Tenant Responsibilities in Bangladesh: What Landlords Can Expect

Most rental disputes in Bangladesh do not start with a big fight. They start with small, unclear expectations: who pays for a broken tap, whether guests can stay for a week, why the rent came on the 12th instead of the 5th, or who should fix the damp wall. When both sides understand tenant responsibilities in Bangladesh from day one, most of those arguments never happen.

This guide sets out what landlords can reasonably expect from tenants in houses, flats and shops, based on common practice, typical rental agreements and the general framework of the Premises Rent Control Act 1991. It also explains how to write these responsibilities into your agreement, how to communicate them kindly, and what to do when a tenant falls short. Tenants will find it just as useful as a checklist of what good tenancy looks like.

Disclaimer: this is general information, not legal advice. For specific disputes, consult a lawyer or the appropriate authority.

Why Clear Tenant Responsibilities Matter

In many Bangladeshi rentals, the only written document is a short agreement on stamp paper that mentions the rent and the advance. Everything else is assumed. The trouble is that landlords and tenants often assume very different things. A family from another district may be used to different norms about water use or guests; a young professional may not know that the building locks its gate at 11 pm. Writing responsibilities down protects both sides, gives the tenant a fair picture before they commit, and gives the landlord something concrete to point to if problems arise.

Financial Responsibilities: Rent, Bills and Charges

1. Paying Rent in Full and on Time

This is the core responsibility of every tenant. In Bangladesh, rent is commonly paid monthly in advance, often within the first days of the month; the exact due date should be written in the agreement.

• Pay the full agreed amount by the due date.
• Use the agreed method: cash with receipt, bank transfer, bKash, Nagad or another traceable method.
• Keep receipts or payment references.
• Inform the landlord early if there will be a delay, and propose a date.

Landlords, in turn, should issue a receipt for every payment. The Premises Rent Control Act 1991 contains provisions on rent receipts, so a proper receipt is good practice for both sides.

Sample message from a tenant: "Assalamu Alaikum. My salary has been delayed this month. I will pay the full rent of Tk 18,000 by the 10th. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for understanding."

2. Paying Utility Bills and Service Charges

Unless the agreement says otherwise, the tenant usually pays for what they consume:

• Electricity: through their own prepaid or postpaid meter (DESCO, DPDC, Palli Bidyut and others), or through a sub-meter billed by the landlord.
• Gas: the Titas (or other distributor) bill if there is a line, or their own LPG cylinders.
• Water: WASA charges are sometimes included in the rent or service charge and sometimes billed separately.
• Service charge: a monthly contribution to guards, cleaning, lift, generator and common lights in apartment buildings.
• Internet, cable TV and garbage collection: usually arranged and paid by the tenant.

Unpaid utility bills can lead to disconnection and sometimes remain attached to the meter or the property, so landlords should check that bills are cleared, especially before a tenant moves out.

Using and Caring for the Property

3. Using the Property Only for the Agreed Purpose

A flat rented for a family residence should not become a garment workshop, a coaching centre or a warehouse without the landlord's written permission. A shop rented as a pharmacy should not start selling hazardous materials. Changing use can breach building approvals, create safety risks and affect other tenants.

• Residential units: live in them as a home, with the number of occupants agreed.
• Commercial units: operate only the business described in the agreement and hold the necessary trade licence.
• No illegal activities of any kind.

4. Taking Reasonable Care of the Property

Tenants are expected to treat the property with reasonable care and return it in a similar condition, allowing for normal wear and tear. The difference between wear and tear and damage is a frequent source of disputes, so it helps to spell it out.

Good daily care includes keeping kitchens and bathrooms clean, not blocking drains, ventilating rooms to reduce damp, and not overloading electrical sockets with heaters and multiple appliances.

5. Minor Repairs and Reporting Problems Promptly

Many agreements say the tenant handles minor repairs such as changing light bulbs, replacing a tap washer, fixing a curtain rod or unclogging a sink blocked through use, while the landlord handles major and structural repairs such as roof leaks, wall cracks, main plumbing, wiring and the water pump. Whatever split you agree, write it down.

Just as important, tenants should report problems quickly. A small leak ignored for weeks can damage the flat below, the ceiling and the electrical wiring. A simple rule works well: "Report any leak, electrical fault or structural problem to the landlord or manager within 24 hours." For how landlords should respond, see our guide to handling tenant complaints.

6. No Alterations Without Permission

Tenants should not break walls, change fixed fittings, install new wiring, add a window AC by cutting a wall, or change the shopfront without written consent. Painting in a different colour, fixing heavy shelves or installing a water purifier may seem minor, but should also be agreed first. When permission is given, agree who pays and whether the change stays or must be removed at move-out.

Conduct, Occupants and Access

7. Following Building Rules and Respecting Neighbours

Apartment and market buildings in Bangladesh often have rules set by the owner or the owners' association. Tenants are expected to follow them:

• Gate closing and opening times.
• Visitor entry and registration with the guard.
• Lift use, especially when moving furniture.
• Garbage disposal at the agreed place and time.
• Parking only in the allocated space.
• No drying clothes or storing items in shared stairs and corridors.
• Reasonable noise levels, particularly at night.
• Rooftop use rules.

Respecting neighbours is part of good tenancy. Loud gatherings late at night, blocking common areas, or leaving garbage outside the door quickly lead to complaints to the landlord.

8. Guests, Occupants and Subletting

Landlords need to know who lives in their property, both for security and for the police tenant information requirement in Dhaka. Tenants are expected to:

• Provide accurate information about all family members or occupants.
• Inform the landlord when a new person comes to live in the flat.
• Not sublet or give the flat or shop to someone else without written permission.
• Follow any reasonable guest policy, for example informing the landlord if a guest will stay more than a set number of nights.

Guest rules should be fair and applied equally to all tenants, whether families or single tenants.

9. Providing Correct Information and Documents

At move-in, tenants should provide their NID or passport, photos, family details, emergency contacts, previous address and, where relevant, workplace information. In Dhaka, landlords use this for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police tenant information form. Tenants should update the landlord when details change, such as a new phone number or a new occupant.

10. Allowing Access for Inspection and Repairs

The landlord needs occasional access to inspect the property, carry out repairs or show it to prospective tenants near the end of a tenancy. Tenants should allow reasonable access, and landlords should give reasonable notice (for example 24 hours, except in emergencies such as a major leak or fire) and visit at a convenient time. Respect for privacy works both ways.

11. Giving Proper Notice and Leaving Properly

When a tenant wants to leave, they should give written notice as agreed, commonly one or two months, and usually ending at the end of a calendar month. At move-out, a responsible tenant will:

1. Pay all rent up to the last day of the tenancy.
2. Clear electricity, gas, water and service charge dues, and show the final bills or recharge records.
3. Remove all belongings and leave the property clean.
4. Repair damage beyond normal wear and tear, or agree a deduction.
5. Return all keys, access cards and remotes.
6. Do a joint final inspection with the landlord.
7. Provide a forwarding address and payment details for any refund of the advance or deposit.

Our guide to the end-of-tenancy process covers inspection, deductions and settlement step by step.

Responsibilities for Shop and Commercial Tenants

Commercial tenants in markets, malls and office buildings have extra responsibilities:

• Holding and renewing a valid trade licence and any other permits their business needs.
• Following market or mall operating hours and rules on signage, loading and storage.
• Not storing flammable or hazardous goods beyond what is permitted.
• Keeping fire extinguishers in their unit if required, and not blocking fire exits.
• Paying service charges for common areas, security and generator.
• Deducting and depositing tax at source where the law requires it, and giving the landlord the certificate.

How to Write Tenant Responsibilities into the Agreement

The best place for these expectations is the rental agreement, supported by a one-page house rules sheet. A practical structure:

1. Payment clause: rent, due date, method, receipts.
2. Utilities clause: which bills the tenant pays, how sub-meter electricity is calculated.
3. Use clause: residential or specific commercial use, number of occupants.
4. Maintenance clause: minor repairs by tenant; major repairs by landlord; reporting timeline.
5. Alterations clause: written consent required.
6. Conduct clause: building rules attached as a schedule.
7. Access clause: notice period for inspections.
8. Termination clause: notice period, move-out condition, settlement of advance or deposit.

Landlords have obligations too: providing a safe, habitable property, carrying out major repairs, issuing receipts and respecting the tenant's privacy. A fair agreement lists both sides. See our guide to landlord responsibilities in Bangladesh for the other half of the picture.

When a Tenant Does Not Meet Their Responsibilities

Stay calm and follow a clear sequence:

1. Friendly reminder: a call or message pointing out the issue.
2. Written reminder: a polite letter or message referring to the agreement clause.
3. Meeting: discuss the problem and agree a solution with a date.
4. Formal notice: if the problem continues, a written notice under the agreement.
5. Legal advice: for serious or persistent breaches, consult a lawyer about lawful options. Never use force, cut utilities or lock the tenant out.

For example (illustrative): A tenant has a sub-meter electricity bill of Tk 2,400 and service charge of Tk 2,500 unpaid for three months alongside rent of Tk 20,000 paid on time. The outstanding amount is (2,400 + 2,500) x 3 = Tk 14,700. Sending a clear statement showing each month's charge, rather than a vague "you owe money", usually resolves it faster.

Common Mistakes Landlords Make About Tenant Responsibilities

• Assuming the tenant "should know" the rules without ever writing them down.
• Not doing a move-in inspection with photos, then arguing about damage later.
• Treating all wear and tear as damage and deducting heavily from the advance.
• Entering the flat without notice.
• Applying rules unevenly between tenants.
• Waiting months before raising a problem, when it is harder to fix.

Final Thoughts

Good tenants are not simply lucky finds; they are often made by clear expectations and fair treatment. When responsibilities for rent, bills, care, repairs, conduct and move-out are written down and explained kindly at the start, most tenants in Bangladesh are happy to follow them, and landlords can respond calmly and consistently when something goes wrong.

Keeping records makes all of this easier. With Bariwala ERP (বাড়িওয়ালা ERP), landlords can keep tenant profiles with family members and NID details, record agreements, issue invoices and receipts, send SMS reminders for dues, and log maintenance requests so that every responsibility, and every response, is documented.