Day Sir,
If you wish to be advised on the matter you can feel free to contact one of our offices:
#43 Dundonald Street Cor. Gordon & Dundonald Streets, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Tel: 624-7257 Tel/Fax:623-5187
Cell:685-6301
Email:mag4law@hotmail.com
or
#33 Bacolet Park, Scarborough, Tobago
Tel: 639-1809
Fax: 639-1579
Richard Donalley
February 23, 2017 at 12:35 pmGood Morning,
Can you tell me the various forms of eviction that can be taken without a court trail
Michelle Thompson
March 1, 2017 at 2:33 pmHi Richard,
If you wish to be advised on this matter as to what steps to take please contact one of our offices:
#43 Dundonald Street Cor. Gordon & Dundonald Streets, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Tel: 624-7257 Tel/Fax:623-5187
Cell:685-6301
Email:mag4law@hotmail.com
or
#33 Bacolet Park, Scarborough, Tobago
Tel: 639-1809
Fax: 639-1579
Daniel Pedro
June 18, 2017 at 3:10 pmGood day,
I am enquiring for an elderly partially blind person. It will be difficult for him to move since he has already learned the area and everything is easily accessible to him. He rents a room in a building where there are about 20 other rooms,the rooms are about 10′ × 10′ with 1 window and 1 door. The washrooms are in a separate structure and they total 4 toilets and 4 bathrooms. He pays his rent on time when he recieves old age pension and has receipt to prove it.
Now the problems are (1). The land l8rd charges $100.00 per month for electricty and never includes it on the reciept, when the tenant asked about it the landlord disconnected his electricty without warning. (2). The tenant asked the landlord to repair a window that dont close properly and when the rain falls his room is soaked, the landlord completely ignored him. (3). The washrooms are in a dilapidated state where they cant be flushed by normal means but you have to by using a bucket of water. Now remember the tenant is almost blind and this can be very difficult for him. (4). The building is in a very poor and inhabitable state. The landlord never clean in and around the building. These are just a few of the problems. Any assistance you could render would be greatly appreciated or if there is anyone he can go to for help would be grea.
Thanks in advance
Daniel Pedro
Michelle Thompson
June 22, 2017 at 1:21 pmHi Daniel,
for legal consultation please contact any of our offices located at:
#43 Dundonald Street Cor. Gordon & Dundonald Streets, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Tel: 624-7257 Tel/Fax:623-5187
Cell:685-6301
Email:mag4law@hotmail.com
or
#33 Bacolet Park, Scarborough, Tobago
Tel: 639-1809
Fax: 639-1579
Elijah Perrotte
July 3, 2017 at 11:34 pmIs the rent assessment board still operational in Trinidad and Tobago?
Genna
March 11, 2018 at 4:03 pmMy landlord raised rent by a whole five hundred more and didn’t fix d place and she’s say she want to come in and view the apartment every 2mths,is it right for her to invade yoir privacy? Its a long term apartment
PGS
March 27, 2018 at 3:12 pmGood Morning,
For Legal Consultation please contact any of our offices located at;
TRINIDAD
#43 Dundonald Street
Cor. Gordon & Dundonald Streets, Port of Spain
Tel: 624-7257 Tel/Fax:623-5187
Or
TOBAGO
#33 Bacolet Park,
Bacolet, Scarborough
Tel: 639-1809
Fax: 639-1579
Email: mag4law@hotmail.com ; martin@mag4law.net
Thanking You and Best Regards,
MAGCO Team
Genna
March 11, 2018 at 4:05 pmMy landlord raised rent by a whole five hundred more and didn’t fix d place and she’s say she want to come in and view the apartment every 2mths,is it right for her to invade your privacy? Its a long terms
apartment
Alisha Mohammed
April 13, 2019 at 12:01 pmHi, my landlady give me eviction the day after I pay my rent, No court paper just something she type up and give me. I didn’t find a place as yet and she want us out next 3 days and I have kids. My rent is up to date and I’m afraid my kids, my common in law husband and I, will be on the street because she said she will lock down the place is I don’t move.
Alisha Mohammed
April 13, 2019 at 12:04 pmHi, my landlady give me eviction the day after I pay my rent, No court paper just something she type up and give me. I didn’t find a place as yet and she want us out next 3 days and I have kids. My rent is up to date and I’m afraid my kids, my common in law husband and I, will be on the street because she said she will lock down the place is I don’t move. I don’t know what to do. Please help me
Admin 4 MAGCO
May 28, 2019 at 1:43 pmGood Morning,
For Legal Consultation please contact any of our offices located at;
TRINIDAD
#43 Dundonald Street
Cor. Gordon & Dundonald Streets, Port of Spain
Tel: 624-7257 Tel/Fax:623-5187
Or
TOBAGO
#33 Bacolet Park,
Bacolet, Scarborough
Tel: 639-1809
Fax: 639-1579
Shelly
December 3, 2019 at 12:01 amIs it a landlord or tenant obligation to service an AC unit which is owned by the landlord?
ellen reid
March 20, 2020 at 6:15 pmMr. Ali has rental apartments in Long Circular Gardens Mount Lambert and do not pay his tenants security on departure, instead he stays away and avoid giving you back your security and claims you leave without telling him to view the place. he has pigeons living on the roof and has questionable people living on the premises and visitors . they prevent you from parking to do illegal stuff. he left my daughter and i without a toilet for two weeks because he was playing cheap. i left when the six months was up now he is claiming i only told him in one months time. i did tell him in one months’ time due to May being my last month of discomfort there.